1. Regional statistics at NUTS 1

2. NUTS - a bit of background
NUTS - a nomenclature at 3 levels
In use for 30 years
No legal base until 2003
Focus on NUTS 2 - especially as Structural Funds unit
Growing interest in NUTS 3 level
NUTS 1 thus far little used

3. NUTS 1- some facts and figures
NUTS 99 contained NUTS 1 breakdowns for 11 countries - in the other 4, the entire country was a single NUTS 1 region
NUTS 2003 is very similar (Italy drops from 11 to 5 regions)
NUTS Regulation sets thresholds (3 - 7 million)
EU average for NUTS 1 regions currently 5m
Average lower than 3m in Greece, Austria, Finland
Absolute figures vary from to 18m

4. Types of NUTS 1 regions Administrative often extensive devolved powers
reflect the history / constitution of the country
may result in unevenly sized regions (e.g. Åland)
Non-administrative
perceived need for a unit between national and NUTS 2
can be more rationally / uniformly defined

5. NUTS 2 regions
Map area ca. 110 regions

6. NUTS 1 Regions
Map area = 53 regions

7. Reasons for using NUTS 1
Offers a framework for grouping small countries with parts of large countries - greater comparability
NUTS 2 may be too small a unit (e.g. airport “catchments”)
Confidentiality may be a smaller problem
Offers a solution where reporting units at NUTS 2 level are not in fact NUTS based (health authorities, agricultural districts ….)

8. Outlook for NUTS 1 Potential should be explored BUT….
Too many countries exceed the 7m threshold (even on average).
In the Member States, Italy and Sweden
In the countries acceding in May 2004, particularly Poland but also Czech Republic
Romania and Bulgaria also requested to propose a breakdown
Breakdowns proposed by Hungary and Turkey have been accepted by Eurostat

9. Thanks for listening !
Any Questions ?