DIME/ITDG Plenary February 2018

DIRECTORS OF METHODOLOGY/IT DIRECTORSPLENARY MEETING

22/23 FEBRUARY 2018

Use of methodological support

DIME/ITDG Plenary 22/23 February 2018

1. Background

Since 2015 the ESS Vision 2020 ADMIN project aims to support the more extensive use of administrative data for the production of official statistics. The project is divided into seven work packages covering a wide range of topics: e.g. the documentation of best practices to improve access to administrative data, guidelines on how to integrate administrative data into statistical production, and quality indicators and a quality framework to assess outputs based on administrative data. One section of the project is devoted to social statistics, setting up a dedicated framework to assess the quality of the sampling frames used by social surveys. In addition, training programmes, workshops and on-site interventions on methodological issues are organised to offer practical help to statistical offices dealing with the integration of administrative data in their production processes. Finally, the ADMIN project also supports, through grants, improvement actions at national level, especially in the area of population and housing censuses.2

2. Work package 7 – Methodological support

In order to tackle the most common issues, like access to data and to facilitate spreading of the knowledge and Member States' uptake of the ESS Vision 2020 ADMIN project's outputs, like the estimation methods published on the CROS portal3, free-of-charge services made available to ESS members since January 2017. After the explicit request of the ESS Vision 2020 Steering Group and after consultation of all Member States a helpdesk and on-site-coaching is launched for providing methodological services on the use of administrative data for the production of official statistics. All ESS members are invited to use these services which can be accessed from the CROS portal.4 The pool of helpdesk/coaching experts is composed of academia and official statisticians with extensive experience in the use of administrative data.

In addition to the helpdesk and on-site coaching, an exchange board for statistical services has been created on the CROS portal5, where the ESS members can offer a study visit and training or request some advice from other ESS members. With this tool Eurostat would like to enhance the knowledge transfer between the countries to make wider and better use of administrative sources in the production of official statistics.

Although both services are totally free, none of the associated costs of the on-site visits like transportation, per diem and accommodation, is charged to the requesting person or NSI, only one coaching request was received at the end of January 2018. The free of charge helpdesk received one inquiry in the first semester of 2017 and two more requests arrived in December 2017 as a direct outcome of the discussion of this service in the external steering group of the project.

In order to use these services there is no bureaucratic procedure, no special administration, signature of contracts and related costs for the requester. Only the request shall be submitted through the CROS portal.6 2 The progress of the different Work Packages is described in the Annexes3 https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/cros/content/task-211-estimation-methods-integration-administrative-sources_en4 https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/cros/content/wp7-methodological-support-member-states_en5 https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/cros/content/platform-exchange-statistical-services-between-member-states_en

6 https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/cros/content/wp7-methodological-support-member-states_en

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Finally, the information of the helpdesk and the exchange board were distributed in the last months on several occasions to different groups (e.g. Working Group Methodology and Working Group Structural Business Statistics) without many reaction so far, and it is planned to discuss this topic as well in other meetings (e.g. Working Group Information Society Statistics and Directors of Social Statistics).

3. Questions for discussion

Based on the previous information, the following questions are suggested to guide the discussion on the use of methodological helpdesk:

• Despite its low use, shall this support service be continued?

• What format should the support service have?

• How can these services be better promoted and enhance the knowledge transfer among members?

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Annex 1. ESS.VIP ADMIN report on progress and next steps

1. Introduction

The ESS.VIP ADMIN (Administrative Data Sources) belongs to the ESS Vision portfolio and aims at supporting Member States to make increased or better use of administrative sources, as specified in the Vision for European Statistics. The project is seeking to provide common approaches to tackle the known shortcomings inherent in an increased use of administrative data sources for statistical purposes. The ESSC agreed to launch the project in February 2015. The project is planned to finish at the end of 2019.

