1. European Conference on Quality in Official statistics, Rome 8-11 July 2008 Quality framework in European Trade Statistics Anne Berthomieu International trade – Production European Commission – Eurostat

2. European Conference on Quality in Official statistics, Rome 8-11 July 2008 2 Quality framework in European Trade Statistics Some key dates for Eurostat… 2001: The Statistical programme Committee adopts the ESS Quality Declaration. 2005: The Statistical programme Committee adopts the Code of Practice built upon the ESS Quality Declaration and incorporating the ESS Quality Definition of 2003. … and for the external trade statistics 2004: «Quality» starts to be a key word when appearing in a legal act for the first time. 2008: A Quality Framework is defined.

3. European Conference on Quality in Official statistics, Rome 8-11 July 2008 3 Quality framework in European Trade Statistics Requirement system Legal acts Recommendations Doc MET Monitoring system Quality Questionnaire Assessment system Individual Assessment Reports Guidance system Quality Handbook Reporting system Summary Quality Report New

4. European Conference on Quality in Official statistics, Rome 8-11 July 2008 4 Quality framework in European Trade Statistics The first component: the requirement system Legal acts The current legislation Specific requirements in terms of data accuracy – trade coverage and estimates - and punctuality General requirements in terms of national actions to be carried out to ensure data quality and obligation to provide Eurostat with an annual quality report (no later than 10 months after the reference year) In annex: List of indicators to be compiled or practices to be described to assess data quality

5. European Conference on Quality in Official statistics, Rome 8-11 July 2008 5 Quality framework in European Trade Statistics The first component: the requirement system Legal acts The future legislation (2009-2010) Same approach applied in Intrastat and Extrastat legislations Explicit mention to the Code of Practice New annex listing the quality dimensions instead of accurate indicators and describing the annual assessment procedure Obligation for Eurostat to disseminate a quality report within 18 months after the reference year

6. European Conference on Quality in Official statistics, Rome 8-11 July 2008 6 Quality framework in European Trade Statistics The first component: the requirement system Simple recommendations Advantage: More flexible and acceptable by all the Member States Objective: Improve gradually the data quality but in a smooth process Examples: New revision policy or confidentiality practices to be applied in a medium term

7. European Conference on Quality in Official statistics, Rome 8-11 July 2008 7 Quality framework in European Trade Statistics The first component: the requirement system Doc MET What? Official document approved by the Committees on trade in goods statistics once a year and in application for the next reference year Objective: List the quality items to be reported each year and their targets in value or minimum standards

8. European Conference on Quality in Official statistics, Rome 8-11 July 2008 8 Quality framework in European Trade Statistics The second component: the monitoring system Daily monitoring via a production system: checks for data completness and validity before the dissemination Monthly monitoring via an outliers detection system Annual monitoring via the Quality questionnaire Member States meet the legal requirement of an annual quality report by fulfilling the questionnaire.

9. European Conference on Quality in Official statistics, Rome 8-11 July 2008 9 Quality framework in European Trade Statistics The third component: the reporting system Production system  daily error report Outliers detection system  monthly outliers report Quality Questionnaire  annual Summary Quality Report A report covering the main quality indicators and disseminated on Eurostat website A structure based on the quality dimensions defined in the Code of Practice

10. European Conference on Quality in Official statistics, Rome 8-11 July 2008 10 Quality framework in European Trade Statistics The fourth component: the assessment system Assessment report prepared annually for each Member State and highlighting the possible cases of non compliance with legal requirements or simple recommendations  National actions plans to be immediately defined in case of non compliance with legal requirements

11. European Conference on Quality in Official statistics, Rome 8-11 July 2008 11 Quality framework in European Trade Statistics A satellite component: the guidance system A Quality Handbook gathering all information useful for the compilers of trade in goods statistics In particular: –the requirements –the quality items to be assessed and their associated targets –the results of the annual assessment procedure –AND the best methods and practices to be promoted (ABC approach)

12. European Conference on Quality in Official statistics, Rome 8-11 July 2008 12 Quality framework in European Trade Statistics Our working programme… 2009 –First edition the Quality Handbook –Edition 2009 of the Summary Quality Report (2007 results) –First assessment reports for all the Member States 2010 Stronger quality requirements but first of all based on simple recommendations

13. European Conference on Quality in Official statistics, Rome 8-11 July 2008 13 Quality framework in European Trade Statistics Thank you for your attention ! Any questions ?