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.
Statistics on international supply of services (ISS) by modes of supply (MoS) show how and where services are supplied internationally, namely by answering the question of 'how' services are exchanged across countries and 'where' services are supplied to foreign customers. Detailed information on international supply of services statistics by services category, mode of supply and partner country help policymakers carry out the ongoing and future trade negotiating agenda with facts and strong, evidence-based arguments and they allow to monitor the impact of services trade agreements.
The General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS), the first multilateral agreement to cover trade in services, defines trade in services as the supply of a service through any of four modes of supply, outlined in the bullet points below.
Mode 1 - cross-border supply: from the territory of one country into the territory of another country;
Mode 2 - consumption abroad: in the territory of one country to the service consumer of another country;
Mode 3 - commercial presence: by a service supplier of one country, through a commercial presence in the territory of another country. The FATS framework is designed to provide information on the activities of enterprises located in foreign markets;
Mode 4 - presence of natural persons: by a service supplier of one country, through the presence of natural persons of that country in the territory of any other country.
Total international supply of services (total of modes 1, 2, 3 and 4)
Mode 1 (‘cross border transactions’),
Mode 2 (‘consumption abroad’),
Mode 3 (‘commercial presence’), and
Mode 4 (‘presence of natural persons’).
3.5. Statistical unit
Not applicable.
3.6. Statistical population
Total international supply of services by all four modes of supply.
3.7. Reference area
Czechia
3.8. Coverage - Time
From 2023 as reference year
3.9. Base period
Not applicable.
Data are reported in national currency (thousands).
Eurostat disseminates data in euro (millions).
Calendar year.
6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements
Regulation (EU) 2019/2152 on European business statistics sets the data requirements in the field of international supply of services by modes for the EU Member States and EFTA countries. The exact technical specifications are listed in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1197. The requirements concerning the MoS domain are defined in table 38 "Statistics on international activities – International Supply of Services by Mode of Supply – annual data" of the Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1197. The variable must be reported annually with first reference year 2023.
6.2. Institutional Mandate - data sharing
The state statistical service is carried out by the so-called authorities of the state statistical service, which, according to § 3 of Act No. 89/1995 Coll., on the state statistical service, are the Czech Statistical Office (CZSO), or ministries and other central state administration authorities under the conditions and to the extent set by this law. The scope of the Czech Statistical Office and other authorities of the state statistical service are defined in § 4, respectively § 7 of the Act.
Czech Statistical Office according to § 4, paragraph 3 of Act No. 89/1995 Sb coordinates the State Statistical Service, which is performed by other Authorities of the State Statistical Service.
CZSO cooperates in sharing administrative data sources; enters into mutual cooperation agreements with the owners of this data.
MoS data are not regularly shared with national and international organizations, except for Eurostat.
7.1. Confidentiality - policy
Regulation (EC) No 223/2009 on European statistics (recital 24 and Article 20(4)) of 11 March 2009 (OJ L 87, p. 164), stipulates the need to establish common principles and guidelines ensuring the confidentiality of data used for the production of European statistics and the access to those confidential data with due account for technical developments and the requirements of users in a democratic society.
Since 2022 reference period, the applicable regulation is Regulation (EU) 2019/2152 (OJ L 327).
The European Statistics Code of Practice provides further conditions that have to be respected by statistical offices in regard to statistical confidentiality (Principle 5).
The confidentiality issues are regulated by internal directives of the CZSO and the confidentiality policy at the CZSO is based on:
Act No. 89/1995 Coll. on the state statistical service as amended (assures protection of individual data and implies the active approach to data protection),
Law on protection of personal data,
The internal Directive No. 3/2015 of the Czech Statistical Office (the defines the detailed rules, which are seen as confidential).
7.2. Confidentiality - data treatment
Data are only published down the level at which they are not confidential, i.e. confidential cells are suppressed from publication. The data allowing direct or indirect identification of individual enterprise can be published under written permission of all related subjects.
