European system of national and regional accounts in the Community

The purpose of this Regulation is to make available comparable, up-to-date and reliable information on the structure and developments in the economic situation of the Member States of the European Union (EU) and their regions. This system of national accounts meets the requirements of the Community's economic and social policy. It also contributes to management of the economic and monetary union (EMU) and is thus an important tool in analysing the economic situation in a particular country or region.

ACT

Council Regulation (EC) No 2223/96 of 25 June 1996 on the European system of national and regional accounts in the Community [See amending acts].

SUMMARY

The European system of national and regional accounts ("ESA 1995") makes it possible to describe the total economy of a region, country or group of countries, its components and its relations with other total economies.

The ESA is focused on the circumstances and needs of the EU. It can therefore serve as the central framework of reference for the social and economic statistics of the European Union and its Member States.

Content of the ESA

The ESA 1995 comprises two sets of tables:

• the sector accounts *;
• the input-output framework * and the accounts by industry *.

The purpose of this Regulation is to set up the ESA 1995 by providing for:

• a methodology on common standards, definitions, classifications and accounting rules, that is intended to be used for compiling accounts and tables on comparable bases between the Member States for the purposes of the Community;
• a programme, Eurostat, for transmitting on precise dates the accounts and tables compiled according to the ESA 1995.

Use

The Commission uses the national accounts aggregates for Community administrative and budgetary calculations. The ESA applies to all Community acts in which reference is made to it or to the definitions it lays down.

Last updated: 03.11.2010