Alison Pritchard Economic Surveys Division, ONS, UK 28 October 2011

1. ESSnet on the use of administrative data for business statistics:How to make collaboration between MSs work Alison Pritchard Economic Surveys Division, ONS, UK 28 October 2011

2. Outline of the Presentation • Setting up the partnership • Establishing the Work package teams • Co-ordination group • Co-ordinator’s role • Common interests

3. Setting up the partnership • Eurostat set up a Task Force involving all interested MSs. • Agreeing the Workpackages (WPs); • Finding out who wanted to work on each WP; • Time and money are needed, as all this work has to be done before the FPA is signed and is therefore not eligible for Eurostat co-funding; • More recently, some ESSnets have sorted out these issues during their first SGA period.

4. Establishing the Work package teams • Differences in expertise • Differences in experience • Differences in available staff • Kick-off meetings • Choose staff who are able and willing to travel abroad for meetings • Useful to retain the same people over the whole ESSnet, as much as possible

5. The role of the Co-ordination Group • Each WP leader • Each country co-ordinator • Eurostat also a member • Meetings initially 4 times a year, now 3 times • Chaired by Eurostat or ONS senior staff • Management Agreement

6. The Co-ordinator’s role - Technical Applying for the SGA: • Do each WP’s plans fit with what is required by the FPA. If not, can the change be justified? Ensuring the terms of each SGA are complied with: • Are the deliverables going to be ready on time? • Will they be of sufficient quality to satisfy Eurostat? Preparing interim and final reports Relationship between Co-ordinator and each Work package leader is critical.

7. The Co-ordinator’s role - Budgetary Applying for the SGA: • Do the budgets of the co-partners agree? • Is there sufficient co-funding for all the co-partners? Ensuring the out-turn is in line with the budget: • Collecting T&S receipts and other evidence • Reviewing quarterly reports of the working hours of each member of staff on each Work package Preparing interim and final Reports Relationship between ESSnet Co-ordinator and each Country Co-ordinator is critical.

8. Common interests An ESSnet will operate successfully, only if all the co-partners and Eurostat share the following:- • Common interests in achieving the aims of the ESSnet; • Mutual respect and trust; • Realistic plans; • Openness about problems within NSIs which threaten delivery of some of the ESSnet’s aims;

9. Thank you for your time and attention