8.1. Release calendar
MoS data are not published at the national level, they are currently disseminated only by Eurostat. The data for Mode 1,2 and 4 are sent to Eurostat no later than 10 months after the end of the reference year. The data for Mode 3 and Totals are sent to Eurostat no later than 22 months after the end of the reference year.
All data are released at the same time for all users. Release calendar is available at the CZSO website.
Annual.
10.1. Dissemination format - News release
MoS data are not part of News release at the national level.
10.2. Dissemination format - Publications
Set of tables defined by Eurostat.
10.3. Dissemination format - online database
Data for international trade in services (source data for MoS 1, 2, 4) are an integral part of the balance of payments current account published by the Czech National Bank.
FATS data (source data for MoS 3) are published by two institutions: Czech National Bank - CNB (responsible for OFATS) and Czech Statistical Office - CZSO (responsible for IFATS). Data on Czech-controlled enterprises abroad (OFATS) as a part of balance of payment and FDI statistics are published annually in CNB's statistical outputs. Data on foreign-controlled enterprises in the Czech Republic (IFATS) are published annually in the business statistics section of CZSO.
As mentioned in point 10.1. MoS aggregate data are not currently published at the national level.
The CZSO implements and in an active manner provides for necessary characteristics of the institutional environment, key and support processes of production of statistics and statistical outputs as specified in the respective principles of the European Statistics Code of Practice. The principles are completely taken into account in the published documents of the Mission, Vision, and Strategy, Mid--Term Key Priorities, and the following annual Priority Tasks and Work Programmes of the Office.
The CZSO top management supports total quality management processes, including their continuous improvement. The commitment to quality is taken into account in making concepts of and implementing processes and procedures, internal regulations, rules and bylaws, and organisation structures of the Office and is implemented by a combination of activities at the headquarters level and at the levels of respective statistical and support units.
The key parameters of quality of the CZSO processes and outputs are set in accordance with requirements of external as well as internal users. There are formalized processes for collection, evaluation, and preparation of reports on quality, respecting specifics of respective statistics and based on requirements of relevant legal regulations, established in the Office.
In general, according to the information available from the quality reports, the data providers have applied the recommendations available in the Regulation (EU) 2019/2152.
12.1. Relevance - User Needs
A long term priority for business negotiations is comprehensive information on trade in services by mode of supply (MoS). Detailed international supply of services statistics by mode of supply and partner country help the policymakers to support the trade agenda with strong facts and evidence-based arguments. These statistics provide a more complete picture of how and where services are supplied internationally, by combining services traded across the border (by a non-resident to a resident) statistics with services supplied via foreign affiliates statistics (covering the commercial presence abroad). The need of MoS statistics has been recognised in EBS Regulation, introducing a new data collection on ISS by MoS from 2023 (as the first reference year for data reporting).
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
No user survey on MoS data was carried out so far.
12.3. Completeness
International supply of services by modes of supply statistics are based on the EU legislation which is directly applicable in the EU Member States. All the mandatory datasets are provided by all the Member States. All the current ESS requirements for data items are 100% met by the Czech Republic.
12.3.1. Data completeness - rate
The Czech Republic provides Eurostat with all data required by the EBS Regulation.
13.1. Accuracy - overall
The accuracy is tackled at national and European levels, by eliminating as much as possible the non-sampling errors.
13.2. Sampling error
There is a minimum of sampling errors. The survey for ITSS is designed as a sample of almost 6000 units, using non-probability sampling method - only units with a significant involvement in ITS are selected. Sampling errors may be caused mostly by changes in Business Register - dissolution of a company, merger and demerger of companies. The impact for the data collection in the observed period is negligible.
