Reference metadata describe statistical concepts and methodologies used for the collection and generation of data. They provide information on data quality and, since they are strongly content-oriented, assist users in interpreting the data. Reference metadata, unlike structural metadata, can be decoupled from the data.
[BA1] Agency for Statistics of Bosnia and Herzegovina (Agencija za statistiku Bosne i Hercegovine)
1.2. Contact organisation unit
Department for Environment, Energy and Regional Statistics
1.3. Contact name
Confidential because of GDPR
1.4. Contact person function
Confidential because of GDPR
1.5. Contact mail address
Zelenih beretki 26, 71 000 Sarajevo
1.6. Contact email address
Confidential because of GDPR
1.7. Contact phone number
Confidential because of GDPR
1.8. Contact fax number
Confidential because of GDPR
2.1. Metadata last certified
30 December 2025
2.2. Metadata last posted
30 December 2025
2.3. Metadata last update
30 December 2025
3.1. Data description
Environmental protection expenditure accounts (EPEA) describe transactions related to preventing, reducing and eliminating pollution and any other degradation of the environment. The main aggregate resulting from EPEA is national expenditure on environmental protection (NEEP), which measures the resources dedicated by resident businesses, households and government to protecting the natural environment. This aggregate covers uses of environmental protection services, investment (gross fixed capital formation) for environmental protection activities, and net transfers to the rest of the world for environmental protection. Countries are required to report on: output, consumption, imports and exports of environmental protection services, investment (gross fixed capital formation and acquisitions less disposals of non-produced non-financial assets) for the production of EP services, transfers for environmental protection.
3.2. Classification system
The scope of environmental protection is defined according to the classification of environmental purposes (CEP). The mandatory reporting is defined by Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2025/1131 of 26 March 2025 amending Regulation (EU) No 691/2011.
For EPEA data reporting in CEP, Eurostat has introduced an ad hoc breakdown of Cross-cutting and other environmental purposes (CEP 08), i.e. the share “of which for environmental protection” (CEP 08 EP) for voluntary reporting to ensure the reconciliation with previous classification (CEPA) and allow the calculation of total environmental protection aggregates including administration, management as well as education, training and information (cross-cutting activities) related to environmental protection.
3.3. Coverage - sector
Data should be reported by institutional sector: general government, corporations, households and the rest of the world. NPISH (non-profit institutions serving households) are not separately identified and are included under general government. The corporations sector is divided between: "corporations as specialist and secondary producers of market EP services" and "corporations other, including corporations as producers of ancillary EP output"; productive activities of households are included under corporations as market producers.
3.4. Statistical concepts and definitions
The construction of the EPEA closely follows the concepts, definitions and accounting rules of the core national accounts. The SEEA-CF 2012 (section 4.2) identifies environmental protection activities as those activities whose primary purpose is the prevention, reduction and elimination of pollution and other forms of degradation of the environment. These activities include, but are not limited to, the prevention, reduction or treatment of waste and wastewater; the prevention, reduction or elimination of air emissions; the treatment and disposal of contaminated soil and groundwater; the prevention or reduction of noise and vibration levels; the protection of biodiversity and landscapes, including of their ecological functions; monitoring of the quality of the natural environment (air, water, soil and groundwater); research and development on environmental protection; and the general administration, training and teaching activities oriented towards environmental protection.
3.5. Statistical unit
Environmental protection expenditure accounts present data, in a way that is compatible with the data reported under ESA, on the expenditure for environmental protection, i.e. the economic resources devoted by resident units to environmental protection. EPEA use statistical units from national accounts. National accounts define and use various statistical units and groupings of units that interact economically (see ESA 2010, §§ 1.54-1.56, 2.01-2.03).
3.6. Statistical population
The statistical population is the national economy as defined in SEEA CF 2012 and the European System of Accounts (ESA 2010). It includes all economic activities undertaken by resident units to produce environmental protection specific services. While some economic activities may be undertaken only for a single purpose, many activities are undertaken for a variety of purposes. Following general principles of classification, activities are deemed to be environmental activities only if the primary purpose of the activity is consistent with the definitions of the environmental protection.
