The European Statistics Code of Practice celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2025!
The European Statistics Code of Practice, an instrument that aims to improve trust in the European Statistical System and guarantee the quality of European statistics, celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2025. Statistics Portugal has adopted the Code of Practice in the production of all official statistics.
The Code is an instrument to ensure that European Statistical System (ESS) statistics are produced within a common quality reference framework, are relevant, timely and accurate and respect the principles of professional independence, impartiality, and objectivity. The ultimate aim of the Code is to ensure the high quality of European statistics, so that they merit the trust of their users.
What are the reasons behind such a comprehensive quality framework for creating European statistics?
In a context characterised by growing social, economic, and environmental challenges, the availability of reliable and accurate data is essential. Quality statistical information is the basis for informed and effective decisions. For those responsible for defining and monitoring public policies, accurate data is indispensable for designing responses that are tailored to the real needs of the population. In the business sector, access to accurate data is essential for planning, investing, and innovating with confidence, ensuring the success of strategic decisions geared towards competitiveness and growth. In academia, researchers and higher education institutions rely on robust data to analyse phenomena, study trends, and assess impacts in various areas. Journalists, as information mediators, need up-to-date and reliable data to ensure accurate communication and effectively combat disinformation. Citizens, too, have the right to access clear and objective information, which enables them to make informed decisions and participate actively in democratic life. The quality, reliability and transparency of data are therefore essential to ensure the proper functioning of institutions and the sustainable development of societies.
The European Statistics Code of Practice, as part of a common quality framework for the European Statistical System, sets out the common principles to ensure that European statistics are produced to high standards, ensuring their quality, credibility, and reliability.
Trust in and use of European statistics can protect society from being influenced by disinformation.
The European Statistics Code of Practice was adopted by the Statistical Programme Committee (SPC) of the European Union in February 2005, and its adoption was advised to Member States by the European Commission.
The Code of Practice is a self-regulatory instrument whose main purpose is to improve trust and confidence in official statistics produced and disseminated by the statistical authorities of Member States, Candidate Countries, EFTA Members and Eurostat, reinforcing their independence, integrity and responsibility and to enhance the quality of European Statistics.
The Code of Practice comprises the Quality Declaration of the European Statistical System and 16 Principles covering three main groups: Institutional Environment, Statistical Processes and Statistical Output. A set of 84 indicators of best practices and standards for each of the Principles provides the European references for the statistical activity. This 2017 edition is the second revision of the Code of Practice, which aims at reflecting the latest changes and innovations in the development, production and dissemination of official statistics in the European Statistical System and beyond, such as emerging new data sources, use of new technologies, modernisation of the legal framework, and the results of the peer reviews on the implementation of the Code of Practice. The adoption of one more Principle in the context of coordination and cooperation (Principle 1-A) reinforces the area of the institutional environment.
An independent Advisory Board, the European Statistical Governance Advisory Board (ESGAB) provides an overview of the European Statistical System as regards the implementation of the Code of Practice. The Board analyses the implementation of the Code of Practice by the European Union Statistical Authority (Eurostat) and the European Statistical System as a whole every year; and advises on appropriate measures to facilitate the implementation of the Code of Practice, on its communication to users and data providers as well as on its possible updates.
The Code of Practice was adopted by Statistics Portugal and it is reflected in its values. Statistics Portugal is committed to promote its adoption and implementation by the other national entities intervening in the production of National Statistics, and also amongst respondents and users (policy-makers, public in general as well as researchers, media and students).
The Principles of the Code of Practice together with the Quality Declaration provide the quality framework of the European Statistical System, a crucial instrument to ensure trust and credibility in European statistics.
2025
The implementation of the European Statistics Code of Practice
