The European Commission has taken another step to keep a close eye on national statistics, proposing measures that include potential fines for member states caught meddling with data.
We want to ensure that never again will we have any political influence in our figures
The move comes in the wake of recent sour experiences, particularly from Greece, where, after years of wrong data being sent to Brussels, the government admitted much higher debt and deficit levels than official records were showing.
European Commissioner Algirdas Semeta, responsible for the EU’s statistics office Eurostat, said that what happened in Greece and – to a lesser extent – in some other member states, could not be repeated.
“Our statistics are good but we want to go further. We want to ensure that never again will we have any political influence in our statistics,” Mr Semeta told a press conference in Brussels.
“The economic crisis has shown us the importance of credible statistics... but they must be deemed credible,” he added.
The proposals, which need the consent of the European Parliament and member states, are aimed at strengthening the EU’s remit over national statistics authorities and to ensure more independence.
The principle of professional independence of national statistical institutes (NSI) will be clarified and broadened. Particular focus is given to the independence of the heads of NSIs as their professional autonomy is a pre-condition for ensuring the independence of the respective institutions.
Under the revised regulation, NSI heads shall have the freedom to decide on processes, statistical methods, standards and procedures and on the content and timing of statistical releases and publications. They shall coordinate activities within the national statistical system and be independently responsible for the internal management of national institutes.
All EU member states will now have to sign Commitments on Confidence in Statistics: a declaration to respect the European Statistics Code of Practice, in particular the principle of professional independence.
Most importantly, the rules will allow the EU to apply sanctions on countries that fail to safeguard the independence of national statistics institutes or make politically motivated appointments.
Malta’s National Statistics Office, which has been accused by both main political parties when in opposition of creative statistics over the years, welcomed the proposals.
NSO director general Michael Pace Ross said when contacted Malta already respected the European Statistics Code of Practice.
“Our mission is to produce high-quality statistics that are relevant, reliable and comparable and to disseminate them in an impartial, independent and timely manner, making them available simultaneously to all users,” he said.
“As the executive arm of the Malta Statistics Authority since 2001, the autonomy of NSO in its work is safeguarded.”