1. The EPSS (European Programme of Social Surveys) project
Agenda point 6
STATISTICS ON CRIME AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE, WG meeting (19-20 February 2009)

2. From EHS (the European Household Survey) …
Has been developed since 2005 (by Eurostat+ a specific TF)
An integrated Framework and an adaptable tool to rationalise existing surveys and to be able to answer timely to new or existing policy demands, including demands on specific populations, avoiding having to answer on a case-by-case basis (anticipation);
Scope of EHS restricted to the following modules:
Core social variables;
Mini-module on health (mini EHIS);
Existing Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) survey,
5-year Adult Education Survey (AES), European Health Interview Survey (EHIS);
Other regular (5-year) foreseen surveys (e.g. the victimisation…);
New ad-hoc module responding to new important policy needs.
STATISTICS ON CRIME AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE, WG meeting (19-20 February 2009)

3. DSS meeting (22-23 September 2008):
Feedback:Need for rationalisation in the field of social statistics was pointed out, project and its underlying ambitions (anticipation, responsiveness and integration) welcomed;
Concerns were expressed about the possible increase in burden, especially during the 2nd quarter of the year and particularly for small countries;
Relations between EHS and SILC/LFS modules to be clarified;
Need for the mini-module EHIS questioned
Legal issues: need for some countries that the project starts with a legal basis- at least for the modules fulfilling new policy needs.
STATISTICS ON CRIME AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE, WG meeting (19-20 February 2009)

4. The scope of the project
 Production of a revised version and launching of a written consultation of the DSS before the decision of the SPC re-considering:
The scope of the project
The need for the EHIS-mini-module to be included annually;
The planning of the 5-year modules;
The timetable for implementation;
Options with respect to the legal basis;
The fieldwork period for the ICT module;
And the financial aspects.
STATISTICS ON CRIME AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE, WG meeting (19-20 February 2009)

5. …to EPSS (the European Programme of Social Surveys)
A revised proposal keeping the initial objectives of EHS;
A new concept: proposal for a rolling programme over a three-year period of all social surveys;
An extended scope including:
Regular annual (or even quarterly) social surveys based on EP and Council regulations
The EU-LFS (European Labour Force Survey);
The EU-SILC survey (Community Statistics on Income and Living Conditions);
The ICT survey (Information and Communication Technologies survey).
Regular 5-yearly social surveys based on EP and Council regulations
AES (Adult Education Survey);
European Health Interview Survey (EHIS);
Other regular (mainly 5-year) surveys that are likely to emerge.
New ad-hoc modules to fulfil important new EU policy needs (“NPN modules”)
Discrimination, migration, consumer protection, early school leavers, culture, fertility…
STATISTICS ON CRIME AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE, WG meeting (19-20 February 2009)

6. Scope of EPSS (list of surveys/modules included)
EPSS would be composed of:
Modules including the core component of the annual/quarterly surveys:
The core module of the EU-LFS;
The core module of the EU-SILC survey;
The core module of the ICT survey.
Ad hoc modules:
LFS ad-hoc modules;
EU-SILC ad-hoc modules;
ICT ad-hoc modules;
Short (25') NPN ad-hoc modules (e.g. consumer empowerment, culture, well-being);
Long (up to 45') NPN ad-hoc modules (e.g. victimisation?) including some on special populations (e.g. elderly people or migrants).
Modules corresponding to five year or other regular surveys:
AES;
EHIS;
Other possible surveys (some long NPN modules being likely to become regular surveys).
STATISTICS ON CRIME AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE, WG meeting (19-20 February 2009)

7. EPSS: requirements Not possible to carry out the same year:
A long NPN module and a regular (mainly five-year) survey;
Two five-year surveys;
Same year of data collection for all countries for a given 5-year survey (AES and EHIS);
Same year of data collection for all countries for a given NPN module.
Not possible to carry out the same year:
A long NPN module and a regular (mainly five-year) survey;
Two five-year surveys;
enables an optimal control of burden
Same year of data collection for all countries for a given 5-year survey (AES and EHIS).
 Harmonisation, improvement of quality
STATISTICS ON CRIME AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE, WG meeting (19-20 February 2009)

8. EPSS: Constraints attached to the NPN modules
Fieldwork period
Minimum effective sample size for the EU 27 as a whole
Mean interview duration (incl. core variables)
Deadline for transmission of micro-data files of year N to Eurostat
Deadline for data issue by Eurostat
Short NPN ad-hoc modules
2nd quarter,
(1st semester)
individuals
25'
early October N
December N
Long NPN ad-hoc modules
Second semester (except if seasonal effects)
Depending on the topic
45'
June N+1
September N+1
Very quick delivery of results for NPN (especially for short NPN): one asset of the project (timeliness)
STATISTICS ON CRIME AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE, WG meeting (19-20 February 2009)

