In statistics, international comparability is crucial. Dutch figures should be compatible with data from other countries on demography, economy, labour market and environmental issues. Bearing this in mind, Statistics Netherlands is active in international conferences and discussion panels of the United Nations, the OECD and particularly in the European Union to promote international comparability. European policy-makers require a lot of statistical information, for example to calculate the contributions of individual member states to the EU or to evaluate whether countries meet the demands of the Growth and Stability Pact. The Lisbon Strategy, which promotes economic growth and employment in Europe also calls for more statistics and improved comparability.
Statistics Netherlands is a leading authority in the field of statistics and aspires to participation and active involvement in European and international conferences at various levels. Next to participation at a strategic level (Statistical Programming Committee, U.N. Statistical Commission), Statistics Netherlands also plays an active role in the development of methods and techniques in a wide variety of policy areas. This is realised by participating in commissions, technical working groups and Task Forces and in the decision-making process about European regulations and in the Council Working Group. It is also important to take part in the decision-making processes leading to international agreements and regulations which affect the statistical programme of Statistics Netherlands.
Current themes
Technical assistance
Technical assistance provided by Statistics Netherlands to third-party countries is realised in compliance with the following criteria. Basically, technical assistance (study visit programmes or long-term assistance projects) can be provided to EU countries, (potential) member states and former and overseas territories. Apart from these regional restrictions, there are thematic restrictions in order to keep the amount of technical assistance within certain pre-set boundaries. Coordinating criteria must be observed, like proper government in the country that submits the request and sustainability of the assistance to be rendered.
Structural Indicators
The structural indicators provide an overview of the documents on structural performance indicators as used by the Committee in the Synthesis Report for the annual spring summit for EU heads of state and government leaders.
The structural indicators should give an idea of the success of the 'Lisbon' strategy. In 2005, EU government leaders decided collectively to give an extra boost to the Lisbon strategy by shifting the emphasis from a community action programme to reform projects on a national level. The EU objective is firmly secured in the Community Lisbon Programme, but member states independently define their national objectives and progress indicators on the basis of the current shortlist. The European Commission will adopt its Annual Progress Report in January 2006 on the basis of the national reform programmes and will, if necessary, submit suggestions to update the integrated directives or make country-specific recommendations.
EFC Action plan
The action plan of the Economic and Financial Commission − also called EFC action plan or EMU action plan − consists of a number of recommendations with respect to stepping up or expanding statistical information vital to the Economic Monetary Union (EMU). This plan was drawn up to facilitate publication of the most recent figures important for Europe’s economic policy as soon as possible, after the establishment of the EMU and in view of the introduction of the euro. Statistics Netherlands agreed to make its statistics comply with these demands, as did the other European National Statistical Institutes.
Five themes can be distinguished within the EFC action plan:
• quarterly accounts
• statistics on public finances
• labour market statistics
• short-term statistics
• figures for foreign trade
There is a relation with the Principal European Economic Indicators (PEEIs). PEEIs are a collection of variables and agreements with respect to these variables, particularly to step up procedures. The proposals for the PEEIs largely refer to the same variables as mentioned in the EFC action plan, but often have stricter requirements with respect to timely availability and other demands.