3.7. Reference area
The reference area of the statistics is Bosnia and Herzegovina. The reference area is the economic territory as defined in the European System of Accounts (ESA 2010). A unit is said to be a resident unit of a country when it has its centre of economic interest in the economic territory of that country, that is, when it engages for an extended period (1 year or more) in economic activities in that territory.
3.8. Coverage - Time
2021 - 2024
3.9. Base period
Not requested for this metadata collection.
Macroeconomic variables (output, intermediate consumption, investment, etc.) are measured in millions of units of national currency.
The reference period for EPEA data is the calendar year.
6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements
EPEA accounts are compiled and reported in accordance with Regulation (EU) No. 691/2011 on European environmental economic accounts (EEEA) and subsequent amendments. EPEA follow internationally agreed concepts and definitions set out in the SEEA Central Framework (2012), the international statistical standard adopted by the UN Statistical Commission. They present data in a way that is compatible with National Accounts (ESA, 2010).
In addition:
Law on Statistics of Bosnia and Herzegovina,
Multiannual statistical programs and annual work plans of BiH,
EPEA statistics methodology,
International recommendations and manuals (Eurostat).
6.2. Institutional Mandate - data sharing
The data are collected in the entity statistical institutes of the RS and FBiH and then forwarded to the BiH Statistics Agency. Data sharing between statistical institutions is regulated by the Law on Statistics of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The confidentiality of statistical data is regulated by law and the staff carrying out statistical survey has the obligation, according to the same legal basis, to protect confidentiality. The Law on Statistics of Bosnia and Herzegovina (Official Gazette BiH 26/04 and 42/04 - Chapter XI - Articles 23-29) establishes the principle of confidentiality as one of the main principles. The Agency for Statistics of BIH distributes statistics in line with the statistical principles of the European Statistics Code of Practice, and in particular in line with the principle of statistical confidentiality.
7.2. Confidentiality - data treatment
The document "Rules on the Protection of Statistical Data in the Agency for Statistics" lists procedures for ensuring confidentiality during collection, processing, and dissemination - including protocols for securing individual data being accessed, rules for defining confidential cells in output tables, and procedures for the detection and prevention of subsequent disclosures as well as access to microdata for research purposes.
8.1. Release calendar
At the end of December every year, BHAS announces the Release Calendar with the precise date and time of publication of the statistics for the following year.
8.2. Release calendar access
You can access the statistical editions of the Agency for Statistics of Bosnia and Herzegovina via the BHAS Release Calendar webpage.
The principle that all users have equal access to statistical data on an impartial basis is set out in Article 8, paragraph 2, point h, and Article 19 paragraph 2 of the Law on Statistics of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and BHAS consistently implements it in practice.
Expenditures on environmental protection of BiH are disseminated on an annual basis.
10.1. Dissemination format - News release
FIRST RELEASE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION EXPENDITURE
Users of data from statistical survey can be various institutions at the BiH level. The users of this data are also business entities-companies, the media, and the general public. These data are used in water statistics
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
There is no user satisfaction survey for this survey.
12.3. Completeness
Due to the unavailability of data from the National Accounts, all data for mandatory variables are not fully provided.
12.3.1. Data completeness - rate
Not requested for this metadata collection.
13.1. Accuracy - overall
Data from the survey questionnaires are thoroughly checked. Data quality can be improved by gathering data from more sources.
13.2. Sampling error
Not applicable.
13.2.1. Sampling error - indicators
Not requested for this metadata collection.
13.3. Non-sampling error
Not applicable.
13.3.1. Coverage error
Not requested for this metadata collection.
13.3.1.1. Over-coverage - rate
Not requested for this metadata collection.
13.3.1.2. Common units - proportion
Not requested for this metadata collection.
13.3.2. Measurement error
Not requested for this metadata collection.
13.3.3. Non response error
Not requested for this metadata collection.
13.3.3.1. Unit non-response - rate
Not requested for this metadata collection.
13.3.3.2. Item non-response - rate
Not requested for this metadata collection.
13.3.4. Processing error
Not requested for this metadata collection.
13.3.5. Model assumption error
Not requested for this metadata collection.
