Experts to assess the compliance of Statistics Estonia with the European Statistics Code of Practice

All European statistical authorities follow a set of 16 principles, which are defined in the European Statistics Code of Practice. The latter is supported by the Quality Assurance Framework of the European Statistical System. Implementation of the Code of Practice is monitored through peer reviews, which are conducted about every five years. The last round of peer reviews took place in 2013–2015 and the current round lasts from 2021 to 2023. The peer review in Estonia is scheduled for 6–10 September and it is coordinated by Statistics Estonia’s quality manager in cooperation with the international relations adviser.

According to Kristi Lebin, Quality Manager at Statistics Estonia, it is the third time that Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union, organises a round of peer reviews. “All statistical authorities of EU member states and of the countries on the path to join the EU are peer-reviewed. For each country, Eurostat forms a committee, or a team of experts, which always includes one member from Eurostat, a head of department or director-general of a statistical authority and 2–3 external experts,” explained Lebin.

The methodology and focus of peer reviews were developed by the European statistics quality working parties. A peer review is divided into two parts: first, the statistical authority completes a self-assessment questionnaire and assesses its implementation of the European Statistics Code of Practice; then, a team of experts assigned by Eurostat assess compliance using the same self-assessment questionnaire and interviews. The team of experts conducting the peer review of Statistics Estonia include Jørgen Elmeskov, Director-General of Statistics Denmark; Hana Slegrova, educator and long-term department head at the Czech Statistical Office; Daniela Stefanescu, Director of European Affairs and International Cooperation of the Romanian national statistical institute; and František Bernadič, director of Macroeconomic statistics at Eurostat.

Preparations for the peer review started at Statistics Estonia about nine months ago. “A few months back, we submitted the self-assessment questionnaire to the committee. We explained how and to what extent the activities of Statistics Estonia comply with the Code of Practice and added necessary documents, which serve as a kind of proof,” said Lebin.
 

Riina Kerner, International Relations Adviser at Statistics Estonia, emphasises that peer reviews are independent and provide a thorough overview of how well Statistics Estonia observes the quality criteria of Eurostat and follows the European Code of Practice. “The review and the subsequent reports also provide a good opportunity to initiate cooperation with the statistical authorities of other countries. The reports for each country are published on Eurostat website. They also include examples of the best practices of different statistical offices. As a final result of peer reviews, recommendations are given for improving quality,” added Kerner.

Summaries of peer reviews in Estonia are available on Eurostat website.