The full business case is available in CIRCABC at:

https://circabc.europa.eu/sd/a/73627652-70ad-4b20-a320-c267490989d6/ESS.VIP%20ADMIN%20-%20business%20case.pdf

There have been some changes with respect to the initial planning. The changes were agreed at the Steering Group meeting of 26 November 2015. These changes are explained in the Change Request document which has been approved by the Eurostat Directors´ Meeting. The document can be consulted at:

https://circabc.europa.eu/sd/a/6766c2b0-4c96-47df-8323-f3d1bc9c10f7/ADMIN_Change Request_1.pdf

2. Progress and next steps

The main issues concerning the progress since the last meeting and the next steps planned are presented below.

WP1 Access to and development of administrative data sources

Task 1.1 Report on the legal and institutional framework for the use of administrative data

Task 1.2 Best practices regarding the relation with data providers

The purpose of this work package is to tackle issues related to getting access to administrative sources and cooperating with data owners. A contractor was selected and worked on the tasks between November 2015 and August 2017.

Main deliverables

The contractor collected information on the main obstacles for using administrative sources in Member States and the best practices for overcoming these obstacles. The following main deliverables were foreseen:

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Workshop on best practices related to accessing administrative sources.

Report on the analysis of the legal and institutional environment in the ESS.

Report on good practices in accessing using and contributing to the management of administrative data.

The Workshop on access to administrative data sources took place on 13-14 September in Brussels. The workshop had two purposes: to create a platform for the NSIs to share experiences and to provide input to the contractor for the final reports. The workshop focused on the legal, institutional and organisational issues related to the access to and use of administrative data for the production of official statistics. The topics discussed concerned: the legal and institutional environment for accessing administrative data sources, mechanisms of collaboration with administrative data owners, cooperation with administrative data owners on quality and technical issues, NSIs' efficient internal management procedures and practices, and actual implementation obstacles. The workshop provided provide insight on the difficulties that still persist at national level in accessing administrative data sources and on the practices adopted by the NSIs to overcome such difficulties. Both problems and solutions were discussed among participants. Further details are available in the workshop report. The report and the presentations are available on the CROS portal.

For drafting the reports, the contractor made a review of issues related to data access available in public documents. Additionally, a questionnaire was sent to the ADMIN contact points in the NSIs. The questionnaire has two parts: one at general level and one referring to specific administrative sources.

The information collected through the questionnaire, the literature review and the outcomes of the workshop were used to produce a report on the analysis of the legal and institutional environment in the ESS and the report on best practices when accessing administrative sources.

The draft reports were sent to the ESS.VIP ADMIN network of contact points in the NSIs, whose members were requested to check the reports for errors and misunderstandings. However, in the final review several NSIs informed Eurostat that many of their previous answers to the questionnaire were not valid and requested extensive changes in the reports. As substantial rewriting of the reports was needed, it was not possible to do his before the end of the contract. A new contract will be launched shortly to undertake this revision, which is expected to be finalised in summer 2018. The draft reports will be resent to the ADMIN network of contact points before finalisation.

Initially the work package contained a third task called Preparation of EU-long-term actions on access to data. It was agreed with the ADMIN Steering Group to replace the task force on access to data with a series of workshops on exchange of experience and dissemination. It was suggested to organise the following workshops:

Autumn 2018: Workshop on quality of multisource statistics (dissemination of the results of the ESSnet on Quality of Multisource Statistics).

Spring 2019: Workshop of the use of administrative data for population/census/social statistics.

Autumn 2019: Workshop on the use of administrative data for other statistical areas.

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The last two workshops will cover all topics of ADMIN: access, estimation, data processing, showing both ADMIN results and sharing experience and practical experience from MSs. Each workshop will cover lessons learned and benefits, as well as suggestions on the way forward and possible follow-up actions. Similar topics among NSIs will be searched and grouped together. Eurostat is already working on the preparation of these workshops.

Next steps:

A contract will be launched shortly for the revision of the draft report on the analysis of the legal and institutional environment in the ESS and of the draft report on good practices in accessing using and contributing to the management of administrative data (delivery Q3 2018).

A contract will be launched on the organization of two workshops: Workshop of the use of administrative data for population/census/social statistics (Spring 2019) and Workshop on the use of administrative data for other statistical areas (Autumn 2019).

The ESSnet on Quality of Multisource Statistics will be invited to organise a workshop on quality of multisource statistics (Autumn 2018).

