1. Regional statistics and NUTS
Policy Group on Statistical Cooperation
16 October 2008
16-JOct-2008

2. Basic rules for NUTS EU Regulation 1059/2003
Annexes amended, but the main legal text remains stable
Statistical regions in (potential) candidate countries
No legal base, but (P)CC:s need to be compliant
3 hierarchical levels (NUTS levels 1 - 3)
Criteria: population thresholds
Administrative regions – average size within country
Non-administrative regions – size of individual region must comply
16 Oct 2008
Regional statistics and NUTS

3. Population thresholds
Level
Minimum
Maximum
NUTS 1
3 million
7 million
NUTS 2
NUTS 3
16 Oct 2008
Regional statistics and NUTS

4. Manage the changes of NUTS
NUTS regions are frozen in order to keep stable statistical time series
Possibility to review NUTS regions every 3 years
First general review took place in 2006 and was implemented 01/01/2008
In case of change, statistical data are re-calculated by Member States
Enlargements: separate amendments of Annexes of the NUTS Regulation. Long lead times (12-18 months).
16 Oct 2008
Regional statistics and NUTS

5. Latest enlargement
Discussions during 2006 – several changes of previous statistical regions in order to become compliant
Bulgaria and Romania 1 January 2007
Amending annexes I, II, III of the NUTS Regulation through co-decision procedure during 2007
Published in Official Journal on 5 March 2008
This amendment was done separately from the NUTS 2006 revision, which took place in parallel
Statistical data could be transmitted from 1/1/2007 with new codes from BG, RO
16 Oct 2008
Regional statistics and NUTS

6. Statistical regions in candidate countries
Revised regions for Croatia agreed in March 2007
Final proposal agreed with the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia in 2007
Turkey – no change in the statistical regions since the regions were agreed in 2002
New publication “Statistical Regions in EFTA and candidate countries” was published January 2008
Discussions have started with potential candidate countries – no agreement yet
16 Oct 2008
Regional statistics and NUTS

7. Review of statistical regions before accession
It is possible and it may be necessary to review the statistical regions before accession
No three-year moratorium, but everyone has an interest in keeping the regions stable over time
A proposal to change statistical regions can be initiated by the Commission (Eurostat) or the NSI of the country
Reasons for a review can be:
Administrative reform in the candidate country
Deviation from the NUTS rules due to rapid population increase/decrease in some regions
A revised set of statistical regions is agreed through an exchange of letters between Eurostat and the NSI
16 Oct 2008
Regional statistics and NUTS

8. 16 Oct 2008
Regional statistics and NUTS

9. 16 Oct 2008
Regional statistics and NUTS

10. 16 Oct 2008
Regional statistics and NUTS

11. The procedure to change NUTS
Commission initiates any EU legislation
Informal discussion NSO - Eurostat
Written notification of changes from Permanent Representation of the Member State to the Secretariat General of Commission
Commission (Eurostat) analyses the notifications and makes a proposal (draft amendment Regulation)
Comitology procedure with votes in SPC, the Statistical Programme Committee
Commission Regulation is adopted and published
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Regional statistics and NUTS

12. Statistical data for regions
Legal obligations and gentleman’s agreements
Decentralised structure of Eurostat
Details are in “Reference Guide for Regional and Urban Statistics” (annual Eurostat publication)
Sample surveys – pay attention to the need for a sufficient sample size in every region
Back-calculation of data after a change in NUTS
The length of time-series depends on statistical domain
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Regional statistics and NUTS

13. Usage of NUTS and statistical regions
Eurostat database on-line contains many regional tables, of which around 80-90% hold data at NUTS level 2
DG Regional Policy – regional GDP per capita determines the eligibility for structural funds
Rural development policy – eligibility depends on NUTS level 1 or NUTS level 2
DG Competition - state aid is allowed in a limited number of regions
Research projects funded by EU are coded according to NUTS
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Regional statistics and NUTS

14. Thanks for listening ! Any Questions ? 16 Oct 2008
Regional statistics and NUTS