The Development of Social Statistics in the European Statistical System

1. The Development of Social Statistics in the European Statistical System Michel GLAUDE Director Social and Information Society Statistics EUROSTAT Expert group meeting on the scope and content of Social Statistics

2. Societal changes and new challenges in Europe • Globalisation • Population ageing • Increased ethnic and cultural diversity • Individualisation • Innovation and technological change • Gender equality? Expert group meeting on the scope and content of Social Statistics

3. The role of the EU • In line with subsidiarity and proportionality requirements MS should have the main responsibility for policy design and implementation • EU actions are aimed at rising awareness and setting up policy frameworks for action based on the Open Method of Coordination • OMC works through: - Setting of common objectives - Exchange of best practices - Reporting by MS according to their national strategies - Synthesis made by the Commission and endorsed by the Council Expert group meeting on the scope and content of Social Statistics

4. Peculiarities and strengths of the European statistical system • A relatively new system compared to the national statistical systems • Production of national statistics is done by the national statistical institutes, Eurostat does the aggregation… • The regulatory instrument: Once Member States have reached agreement (by qualified majority) all EU countries have to apply the programme Expert group meeting on the scope and content of Social Statistics

5. Statistical needs • A comprehensive set of Indicators - Structural and SDI indicators but also - Leaken (social inclusion), Education, Gender…indicators • Satellite accounts (linked to National accounts) - Social protection, Health, ICT, tourism, labour… • Anonymised sets of microdata for the research Community - LFS, SES, EU-SILC, CVTS • Statistical analyses, monographic publications • High quality is paramount Expert group meeting on the scope and content of Social Statistics

6. A statistical strategy: The essence of the work Expert group meeting on the scope and content of Social Statistics

7. A statistical strategy: The essence of the work (2) x Member States x Statistical Tools x x With an European point of view a third dimension (MS) is to be added to the previous matrix Statistical Demands Expert group meeting on the scope and content of Social Statistics

8. A statistical strategy : Basic principles • Anticipation • Cooperation (Incl. with International Organizations) • Exploit the potential of administrative sources • Enhance comparability. By more input harmonisation? • Division of work between NSIs and Eurostat • Develop Data Analyses • Assess the costs and benefits of statistics • Defend the values of Official Statistics Expert group meeting on the scope and content of Social Statistics

9. State of play • Important efforts have been made over the last ten years to harmonise the main data collections at EU level by adopting a set of Framework Regulations concerning: - Surveys: LFS,EU-SILC, SES, LCS, CVTS, ICT, AES, EHIS... - Social Accounts: ESSPROS, SHA, Tourism, ICT sector… - Quality reports which are regularly released • Moreover: - Main results are disseminated free of charge on the web - Anonymised Microfiles are accessible for Researchers: LFS, SES, EU-SILC, CVTS Expert group meeting on the scope and content of Social Statistics

10. Current Challenges • Quality In particular as Comparability is concerned • Responsiveness To EU policy makersneeds • Integration From a practical point of view Expert group meeting on the scope and content of Social Statistics

11. Proposals at a transversal level • The “Core Social Variables” project - 16 identical variables collected in every EU social survey concerning Demographic, Economic and Geographic Information - To produce for sub populations information coming from various domains (Labour market, , Health, poverty…) • The European Socio-economic Classification (ESeC) Expert group meeting on the scope and content of Social Statistics

12. Proposals at a transversal level (2)The European Household Survey • Objectives: Rationalisation and responsiveness A system of Household survey modules 270 000 Individuals (15+) • Regular Modules: - Core variables - ICT usage - Health Indicators • Five years Modules - AES - EHIS • Ad-Hoc modules to respond to new policy needs: Discrimination, Victimisation, Consumer protection, Care services, Youth, Fertility, Social Capital… Expert group meeting on the scope and content of Social Statistics

13. Main Statistical challenges For Migration Statistics • A clear shift from national to European issues • Mainstreaming Migration in all policy areas and data collection • Amending or launching new Surveys • Better using administrative information (on residence permits for example) • A need for a European Integrated System for the exchange of migration data (both aggregate and possibly microdata) between MS Expert group meeting on the scope and content of Social Statistics