9. EPSS: Harmonisation of rules for EU funding
A proposal for EU funding within EPSS:
Modules corresponding to annual core modules of LFS and EU-SILC: no funding;
Whole ICT survey: a maximum of 90%-EU funding (as foreseen in amended framework regulation) for the period ; to be re-discussed with member States after;
Modules corresponding to ad-hoc modules (LFS, EU-SILC, short and long NPN modules): a maximum of 90%-EU funding on a permanent basis;
Modules corresponding to 5-year or regular surveys: EU-funding only for the first year they are carried out under EPSS, according to the capacity building principle (% of EU funding to be provided later).
STATISTICS ON CRIME AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE, WG meeting (19-20 February 2009)

10. Benefits of EPSS
Comprehensive and consistent framework for mid-term planning, providing visibility to the ESS for the coming 3 years;
Avoids the emergence of ad-hoc, overlapping and uncoordinated requests;
Promotes convergence of timing of particular surveys among countries;
Predictability and harmonisation of the funding among surveys.
The rolling programme is not a definitively fixed-programme but can be changed in case of urgent policy requests some flexibility);
Enables at the same time to fulfil timely important new policy demands and to provide data of good quality, especially on specific subpopulations;
Enables a better control of burden (optimisation).
→ Main assets of a rolling programme is that it combines predictability with flexibility.
STATISTICS ON CRIME AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE, WG meeting (19-20 February 2009)

11. Schema: legal basis for the EPSS
STATISTICS ON CRIME AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE, WG meeting (19-20 February 2009)

12. The procedure for deciding on the rolling programme
The specific rolling programmes for years N to N+2 are:
Prepared by Eurostat;
Adopted by the SPC in November (N-2) after adoption by the DSS in September (N-2);
For all ad-hoc modules, a three-step procedure is used:
Step 1: Needs for topics of ad-hoc modules are expressed:
By the Indicator subgroup of the Social Protection Committee or of the Employment Committee
In the annual hearings between Eurostat and Commission DGs;
Step 2: Eurostat makes a proposal on a three-year list of ad-hoc modules and most appropriate vehicle, the list is submitted in a written consultation to the concerned Commission DGs;
Step 3: the Statistical Programme Committee (SPC) is asked to endorse the whole programme and to decide on the vehicle for each ad-hoc module.
STATISTICS ON CRIME AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE, WG meeting (19-20 February 2009)

13. Ad-hoc modules: SPC would endorse in N-3:
LFS ad-hoc modules to be carried out in years…
N, N+1, N+2
SILC ad-hoc modules to be carried out in years…
ICT ad-hoc modules to be carried out in years…
N-1, N, N+1
NPN short ad-hoc modules to be carried out in years…
NPN long ad-hoc modules to be carried out in years…
STATISTICS ON CRIME AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE, WG meeting (19-20 February 2009)

14. The provisional programme 2012-2014
EU-SILC: core + AHM (social participation or housing) (adoption in SPC in November 09)
LFS: core + AHM on transition from work into retirement (adoption in SPC in November 09)
ICT: core + AHM (theme to be adopted in SPC in Nov 2010)
Short NPN module (culture? theme to be adopted in SPC in Nov 2010)
EDSIM module (disabilities) [including the EHIS mini module]
2013
EU-SILC: core + AHM (theme to be adopted in SPC in Nov 2010)
LFS: core + AHM (theme to be adopted in SPC in Nov 2010)
ICT: core + AHM (theme to be adopted in SPC in Nov 2011)
Short NPN module (theme to be adopted in SPC in Nov 2011)
Possibility to include a long NPN module on victimisation
2014
EU-SILC: core + AHM (theme to be adopted in SPC in Nov 2011)
LFS: core + AHM (theme to be adopted in SPC in Nov 2011)
ICT: core + AHM (theme to be adopted in SPC in Nov 2012)
Short NPN module (theme to be adopted in SPC in Nov 2012)
EHIS module
STATISTICS ON CRIME AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE, WG meeting (19-20 February 2009)

15. The working group is invited to express its comments and suggestions regarding the possibility to implement a long NPN module on victimisation in 2013.
STATISTICS ON CRIME AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE, WG meeting (19-20 February 2009)