WP2 Statistical methods

Task 2.1 Review of relevant estimations methods and provision of guidelines

Task 2.2 Combining multiple sources using modelling and estimation methods

This package aims at supporting the use of sound statistical methodology for integrating administrative data sources in statistical production.

Task 2.1 Review of relevant estimations methods and provision of guidelines

Task 2.1 will be implemented using two methodological framework contracts with the aim to review at a first stage the existing material on estimation methods and to draft at a second stage guidelines and recommendations.

Task 2.1.1 Contract on estimation methods

First contract of task 2.1 will review and structure in a comprehensive way the existing information on relevant estimation methods that could be used for the integration of administrative sources in statistical production.

Main deliverables:

Report showing possible uses of administrative sources in the statistical production system as for example: use for replacement or complement of existing data, use for increasing timeliness, use for building new joint distributions, use for building sampling frames.

Report identifying and describing all the cases where estimation methods can be required for integrating administrative sources.

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Comprehensive identification and enumeration of the possible relevant estimation methods including a mapping with the different steps of the statistical production system, in accordance with the GSBPM.

Literature review presenting one actual example in the NSIs for each of the type of use of administrative sources that have been previously identified

Drafting of technical summary sheet for each identified statistical method including: presentation of the method, the contextual framework for using it as well as the conditions of applications, the pros and cons, an example of use in NSIs, and a list of related existing software.

Final presentation to stakeholders in Luxembourg.

The main deliverable of this contract D5 "Review of the estimation methods" was presented in April 2017 to the Working Group Methodology. For each method, the review includes a presentation of the method, the contextual framework for using it as well as the conditions of applications, the pros and cons, a possible example of use in NSIs, and suggestion of possible software. The deliverable was finalized after the consultation of the Working Group Methodology and was disseminated on the CROS portal.

Task 2.1.2 Contract on Guidelines

The second contract related to task 2.1 will draft recommendations and guidelines on how to use estimation methods in order to facilitate the integration of administrative sources.

Main deliverables: Guidelines and recommendations on how and in which situation to use estimation methods for data integration.

Based upon output of the first contract on estimation methods, the subsequent specific methodological contract was signed at the beginning of September 2017 with duration of 6 months. All deliverables are expected to be available in the first semester of 2018.

Task 2.2 Combining multiple sources using modelling and estimation methods

Task 2.2 aims at providing a more practical focus on how to combine multiple sources including at least one administrative source by using modelling and estimation methods. The work will be based upon existing practices in the Member States with a view to identify best practices by statistical domain and by main type of existing administrative sources. One methodological framework contract will be used for undertaking this work.

Main deliverables:

Report identifying and presenting best practices in some targeted statistical domains.

Report identifying and presenting best practices on how to use administrative sources and registers.

Report defining a horizontal approach applicable at individual statistical domain based on best on previously identified best practices.

Presentation(s) in Eurostat of the main outputs of the contract to ESS stakeholders (presentation to the Steering Group).

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Dissemination of the results.

Next steps:

Finalisation on dissemination of the deliverables on guidelines on how to use estimation methods in order to facilitate the integration of administrative sources and on good practices when combining some selected administrative sources in the first semester on 2018.

WP3 Quality measures for statistics using administrative data

3.1 Checklists for evaluating the quality of input data

3.2 Framework for the quality evaluation of statistical output based on multiple sources

3.3 Dissemination and implementation

This work package aims to develop and promote quality measures for evaluating the quality of administrative data and of the statistical outputs that use a combination of sources, among which administrative sources. Big data is excluded from the scope of this work package.

All three tasks are covered by the ESSnet on the quality of multisource statistics. The ESSnet also includes task 5.2. Methodology for the assessment of the quality of frames for social statistics. This task is meant to produce a methodological framework and indicators for assessing the quality of the sampling frames for social statistics.

Main deliverables

Quality guidelines for outputs based on multiple sources (administrative sources combined with other administrative sources or surveys).

Quality guidelines for frames for social statistics.

Quality measures and indicators for outputs based on multiple sources and for frames for social statistics.

Dissemination or results and workshops.

