1. Meeting the changing and emerging needs for statistics to support European and national level policies on migration

2. Changing and emerging needs
“A Common immigration policy for Europe: principles, actions and tools“ (Commission Communication of June 2008):
A European issue
No longer just a Justice and Home Affairs issue
“The economic, social and international dimensions of immigration should be factored into all related policy areas, including development; trade; cohesion policy; employment and social policy; environment; education; health; agriculture and fisheries; security and foreign policy and economic and fiscal policy;”
SPC Task Force II “Statistical Challenges”
Migration statistics as a key statistical challenge
23 September 2008: Conclusions

3. Meeting the changing and emerging needs
Role of the ESS: impartiality and quality
Tackling existing challenges regarding stocks and flows (Regulation 862/2007)
Addressing new patterns of migration (circular migration, short-term migration)
Beyond population statistics: socio-economic profiles of migrants

4. Practical steps to meet emerging policy needs: a) planning, coordination and communication
Coordination within the ESS
Task Force reporting to the Directors of Social Statistics
identify needs for migration-related information
assess which needs can be met be the ESS
action plan (short term, medium term, long term)
Improve communication and cooperation with policy makers
clear acknowledgement at national and European level of the need to improve communication and cooperation
facilitate improvements in communication
share information on good practice

5. Practical steps to meet emerging policy needs: b) survey data sources
Assess and improve the use of the LFS and other major household surveys
methodological study to assess the suitability of the LFS as a data source to provide better socio-economic information on migrants
analysis of the 2008 LFS migrant module
joint analysis and possibly publication with OECD
Consider changes to existing household surveys
changes to the sampling process
over-sampling
additional or alternative sampling frames
changes to survey procedures (overcoming language difficulties)
additional questions; migration modules
Additional sources
consider introduction of a specific migrant survey
maximise use of data from 2011 population censuses

6. Residence permit statistics
Practical steps to meet emerging policy needs: c) better use of administrative data
Residence permit statistics
continue development of residence permit statistics
identify additional information that may be available from residence permit data (beyond Regulation 862/2007)
exert a statistical influence over developments in the collection and processing of administrative data
Facilitate data sharing between national population registers and other administrative systems
individual level data (following ‘Nordic’ model)
detailed aggregates

7. Practical steps to meet emerging policy needs: d) methodology
Make best use of available financial support and expert assistance
ILMAS and MIMOSA
eligibility of statistical projects for funding under the Solidarity and Management of Migration Flows programme
Share methodological information and best practices
at national level between all relevant institutions
at European and wider international levels

8. The DSS is requested to
confirm priority for the development of migration statistics
agree to the establishment of a Task Force to prepare an action plan
nominate candidates with a broad view of migration issues as members of this Task Force
note availability of an END post in Eurostat
propose suitable candidates