1. Towards a strategic publications programme for Eurostat
Ulrich Wieland, Eurostat B6

2. Objectives To be first choice for European statistical data
To increase the service to users
To present Eurostat figures attractively
Repost of the study group on Eurostat communication policy
Deals only with publications

3. Main principles Multi-annual publications programme
Regular flagship publications
Digital link to Eurostat Web site
Review of collections
Harmonisation of publications
User needs analysis

4. Multi-annual publications programme
Top-down approach
Set of Eurostat core publications which should appear at predefined intervals over many years
Covers the full range of regular publications from the Eurostat yearbook to monthly data tables in pdf format
Aims at increased reliability and predictability of Eurostat publications
What publications are expected by an organisation like Eurostat?
We looked at all domains and reflected what should be proiduced.
Up to now, only annual program, due to budgetary cycle.
Multiannual program, even if no guarantee is given, is important to give guidance to both production units and clients

5. Regular flagship publications
Flagship publications in all major statistical areas covered by Eurostat
Two-yearly periodicity recommended for most areas
Yearbook, pocketbook, regional yearbook
Two-yearly publications e.g. on business statistics, energy, transport, information society, …
Other periodicity is possible e.e. agriculture will be linked to farm structure survey
Details are in draft form in the annex of the document

6. Digital link to Eurostat Web site
EOI’s (Eurostat object identifiers) and stable internet links will be introduced for all predefined tables an data collections on the Eurostat Web-site
All tables and graphs in publications will refer to data on the Eurostat Web-site through the EOI code
PDF version will have hyperlinks
Who has heard of DOI? International DOI foundation and proposed as ISO standard.
Very important for an integrated dissemination policy, will give added value to publications.
Will be implemented end of this year

7. Review of collections
Remove distinction between panoramas and detailed tables
Introduce Statistics in Focus for data publications
Limit pocketbooks to pocketbooks
Only minor adaptation to bring the collections in line with reality

8. Guidelines for publications
Guidelines for authors on
Content, style, commentary, structure, user orientation, expected audience …
Types and characteristics of publications
Procedures for publishing
Layout (including problems of logos, abbreviations, citations, cover page, foreword, references to the Eurostat Web site…)

9. User needs analysis Internet surveys Interviews
We need to know more about our users: Who are they, how do they work, what are their needs?
Specially important for the question about the role of paper publications
Internet survey: Infrastructure available, will use it and expect results, but limited to internet users (e.g. very young public)
Interviews might be useful, but no decision has been taken.

10. Comments? Suggestions? E.g. on
Recommendations for Eurostat publications
Experiences with user surveys
Suggested guidelines on the content of statistical publications
What publications should we add / remove?
How can we better present the results of our work?
What do you know about your users, how did you find out (especially concerning publications)
Do you have guidelines which we could use?
How can we best profit from experiences from countries?