Also regarding IFATS - it is an extension of SBS by adding the foreign-control dimension, thereby minimizing the sampling error. Monitored indicators are compiled from data on annual structural business statistics (task P 5-01), annual statistics on financial and insurance activities (tasks Pen 5-01, Poj 5a-01 and data available from surveys carried out by the CNB), annual statistics on non-profit institutions, housing cooperatives and selected institutions (NI 1-01), annual statistics on full labour costs (ÚNP 4-01) and statistics on research and development (task VTR 5-01). In the OFATS area, data are collected mainly through surveys, followed by administrative sources, and further through surveys from other areas, such as foreign direct investment (FDI) surveys and structural business statistics SBS, the annual business survey.
13.2.1. Sampling error - indicators
Not applicable.
13.3. Non-sampling error
The accuracy of MoS data is primarily impacted by issues in the collection and compilation of detailed trade in services and FATS statistics (e.g. non-response, estimated trade value).
There are several methodologically complex issues which need to be addressed more carefully, like missing or estimated data and non-established traders.
Some errors in FATS statistics may be caused by incorrect assignment of the UCI, information on the country of residence of the ultimate owner is therefore ascertained, verified and updated using data from public sources (business registers, web presentations of affected groups of companies, register of multinational groups – EGR and economic news mediated by the media).
13.3.1. Coverage error
Not applicable.
13.3.1.1. Over-coverage - rate
Not applicable.
13.3.1.2. Common units - proportion
Not applicable.
13.3.2. Measurement error
Not applicable.
13.3.3. Non response error
Not applicable.
13.3.3.1. Unit non-response - rate
Not applicable.
13.3.3.2. Item non-response - rate
Not applicable.
13.3.4. Processing error
Not applicable.
13.3.5. Model assumption error
Not applicable.
14.1. Timeliness
Annual data for Modes of Supply 1, 2 and 4 shall be provided by the reporting countries to Eurostat no later than 10 months after the end of the reference year and data for Mode 3 shall be provided by the reporting countries to Eurostat no later than 22 months after the end of the reference year. This means that data for Modes 1, 2 and 4 relating to the reference year Y (e.g. 2023) shall be provided by 31 October Y+1 (e.g. October 2024) and data for Mode 3 shall be provided by 31 October Y+2 (e.g. October 2025). The transmitted data are usually disseminated by Eurostat with a time lag of a couple of months.
14.1.1. Time lag - first result
Not applicable.
14.1.2. Time lag - final result
Not applicable.
14.2. Punctuality
Monitoring of the compliance with the legal requirements for the transmission of MoS data from the Member States, EFTA countries, candidate, and potential candidate that will cover the evaluation of the punctuality and completeness against the defined thresholds for non compliance will be done by Eurostat. The results of the compliance monitoring will be reported to the BSDG.
14.2.1. Punctuality - delivery and publication
Not applicable.
15.1. Comparability - geographical
From a methodological point of view, the comparability across countries is ensured by the implementation of the concepts and definitions set up by the EU legislation and by the application of the complementary guidelines provided by the European business statistics compilers’ manual for international supply of services by modes of supply statistics (MoS).
15.1.1. Asymmetry for mirror flow statistics - coefficient
Not applicable.
15.2. Comparability - over time
MoS data is available from ref.year 2023. There is no break in time series. For the moment the MoS data are not fully harmonised, the assigning of services into the Modes of Supply is based on the Eurostat-WTO model.
Changes due to definitions, classifications, coverage or methods could have an impact on the continuity of the time series.
15.2.1. Length of comparable time series
Length of comparable time series (CC2) = 2.
MoS data is available from ref.year 2023.
15.3. Coherence - cross domain
Apart from the MoS domain, information on trade in services flows can be found in the aggregated and detailed international trade in services statistics (BoP). The intra-domain checks carried out before any data dissemination ensure the coherence between the trade values published in MoS datasets and trade values coming from aggregated and detailed international trade in services statistics (BoP).
15.3.1. Coherence - sub annual and annual statistics
For the MoS compilation is used a compilation tool ensuring the consistency between the outputs for different periods.
15.3.2. Coherence - National Accounts
Not applicable.
15.4. Coherence - internal
The internal coherence of the MoS datasets is ensured by the intra- and inter-dataset checks carried out by Eurostat before any MoS data dissemination.
