DS Metadata > Reference metadata reporting standards EN

In the world of statistics, the quality of data is very important. Producers of official statistics must guarantee that European statistics are developed, produced, and disseminated on the basis of uniform standards and harmonised methods. Users of statistics must have access to relevant metadata, which describe the content and quality of statistical outputs. This helps them to interpret and use the statistics correctly.

In order to respond to this need for harmonised reference metadata, Eurostat and the European Statistical System (ESS) developed the single integrated metadata structure (SIMS) to standardise their exchange and dissemination.

Single integrated metadata structure 

SIMS is the inventory and conceptual framework for all ESS quality and reference metadata concepts. The concepts defined in the SIMS standard are compatible with the common terminology established by the SDMX standard. The 19 high-level concepts are derived from the statistical data and metadata exchange (SDMX) cross-domain concepts published in the  SDMX glossary.

For more detailed information about the SIMS standard, we recommend reading the 2015 report  Single integrated metadata structure and its underlying reporting structures.

Depending on the context, Eurostat may only collect and disseminate a subset of the reference metadata concepts defined in SIMS. In particular, the following derived structures exist:

  • the Euro-SDMX metadata structure (ESMS): the ESMS is a subset of SIMS that focusses on general methodological and quality aspects of the statistical production process. ESMS files provide non-specialist users with the information needed to correctly interpret the data;
  • the Euro SDMX metadata structure – indicator profile (ESMS-IP): the  ESMS-IP provides standard reference metadata for indicators. The ESMS-IP is based on the ESMS. In addition, it contains a  quality box at the top, providing users with a summary assessment of the main quality characteristics of the indicator. The ESMS-IPs are used to document the quality of the Sustainable development goals indicators;
  • the ESS standard quality report structure (ESQRS): the ESQRS is a subset of SIMS focusing on detailed quality concepts. ESQRS files provide producers and advanced users with detailed information for assessing the quality of the datasets that are released by Eurostat.

Access to SIMS-based metadata and quality reports

Eurostat's reference metadata files can be found in Eurostat's database. They are attached to individual datasets and can be accessed via the icon . The picture below shows examples of reference metadata files which are attached to datasets on Eurostat's dissemination database.

Screenshot of a branch of Eurostat's database folder showing an expanded folder with datasets, including dataset name, access to the data browser and zip files as well as the metadata icon. Link to this database folder: https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/data/database?node_code=demo_pop

Eurostat publishes EU-wide reference metadata files and, when available, national metadata files. Below, you can see an example of a standardised reference metadata document containing both Eurostat metadata and links to national reference metadata.

Image showing the top of a reference metadata document with the table of contents and links to national reference metadata by countries and released by Eurostat. Link ot the document: https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/cache/metadata/en/prc_hicp_esms.htm

European Statistical System metadata handler

The European Statistical System metadata handler (ESS MH) is a web application developed by Eurostat. It supports the production, management, exchange, and dissemination of European and national reference metadata files based on the above-mentioned standards.

The diagram below presents the business process for reporting SDMX compliant reference metadata and the usage of the ESS MH. All metadata reports submitted via the ESS MH are also automatically registered in EDAMIS, the single-entry point for all data and metadata that are sent to Eurostat.

The process for the transmission and dissemination of reference metadata in the European Statistical System is the following: national authorities use the ESS Metadata Handler for the production of the national metadata reports. These national metadata files are then submitted to Eurostat via the ESS Metadata Handler, and these submissions are automatically registered in EDAMIS, the Single Entry Point for all data and metadata transmissions to Eurostat. Eurostat production units and Eurostat’s metadata team then validate the content and structure of the submitted national files. The validated metadata may then be disseminated on the Eurostat website.

For further information about this application, please visit our ESS-MH page.

Further reading