ESSnet on quality of multisource statistics

In order to implement the ESSnet cooperation, a framework partnership agreement (FPA) was signed for a period of four years with a consortium made of eight ESS members (DK –coordinator, IE, IT, LT, HU, NL, AT, NO). The agreement foresees cooperation on producing quality measures for statistics that include a combination of sources where at least one source is administrative. It also includes the development of quality measures for frames for social statistics.

A first specific grant agreement (SGA) was signed at the end of 2015 and ended in April 2017. All the members of the consortium were involved in this SGA The first specific grant agreement (SGA) produced the following reports:

Checklist for Evaluating the Quality of Input Data

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Framework for the quality evaluation of statistical output based on multiple sources

Quality measures and indicators of frames for social statistics

The deliverables are final and can be consulted on the CROS portal7. The ESSnet organised the Workshop on Quality of Multisource Statistics using administrative sources (21-22 April 2016, Budapest). The aim of the workshop was to allow the consortium to validate their approach with the other Member States and to present experiences and good practices. The documentation related to the workshop is available on the CROS portal8.

The second SGA was signed in May 2017 and the work is on-going. The purpose is to produce the following:

Guidelines on the quality of multisource statistics

Quality guidelines for frames for social statistics

Quality measures and indicators that continue the work done in SGA 1: simplify some proposed measures, extend the range of situations where they can be applied

In October 2017 the ESSnet delivered proposals for the outline of the quality guidelines for the output and for the frames for social statistics and a structured list of indicators/measures needed to implement the quality guidelines. These documents have been sent for consultation to the ADMIN network and the replies have been sent to the ESSnet for consideration. The latest progress meeting of the ESSnet took place on 11 January in Vienna.

Next steps

On the basis of the feed-back received, the ESSnet will deliver the guidelines on the frames for social statistics and the guidelines on the output based on multiple sources as well as the corresponding quality measures and indicators (by September 2018). Intermediate documents will be sent to the ADMIN network for suggestions.

A third SGA is envisaged to be signed in summer 2018 and to cover the period mid 2018 – 2019. This would complete the work on the guidelines by covering the tasks that cannot be finalised in the second SGA and the potential gaps that may be still identified. It is planned to propose the ESSnet to organise a workshop in autumn 2018 in order to discuss with the other members of the ESS the up-to date deliverables in order to take into account their views.

7 https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/cros/content/essnet-quality-multisource-statistics-komuso_en

8 https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/cros/content/workshop-quality-multisource-statistics_en

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Work Package 4 Eurostat as a (in)direct user of administrative data sources held or designed by the European Commission

4.1 Pilot on using catch reporting for catch statistics

4.2 Pilot on using IACS database for agricultural statistics

4.3 Other pilots

The work packages aims to investigate the possible use by Eurostat of data held by other Commission DGs and to support the use of administrative sources based on EU legislation.

Task 4.1 Pilot on using catch reporting for catch statistics

For many years the European Commission has been collecting data on fish caught by commercial Member State fishing vessels through two different DGs: DG MARE is collecting data on fish catches to control compliance with total allowable catches (TACs) and national quotas whereas Eurostat is collecting statistics on nominal catches by the EEA Member States. The latter are feeding into scientific stock assessments, are used by FAO and Regional Fisheries Management Organisations (mostly NAFO and ICES) and are accessible to the public through Eurostat's dissemination database. The pilot on using administrative catch control data to produce official catch statistics investigates whether the double-collection of catch data may be avoided and substituted by a single data flow: EU Member States reporting to DG MARE and Eurostat pulling data from DG MARE's ACDR (Aggregated Catch Data Reporting) database. This task thus aims to identify general benefits, opportunities, risks and challenges of accessing administrative sources held by the Commission or other international bodies for the use of official statistics.

Main deliverables

Final report on the pilot project (December 2018).

As a first step, the structure, concepts and codes of ACDR reports were harmonised with Eurostat's catch statistics to enable the reporting of comparable data. This entailed a restructuring of the ACDR catch database.

Subsequently, data collected by DG MARE were compared with the catch statistics available at Eurostat for the reference years 2013 and 2014, with 2014 being the first year for which DG MARE collected catch data at the same level of detail as Eurostat. The comparison of 2014 data was thus expected to result in a good data consistency.