14.1. Timeliness
Final results of available data is usually available T+12
14.1.1. Time lag - first result
November 2025
14.1.2. Time lag - final result
November 2025
14.2. Punctuality
The data were delivered to Eurostat on 30 December 2025. The reporting deadline for EPEA to Eurostat is 31 December.
14.2.1. Punctuality - delivery and publication
Not requested for this metadata collection.
15.1. Comparability - geographical
Not applicable
15.1.1. Asymmetry for mirror flow statistics - coefficient
Not requested for this metadata collection.
15.2. Comparability - over time
2021-2024
15.2.1. Length of comparable time series
Not requested for this metadata collection.
15.3. Coherence - cross domain
The data is coherent with the statistical data of foreign trade statistics (import-export)
15.3.1. Coherence - sub annual and annual statistics
Not requested for this metadata collection.
15.3.2. Coherence - National Accounts
Not applicable
15.4. Coherence - internal
The data reported are internally coherent (totals are equal to the sum of the breakdowns)
There is no information on costs related to data collection. EPEA data is processed, disseminated and reported by 1 statistician, approximately 0.33 FTE.
17.1. Data revision - policy
The Agency for Statistics of BiH has no official document on the revision policy for this survey.
17.2. Data revision - practice
Data revision is a continuous process and is carried out to improve previously published data. The reasons for the revision may be related to changes in data sources and the use of new methodologies and classifications with the aim of full comparability of time series. By applying the new CEP classification, the data for the time series 2021-2024 were revised.
17.2.1. Data revision - average size
Not requested for this metadata collection.
18.1. Source data
Source data - detailed - General government and NPISH
Data for the General government and NPISH are not available. Data on the COFOG function is not available. COFOG has not yet been implemented in national accounts
Source data - detailed – Corporations (specialist and ancillary)
We use data from surveys on environmental protection expenditure. Regular annual data collection from fields of activity: mining and quarrying, manufacturing, and electricity, gas and water supply, water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities.
Source data - detailed - Household
Most of the data for Households are not available. There is no data in the national accounts department.
Source data - detailed - other macro-economic data (import, export, VAT etc.)
Data from environmental protection expenditure surveys and data obtained from the Department for International Trade Statistics are used.
Source data - detailed - national expenditure on environmental protection NEEP
All of the above sources
Source data - detailed – other information
We use most of the data to fill out the EPEA questionnaire from the annual survey. We received the data for Import - Export from International Trade Statistics. Data from national accounts are not available because the National Accounts Department of BHAS does not create SUT tables and does not develop satellite accounts. Also, data on the COFOG function is not available. COFOG has not yet been implemented in national accounts.
18.2. Frequency of data collection
Frequency of data collection is annually
18.3. Data collection
Data for the survey Environmental protection expenditures are submitted by mail. Data are collected directly from selected reporting units by sending a questionnaire to enterprises by mail (in paper form).
18.4. Data validation
We obtain data from the Environmental Expenditure Survey; there are no additional validation rules. Entity statistical institutes and the Agency for Statistics of Bosnia and Herzegovina perform data validity and credibility checks. A data validity error is detected when data entry is incorrect, which can lead to problems in data processing so that the data cannot be included in statistical analyses and must be deleted or corrected. Examples of such errors are incorrectly reported values of costs or investments resulting from a misunderstanding of the methodology. Data credibility control involves checking the accuracy of the data and assessing any possible errors related to the data. The fact is that some data that have passed the validity check may still be incorrect. The remaining errors can be detected by comparing time series.
18.5. Data compilation
No weighting or imputation of missing values is carried out.
18.5.1. Imputation - rate
Not requested for this metadata collection.
18.6. Adjustment
Not requested for this metadata collection.
18.6.1. Seasonal adjustment
Not requested for this metadata collection.
We use most of the data for filling in the EPEA questionnaire from the data we receive from the annual survey. We obtained the data for imports and exports from the International Trade Statistics. Data from national accounts are not available because the National Accounts Department of BHAS does not create SUT tables and does not develop satellite accounts. Also, data on the COFOG function are not available. COFOG has not yet been implemented in the national accounts.
