A. Need for action

What is the problem and why is it a problem at EU level?  

The problem is that European statistics are not sufficiently timely, frequent, detailed, and cost-efficient. Statistical authorities do not sustainably reuse new and innovative data sources emerging as by-products of digital services. The European Statistical System (ESS) is not sufficiently responsive to urgent information needs in times of crises.

This is a problem at EU level because the EU legal framework does not provide the mandate to address the problem.

What should be achieved? 

The general objective is to make sure European statistics are more up to date, detailed and cost-efficient and provided on a more frequent basis. They should also be more responsive to urgent information demands in times of crisis.

What is the value added of action at the EU level (subsidiarity)?

The added value of acting at EU level is mainly that these statistics are needed to guide the work of the EU in its various policy areas, especially political priorities such as the European Green Deal, economic growth, and increased use of digital technologies.

B. Solutions

What are the various options to achieve the objectives? Is there a preferred option or not? If not, why? 

Three policy options were assessed:

0 – the baseline option, which would not entail a revision of Regulation (EC) No 223/2009

1 – a targeted revision of the regulation aimed at introducing legal certainty and empowering both the data holders and the ESS to harness opportunities offered by digital technology, with adequate tools that enable them to respond swiftly and in a coordinated manner to urgent user demands in times of crisis

2 – a revision of the regulation, which would be more ambitious in terms of imposing obligations on data holders and the national statistical authorities in EU countries.

The preferred option is policy option 1.

What are different stakeholders' views? Who supports which option?  

Users and producers of European statistics are strongly in favour of the preferred option.

The general public are also in favour of the preferred option, provided that there are strong safeguards to ensure confidentiality.

Businesses appreciate the benefits in terms of access to up-to-date, detailed statistics that the preferred option would provide, but as data holders they may incur costs. They are open to the preferred option, provided that a fair solution is found for cost compensation.

The possible reduction of the burden on businesses and households by replacing surveys with the use of new data sources is appreciated by all.

C. Impacts of the preferred option

What are the benefits of the preferred option (if any, otherwise of main ones)?

Direct benefits include:

·an increase in the volume, timeliness, and quality of statistics

·a reduction of the response burden caused by surveys

·much faster availability of relevant, standardised information in times of crisis.

Indirect benefits include:

·better policy decisions, especially in times of crisis 

·better informed decisions by businesses

·considerable efficiency gains for the ESS

The direct benefits are estimated at €1.5 billion annually, of which €577 million would accrue to businesses.

What are the costs of the preferred option (if any, otherwise of main ones)?

The direct costs are estimated at €757 million a year, of which €196 million would fall on businesses.

What are the impacts on SMEs and competitiveness?  

Significant savings relate to replacing surveys with new data sources or decreasing their size, lessening the burden on businesses. This will benefit in particular SMEs. Micro and small firms will be exempted from mandatory data sharing.

Competitiveness will be buttressed by having the same rules applied throughout the EU.

Will there be significant impacts on national budgets and administrations?  

The net direct costs on national budgets and administrations are estimated to be €85 million annually.

Will there be other significant impacts?

Better policy decisions will significantly benefit society. Another significant impact is better democracy because of a better-informed public debate.

Proportionality?  

The initiative takes a measured approach, resulting in overall benefits to society that considerably outweigh the total costs. It provides all safeguards that can reasonably be required.

D. Follow up

When will the policy be reviewed?  

Five years after its implementation, the revised Regulation (EC) No 223/2009 will be evaluated.