However, the findings of the exercise show that for several countries large differences in the data reported to DG MARE and Eurostat prevail. A number of reasons explaining the differences were proposed and discussed at the DG MARE-Eurostat Hearing in December 2015. The Hearing suggested a joint DG MARE/Eurostat compliance monitoring pilot in at least one of the most problematic countries to find out more about the reasons of data discrepancies and national plans to improve data consistency.

Eurostat visited the Italian Ministry of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Policies in February 2016 and found that two different data sources exploited by two different consortia were used for reporting catch data to DG MARE and catch statistics to Eurostat. Italy confirmed the poor quality of logbook data

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being used for ACDR reports. Eurostat reported back to DG MARE. DG MARE has now engaged with Italy to solve the issue.

The discrepancies found in 2014 data reported to DG MARE and Eurostat were also discussed by the Working Group Fishery Statistics in April 2016. Two Member States disagreed with the assessment made for their country while several countries submitted data revisions and/or stated that work was ongoing to improve data quality and consistency, including better collaboration by involved bodies. The Working Group Fishery Statistics in April 2017 did not discuss about discrepancies between administrative and statistical data.

The original plan to cover the practical and legal discontinuation of separate Eurostat data collections in the context of the ESS.VIP.ADMIN is no longer possible following the entry into force of the better regulation guidelines in May 2015. Any change of regulation will need to be proceeded by a REFIT evaluation and needs to include, amongst others, a wide stakeholder consultation. The review of the legal basis is foreseen to be covered by the project "Streamlining and simplification of fishery statistics". The next step is to make a business case which needs to be approved by the Eurostat management. .

Next steps

The technical meetings with DG MARE will continue on a regular basis. Strategic issues will be discussed in the next hearing of Eurostat with DG MARE Hearing.

Task 4.2: Pilot on using IACS database for agricultural statistics

The pilot aims at supporting Member States to make better use of data from the Integrated Administration and Control System (IACS) or from other administrative registers available for the production of agricultural statistics. This pilot continues the work that took place in agricultural statistics during the preparation period of ESS.VIP ADMIN: the Task Force on linkage to administrative data sources and to the farm accountancy data network (FADN) which worked during 2012 and 2013, and two previous waves of grants - launched in 2013 and 2014 for studies on linking IACS and other administrative registers and statistics.

Note: IACS is a database administered at national level on the basis of EU legislation that centralizes the data on agricultural subsidies paid by the European Union in each Member State.

Main deliverables

The main deliverables of this work package are the grant reports of three waves of grants and reports to Working Group meetings and seminars.

Since the beginning of the project, the following tasks have been undertaken:

A call for proposal was launched in spring 2015, with the purpose of supporting Member States to make better use of IACS data or other administrative registers available for the production of agricultural statistics. Four Member States applied for the grants, but one of these was finally not signed. Three grant reports (from the grant agreements signed in 2015) were produced by Member States and delivered to Eurostat mid-2017.

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Six grant reports (from the grant agreements signed in 2013) were produced by Member States and delivered to Eurostat end 2015. An analysis of the first six country reports was presented in the DGAS Seminar (see annex).

Four grant reports (from the grant agreements signed in 2014) were produced by Member States and delivered to Eurostat between May and November 2016.

Eurostat participated in the 10th Conference of Directors of Paying Agencies and Coordinating Bodies in December 2016 and presented the "Use of administrative data for statistical purposes". These agencies are the holders of the Integrated Administration and Control System (IACS) which are needed for administering the CAP implementation in the Member States. The Commission invited the paying agencies to consider the potential benefit of reusing data as much as possible, to cooperate with the statistical offices in order to save time and resources of administrations and farmers, as well as to adapt the subsidy forms to include such information that helps to identify the farmer, link the statistical data with administrative registers.

Regarding the use of the vineyard register for European statistics, Eurostat organised a lunchtime event including presentations by Eurostat and INE Portugal on 9 June 2017. The presentations dealt with the experiences from the 2015 vineyard data collection where for the first time the use of the vineyard register was obligatory for collecting statistical data on vineyards. The main outcome was that the key issue is the access to and the quality of the data in the register. The wine authorities and statistical authorities need to co-operate at all levels in order to improve the usability of the resister data for statistical purposes.