Transfers to and from the rest of the world are not taken into account when calculating the NEEP of corporations, as this information is not currently available. ESA 2010 has not been fully implemented and there is no validated National Tax List (NTL List) for Bosnia and Herzegovina, so data on transfers are not available. The Agency for Statistics of Bosnia and Herzegovina receives aggregated data from entity statistical institutions and does not have access to individual data.
Environmental protection expenditure accounts (EPEA) describe transactions related to preventing, reducing and eliminating pollution and any other degradation of the environment. The main aggregate resulting from EPEA is national expenditure on environmental protection (NEEP), which measures the resources dedicated by resident businesses, households and government to protecting the natural environment. This aggregate covers uses of environmental protection services, investment (gross fixed capital formation) for environmental protection activities, and net transfers to the rest of the world for environmental protection. Countries are required to report on: output, consumption, imports and exports of environmental protection services, investment (gross fixed capital formation and acquisitions less disposals of non-produced non-financial assets) for the production of EP services, transfers for environmental protection.
30 December 2025
The construction of the EPEA closely follows the concepts, definitions and accounting rules of the core national accounts. The SEEA-CF 2012 (section 4.2) identifies environmental protection activities as those activities whose primary purpose is the prevention, reduction and elimination of pollution and other forms of degradation of the environment. These activities include, but are not limited to, the prevention, reduction or treatment of waste and wastewater; the prevention, reduction or elimination of air emissions; the treatment and disposal of contaminated soil and groundwater; the prevention or reduction of noise and vibration levels; the protection of biodiversity and landscapes, including of their ecological functions; monitoring of the quality of the natural environment (air, water, soil and groundwater); research and development on environmental protection; and the general administration, training and teaching activities oriented towards environmental protection.
Environmental protection expenditure accounts present data, in a way that is compatible with the data reported under ESA, on the expenditure for environmental protection, i.e. the economic resources devoted by resident units to environmental protection. EPEA use statistical units from national accounts. National accounts define and use various statistical units and groupings of units that interact economically (see ESA 2010, §§ 1.54-1.56, 2.01-2.03).
The statistical population is the national economy as defined in SEEA CF 2012 and the European System of Accounts (ESA 2010). It includes all economic activities undertaken by resident units to produce environmental protection specific services. While some economic activities may be undertaken only for a single purpose, many activities are undertaken for a variety of purposes. Following general principles of classification, activities are deemed to be environmental activities only if the primary purpose of the activity is consistent with the definitions of the environmental protection.
The reference area of the statistics is Bosnia and Herzegovina. The reference area is the economic territory as defined in the European System of Accounts (ESA 2010). A unit is said to be a resident unit of a country when it has its centre of economic interest in the economic territory of that country, that is, when it engages for an extended period (1 year or more) in economic activities in that territory.
The reference period for EPEA data is the calendar year.
Data from the survey questionnaires are thoroughly checked. Data quality can be improved by gathering data from more sources.
Macroeconomic variables (output, intermediate consumption, investment, etc.) are measured in millions of units of national currency.
No weighting or imputation of missing values is carried out.
Source data - detailed - General government and NPISH
Data for the General government and NPISH are not available. Data on the COFOG function is not available. COFOG has not yet been implemented in national accounts
Source data - detailed – Corporations (specialist and ancillary)
We use data from surveys on environmental protection expenditure. Regular annual data collection from fields of activity: mining and quarrying, manufacturing, and electricity, gas and water supply, water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities.
Source data - detailed - Household
Most of the data for Households are not available. There is no data in the national accounts department.
Source data - detailed - other macro-economic data (import, export, VAT etc.)
Data from environmental protection expenditure surveys and data obtained from the Department for International Trade Statistics are used.
Source data - detailed - national expenditure on environmental protection NEEP
All of the above sources
Source data - detailed – other information
We use most of the data to fill out the EPEA questionnaire from the annual survey. We received the data for Import - Export from International Trade Statistics. Data from national accounts are not available because the National Accounts Department of BHAS does not create SUT tables and does not develop satellite accounts. Also, data on the COFOG function is not available. COFOG has not yet been implemented in national accounts.
Expenditures on environmental protection of BiH are disseminated on an annual basis.
Final results of available data is usually available T+12