There are no problems regarding internal consistence of the time series in question at the national level.
MoS data are derived from information collected via ITSS and FATS statistics. No additional data collection is then necessary, which means that the additional burden is null for the respondents. The cost of MoS data only relates to the compilation step carried out by the National Statistical Authorities, which is considered as minor given the small number of records.
17.1. Data revision - policy
ISS data by MoS must be consistent with ITS data and ITS data are subject to continuous revisions as new input data become available. They are called routine revisions and entail regular revisions of country data and of the European aggregates, which are derived from the former.
More rarely, exceptional revisions (called benchmark revisions) will result from major changes in data sources, classifications or methodology.
17.2. Data revision - practice
MoS transmission in October 2024 (for ref. year 2023) must be consistent with 2023 ITS data i.e. the non revised 2023 ITS data, sent in September 2024. Any subsequent revisions on ITS data must be appropriately presented in the MoS data. “General rule” Any revised data must be sent with the next data transmission (e.g. revised data for ref. year 2023 should be sent in October 2025, etc.).
17.2.1. Data revision - average size
Not applicable.
18.1. Source data
Sources:
ITSS data based on a quarter survey, complemented with data imputation (Direct Trading Costs from ITSG) as well as imputation of non-response units.
Data from the Czech National Bank (EBOPS SD-Travel, SF-Insurance and pension services and SG-Financial services)
FATS data from the Czech Statistical Office (IFATS) and from the Czech National Bank (OFATS).
18.2. Frequency of data collection
Annual.
18.3. Data collection
ITSS data collected quarterly - sample survey of imports and exports of services.
18.4. Data validation
There are several rounds of the Validation procedures during the data processing according to schedule. First validation procedure is incorporated directly into the electronic data collection system (to ensure that forms have been fully completed and that codes entered are valid) and additional checks for consistency and plausibility are carried out by the Trade Balance Unit at the CZSO. When an unusual fluctuation in reported data is monitored, the respondents are asked for the explanation.
MoS data disseminated by Eurostat have passed the following quality checks:
Intra-dataset checks: completeness of each dataset and uniqueness of the records, validity of the codes, validity of code combinations across the different dimensions, inter-record consistency checks;
Inter-dataset checks: consistency of trade values and numbers of enterprises related to similar combinations across the datasets;
Intra-domain check: check of the coherence between trade values published in MoS datasets and trade values coming from aggregated and detailed trade in services data.
18.5. Data compilation
Submitted data from ITSS survey and from CNB classified by the extended balance of payments services classification (EBOPS) are being assigned to modes 1, 2 and 4 using the Eurostat-WTO model to derive MoS data compliant with the EU requirements (based on the approach proposed by MSITS 2010 and the GATS concepts).
The main source used for calculating Mode 3 is data on foreign affiliates’ statistics – outward foreign affiliates’ statistics (OFATS) for the provision of the services and inward foreign affiliates’ statistics (IFATS) for the acquisition of services, both in the breakdown level for services. The export of services was subtracted in case of OFATS as well as IFATS in order to get just the local sales. The variable used for FATS statistics: Revenue from sale of Services equals to net turnover minus Revenue from sale of finish goods (manufactured goods) and minus Revenue from sale of merchandise (goods purchased for resale).
An estimate of distribution services is included in Mode 1 since 2025 (MOD_124 for reference year 2024, MOD_ALL for reference year 2023 - revised data).
The goods value (included in some EBOPS items) is excluded from the total supply of services figures since 2025 (MOD_124 for reference year 2024, MOD_ALL for reference year 2023 - revised data).
18.5.1. Imputation - rate
MoS data are fully derived from information collected through ITSS and from the data obtained from CNB without any additional imputation.
18.6. Adjustment
Not applicable.
18.6.1. Seasonal adjustment
Not applicable.