Eurostat participated in the Committee for Common Organisation of Agricultural Markets – Subgroup Wine and presented "Structural vineyard statistics 2015 – Vineyard register as mandatory source" in September 2017. Participation in a meeting on 27 November 2017 is foreseen where improvements of the vineyard register will be on the agenda.

Next steps

Summary analysis of the seven country reports received in 2016 and 2017.

4.3 Other pilots

On the basis of the experience in the pilot on fisheries statistics, it is planned to identify a domain where a new pilot could be run on using data collected by other European Commission DGs.

Main deliverables

Identification of a statistical domain and of a suitable database held by European Commission or other EU administrative body.

Study on possible discontinuation of the old data flows and support for the creation of the new data flows; if feasible, changes in data flows.

Final report on the pilot project (December 2019).

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Work towards identifying a new area for a possible new pilot project for using Commission data in order to produce statistics started in 2016. Eurostat already has an inventory of the 297 "other statistics" produced by the DGs (data collected by other DGs as compared to European statistics produced by Eurostat). This inventory has being screened to identify data collections that could possibly serve for producing statistics. Eight areas have been pre-selected: Justice, Ecology, Tourism and Transport, HICP, Data on companies from the Bureau Van Dijk, R&D, Education, asylum and migration. Team leaders of the operational units have been met and a pre-analysis conducted.

Considering potential impact, willingness and possibility to participate in the ADMIN project, migration statistics was selected as the most interesting and promising area.

Next steps

The next step would be to contact the EU agency and investigate the EU databases like the European Agency for the operational management of Large-scale IT Systems in the Area of freedom, security and justice (EU-LISA), the European Dactyloscopy (EURODAC – the fingerprint database for identifying asylum seekers), the Schengen Information System (SIS), the Visa Information System (VIS) and the new systems foreseen to be created: the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) and the Entry Exit System (Entry Exist System), in order to evaluate the feasibility for producing statistics and to evaluate what kind of adaptation would be necessary and what are the legal requirements to ensure access. The recently strengthen European Asylum Support Office is in principle mandated with DG HOME to develop EU wide systems/databases on migration.

WP5. Frames for social statistics

5.1 Report on the availability, kind and development of base registers on persons and buildings (dwellings) and derived frames used in the Member States

5.2 Methodology for the assessment of the quality of frames for social statistics – covered by the ESSnet on quality of multisource statistics

5.3 Preparation of long-term EU actions to increase the availability and quality of sustainable frames in the Member States

The purpose of this package is to make progress in the area of the frames for social statistics, in terms of gathering knowledge on the existing frames used by the NSIs and creating a methodology for assessing their quality.

5.1 Report on the availability, kind and development of base registers on persons and buildings (dwellings) and derived frames used in the Member States

The purpose is to collect information on the existing base registers of persons and buildings and on the derivation from these sources of sampling frames used by the National Statistical Institutes (NSIs) for the production of European social statistics. This information will also support the elaboration of an implementing act on the sampling frames used for social statistics (linked to the IESS framework regulation -Integrated European Social Statistics.

Main deliverables

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The main deliverable is the Report on the availability, kind and development of base registers of persons and buildings (dwellings) and derived frames used in the Member States. This will include the description of each national sampling frame; a gap analysis, highlighting the national legal and institutional factors having impact on the quality of the sampling frames, a typology / classification of the situations and aspects that have a significant impact on the quality of national sampling frames used for producing European social statistics, and a highlight of best practices and set of recommendations, highlighting the areas and aspects that might be addressed in order to enhance the availability, quality and EU-wide consistency of sampling frames.

A contractor started working in January 2016. The contractor has produced a literature review and a framework for describing the existing frames in Member States and the potential quality issues. A questionnaire was sent for gathering additional information from NSI's of 31 countries. Eurostat collected replies of 28 countries. Interviews by phone or on site have been conducted to be more specific on complicated points and to validate the data. The data collection is now finished and Eurostat is currently revising the final report.

