1. Directors of Social Statistics
Improving statistics on migration: challenges for the European Statistical System
Michail Skaliotis
17-18 September 2007
Directors of Social Statistics

2. The need to improve migration statistics
Migration has major economic and social effects
positive and negative effects
in origin and destination countries
Scale and complexity of migration is increasing in a globalised world
new types and patterns of migration flows
social, economic and technical developments impact on the integration of migrants
Migration is no longer just a national policy issue
but systems for migration statistics remain essentially ‘national’
17-18 September 2007
Directors of Social Statistics

3. The time is right to develop these statistics
DGINS papers reflect broad agreement on need for improvement
New EU legislation on migration statistics
clear legal base
harmonised definitions based on UN recommendations and EU legislation on asylum and immigration
High level political support for the EU common asylum system and harmonised immigration policies
Solidarity and Management of Migration Flows programme funds
17-18 September 2007
Directors of Social Statistics

4. A framework for improvement
Ensuring wider adoption of best practice
Centre of Excellence for migration statistics?
expanding capacity for research and analysis
sharing methodological developments
Exchange of data between Member States
initial pilot exchanges of individual level information
Expanding the use of survey data
migration modules in existing surveys
integration of survey and register data
consider a migration survey (possibly of interest in only a few Member States)
17-18 September 2007
Directors of Social Statistics

5. Ongoing cooperation is required
Importance of coordination through the ESS
Involvement of other international structures and organisations
CES, UNSD, OECD
Improvements will take time and resources, and will require some changes in national practices and methods
…but international migration is now too significant – economically and socially – to continue with the current generally poor data and statistical systems
17-18 September 2007
Directors of Social Statistics