Statistics on international supply of services (ISS) by modes of supply (MoS) show how and where services are supplied internationally, namely by answering the question of 'how' services are exchanged across countries and 'where' services are supplied to foreign customers. Detailed information on international supply of services statistics by services category, mode of supply and partner country help policymakers carry out the ongoing and future trade negotiating agenda with facts and strong, evidence-based arguments and they allow to monitor the impact of services trade agreements.
The General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS), the first multilateral agreement to cover trade in services, defines trade in services as the supply of a service through any of four modes of supply, outlined in the bullet points below.
Mode 1 - cross-border supply: from the territory of one country into the territory of another country;
Mode 2 - consumption abroad: in the territory of one country to the service consumer of another country;
Mode 3 - commercial presence: by a service supplier of one country, through a commercial presence in the territory of another country. The FATS framework is designed to provide information on the activities of enterprises located in foreign markets;
Mode 4 - presence of natural persons: by a service supplier of one country, through the presence of natural persons of that country in the territory of any other country.
Total international supply of services (total of modes 1, 2, 3 and 4)
Mode 1 (‘cross border transactions’),
Mode 2 (‘consumption abroad’),
Mode 3 (‘commercial presence’), and
Mode 4 (‘presence of natural persons’).
Not applicable.
Total international supply of services by all four modes of supply.
Czechia
Calendar year.
The accuracy is tackled at national and European levels, by eliminating as much as possible the non-sampling errors.
Data are reported in national currency (thousands).
Eurostat disseminates data in euro (millions).
Submitted data from ITSS survey and from CNB classified by the extended balance of payments services classification (EBOPS) are being assigned to modes 1, 2 and 4 using the Eurostat-WTO model to derive MoS data compliant with the EU requirements (based on the approach proposed by MSITS 2010 and the GATS concepts).
The main source used for calculating Mode 3 is data on foreign affiliates’ statistics – outward foreign affiliates’ statistics (OFATS) for the provision of the services and inward foreign affiliates’ statistics (IFATS) for the acquisition of services, both in the breakdown level for services. The export of services was subtracted in case of OFATS as well as IFATS in order to get just the local sales. The variable used for FATS statistics: Revenue from sale of Services equals to net turnover minus Revenue from sale of finish goods (manufactured goods) and minus Revenue from sale of merchandise (goods purchased for resale).
An estimate of distribution services is included in Mode 1 since 2025 (MOD_124 for reference year 2024, MOD_ALL for reference year 2023 - revised data).
The goods value (included in some EBOPS items) is excluded from the total supply of services figures since 2025 (MOD_124 for reference year 2024, MOD_ALL for reference year 2023 - revised data).
Sources:
ITSS data based on a quarter survey, complemented with data imputation (Direct Trading Costs from ITSG) as well as imputation of non-response units.
Data from the Czech National Bank (EBOPS SD-Travel, SF-Insurance and pension services and SG-Financial services)
FATS data from the Czech Statistical Office (IFATS) and from the Czech National Bank (OFATS).
Annual.
Annual data for Modes of Supply 1, 2 and 4 shall be provided by the reporting countries to Eurostat no later than 10 months after the end of the reference year and data for Mode 3 shall be provided by the reporting countries to Eurostat no later than 22 months after the end of the reference year. This means that data for Modes 1, 2 and 4 relating to the reference year Y (e.g. 2023) shall be provided by 31 October Y+1 (e.g. October 2024) and data for Mode 3 shall be provided by 31 October Y+2 (e.g. October 2025). The transmitted data are usually disseminated by Eurostat with a time lag of a couple of months.
From a methodological point of view, the comparability across countries is ensured by the implementation of the concepts and definitions set up by the EU legislation and by the application of the complementary guidelines provided by the European business statistics compilers’ manual for international supply of services by modes of supply statistics (MoS).
MoS data is available from ref.year 2023. There is no break in time series. For the moment the MoS data are not fully harmonised, the assigning of services into the Modes of Supply is based on the Eurostat-WTO model.
Changes due to definitions, classifications, coverage or methods could have an impact on the continuity of the time series.