The information collected in the survey has also been shared with the partners working on the NET-SILC3 project.

Next steps

Finalize the report and disseminate it.

Eurostat may call the respondents in order to clarify some remaining issue if necessary.

5.3 Preparation of long-term EU actions to increase the availability and quality of sustainable frames in the Member States

This task will be undertaken by a task force whose work should build on results of other tasks in the work package:

The reports of the contract dealing with Task 5.1 Report on the availability, kind and development of base registers on persons and buildings (dwellings) and derived frames used in the Member States (final deliverables expected in 2018, but the draft would be ready for the task force )

The deliverables of Task 5.2 Methodology for the assessment of the quality of frames for social statistics developed by the ESSnet on quality of multisource statistics (final delivery expected at the end of 2017),

Main deliverables

The main deliverable should be the Report on long-term EU actions to increase availability and quality of frames for social statistics. It will include a draft proposal for minimum requirements for sampling frames for EU social statistics and recommendations for the preparation of other legislative or non-legislative documents to support the objective of improved frames for social statistics.

The task force which held his first meeting the 17th and 18th of October 2017. The countries participating in the Task Force are: BG, DE, DK, FR, RO, SI, UK. It had been agreed with ADMIN Steering Group that the work of the task force would start only in 2017 (as opposed to the initial 2016

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planned starting date in the business case). This was necessary in order to have the input from Tasks 5.1 and 5.2 available and to ensure the synergies with the on-going work on the IESS regulation.

During the first meeting, the Task Force:

Took note of the report on the ESSNET on Quality of Multisource Statistics,

Supported the proposal of a glossary,

Took note of the report on the survey on sampling frame,

Agreed to work on a methodological recommendation document,

o A generic set of comparable frame metadata

o Indicator and minimum quality standards

o Follow up actions for improving the frames for social statistics

Reviewed the mandate. See the draft (not yet approved) mandate of the Task Force on Sampling Frames in Annex 3.

Next steps

The next meetings of the Task Force are tentatively scheduled on 13-14 March and the 17-18 October 2018. If necessary, other meetings could be scheduled for 2019. The aim is to provide a report in 2018 or 2019.

The deliverables of the task 5.1 and 5.2 will be used as a basis for the next meeting, as well as the report of the ESSnet on Quality of Multisource Statistics concerning the quality of frames for social statistics.

WP6 Pilot studies and applications

Grants on the improvement of the use of administrative sources (implementing WP6 Pilot studies and applications)

This work package implements yearly waves of individual grants in order to assist Member States in making greater/better use of administrative sources. The work covers all business processes of data collection and production in official statistics that could use administrative data sources, i.e. all processes of transforming administrative data into high quality and efficient information for producing official statistics. This includes both outputs produced using a combination of survey data and administrative sources and outputs based only on administrative data (single or multiple sources). It can concern the integration of new administrative sources in statistical production, or their use for different purposes.

Main deliverables

Country reports on the improvement of the use of administrative data sources.

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A call for proposal was launched in 2015. Priority was given to actions that concern work related to population statistics and the 2021 census; 13 grant agreements were signed. 11 of the applications concerned the improved use of administrative sources for the forthcoming census. The most common themes in the applications were assessing the suitability of new sources and integrating several sources to produce an output. All actions have been finalised and the final reports have been disseminated on CROS portal.

A similar call for proposal was launched in 2016. 13 grants were awarded and the work is on-going. Most of them concern the use of the administrative sources for the census 2021. There are a few applications that proposed a cross-cutting project that would affect several domains.

In 2017, a third call was launched and 9 agreements were sin. As before, the main topic of interest was the census and population statistics.

The grant reports will be disseminated on CROS portal as they become available and a summary review will be published under WP7 Methodological support to Member States.

Next steps

The last call for proposals will be launched in early 2018 with work finishing in mid-2019.

Main deliverables

Contracts on specific methodological issues

The ADMIN business case WP6 foresees some pilot studies implemented through contracts concerning specific statistical domains. Two such areas were identified ta the beginning of the project: education statistics and morbidity statistics. The aim is to improve the quality of statistics in these domains that use administrative data.

