To main content

European Statistical System (ESS)

Comparable statistics are an important means for developing, analysing, implementing, monitoring and evaluating EU policies. A large part of Statistics Sweden's involvement in EU matters takes place within the context of the European Statistical System (ESS).

blobid0.png

Statistics Sweden works within the ESS to promote the production of comparable statistics of good quality to meet the needs of both national and European statistics.

The European Statistical System is a partnership that consists of the statistical office of the European Union (Eurostat), the National Statistical Institutes (NSIs) and other national authorities responsible for the development, production and dissemination of European statistics.

The ESS working methods are regulated by Regulation (EC) No 223/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 March 2009 on European statistics.

EU's statistics regulation

European Statistical System Committee (ESSC)

The ESSC is the central forum for discussion and decision-making in the ESS. The committee is chaired by Eurostat and is composed of the Directors General of the Member States’ National Statistical Institutes. The ESSC’s main task is to help guide Eurostat in statistical activities and to participate in making various decisions in the field of statistics.

There are also numerous working groups at various levels within the ESS. Their tasks include advising Eurostat on issues concerning legislation and the development of statistics. Statistics Sweden takes part in many of the working groups and coordinates other statistical agencies’ participation.

Guidelines for European statistics

The ESSC has adopted guidelines for European statistics, the European Statistics Code of Practice. These guidelines set the standard for developing, producing and disseminating European statistics. The Code of Practice aims to raise the quality of and enhance trust in the statistics. This concerns matters such as the production process for statistics, methodology and availability. In 2021 Sweden was evaluated and the recommendations is published in the Peer Review Report. The Improvement Actions Report describes how the recommendations will be handled. 

European statistics code of practice (pdf)

Peer Review Report May 2022 (pdf)

Improvement Action Sweden July 2023 (pdf)