Main deliverables

The deliverables will be the methodological reports provided by the contractor.

A contract on education statistics was signed in 2016; however it had to be terminated due to lack of progress. A new contract on methodological issues for morbidity statistics will enter into force in March 2018.

Next steps

Finalisation of the contract on morbidity statistics by the last quarter of 2019.

WP 7 Methodological support to Member States

WP7 aims at providing Member States with training, methodological support through the creation of a specific helpdesk, and on-site coaching and consultancy for using administrative sources. A flexible approach has been chosen, and this work package will use different instruments, in particular the ESTP

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training and the methodological framework contract. WP7 will also have the mission to deal with tasks related to the coordination with other projects such as the HLG on data integration.

Main deliverables expected:

Helpdesk services on methodological issue (functional mail box comparable to the one existing for seasonal adjustment)

On-site coaching/consultancy upon request.

Training (ESTP programme)

Synergy with other projects; sharing of documents (CROS portal)

The following tasks have already been accomplished:

Consultation of the ADMIN contact points on the content of the glossary.

Launching in March 2017 of the Admin Helpdesk. Admin network has been informed by mail whereas announcement of the helpdesk creation has been made during last working group methodology.

Delivery of training on "International migration statistics: Estimation and reconciliation methods when using multiple sources, Budapest", Hungary, 3–5 May 2017.

Delivery of training on Administrative data and censuses, moving from traditional censuses towards register-based and combined censuses, Wiesbaden, Germany, 30 May – 1 June 2017.

Delivery of training on "Moving towards register based statistical system", Valencia, Spain, 13-15 September 2017.

Creation of a platform for exchange of statistical services between Member States on the CROS portal.

Next steps:

February 2018: Finalization of the glossary and dissemination on the CROS portal

June 2017 – March 2018: Up to four on-site consultancy/coaching interventions can take place in the Member States upon request.

February 2018: Technical summary report on grants activities.

March 2018: New methodological framework contract on ESS.VIP.ADMIN methodological support.

Delivery of the ESTP courses in 2018:

o Integration of statistics and geospatial information - from geocoding to statistical maps.

o Administrative data and censuses, moving from traditional censuses towards register-based and combined censuses

o Moving towards register based statistical system

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Annex 2. High level planning of the tasks (update table) 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

Task Q2 Q3 Q4Q1

Q2

Q3

Q4

Q1

Q2

Q3

Q4

Q1

Q2

Q3

Q4Q1

Q2

Q3Q4

WP1 Access to and development of administrative data sources1.1 Report on the legal/institutional environment1.1 –updated timetable1.2 Best practices regarding the relation with data providers1.2 –updated timetable1.3 Preparation of EU long-term actions on access -cancelled1.3 Workshops on exchange of experience and dissemination -newWP2 Estimation methods and the use of administrative data2.1 Review of relevant estimation methods; guidelines2.2 Combining administrative sources and surveys using modelling and estimation methods2.2 updated timetableWP3 Quality measures for statistics using administrative data3.1 Checklist for evaluating the quality of input data3.1 – updated timetable3.2 Framework for the quality evaluation of output based on multiple sources3.2 –updated3.3 Dissemination and implementationWP4 Eurostat as a (in)direct user of administrative data sources held or designed by the European Commission4.1 Pilot on using catch reporting for catch statistics4.2 Pilot on using IACS for agricultural statistics4.3 Other pilots

2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

Task Q2 Q3 Q4Q1

Q2

Q3

Q4

Q1

Q2

Q3

Q4

Q1

Q2

Q3

Q4

Q1

Q2

Q3

Q4

WP5 Frames for social statistics

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5.1 Report on the availability, kind and development of base registers on persons and building and derived frames5.1 updated timetable5.2 Methodology for assessing the quality of frames for social statistics5.2 - updated5.3 Preparation of EU actions to increase availability and quality of frames5.3 updated timetableWP6 Pilot studies and applicationsWP7 Methodological support to Member States

The hatched cells show the continuation of the tasks where there is a decision point involved (task will be continued only if there is sufficient evidence of progress and need). The horizontal greed cells show the tasks where the timetable has changed relative to the initial planning.

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