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.
National Bank of Romania, Statistics Department, Balance of Payments Division
1.3. Contact name
Confidential because of GDPR
1.4. Contact person function
Confidential because of GDPR
1.5. Contact mail address
Romania, Bucharest, 25 Lipscani Street, 030031
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
8 August 2025
2.2. Metadata last posted
8 August 2025
2.3. Metadata last update
8 August 2025
3.1. Data description
Services Trade by Enterprise Characteristics (STEC) statistics provide information on the types of enterprises engaged in international trade in services and show how enterprises in different industries supply services and how this relates to their primary activity. STEC disclose additional insights into trade statistics, by allowing the profiling of the enterprises according to selected characteristics such as number of employees, type of ownership and economic activity.
A+B - Agriculture, forestry, and fishing; mining and quarrying,
D+E - Electricity, gas, steam, and air conditioning supply; water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities,
I+L+O+P+Q+R+S+T+U - Accommodation and food service activities; real estate activities; public administration, defence; compulsory social security; education; human health and social work activities; other services.
· NACE Sections:
C - Manufacturing,
F - Construction,
G - Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles,
H - Transportation and storage,
J - Information and communication,
K - Financial and insurance activities,
M - Professional, scientific, and technical activities,
N - Administrative and support service activities.
1. Manufacturing services on physical inputs owned by others
2. Maintenance and repair services n.i.e.
3. Transport
4. Travel
5. Construction
6. Insurance and pension services
7. Financial services
8. Charges for the use of intellectual property n.i.e.
9. Telecommunications, computer, and information services
10. Other business services
10.1. Research and development services
10.2. Professional and management consulting services
10.3. Technical, trade-related, and other business services
11. Personal, cultural and recreational services
12. Government goods and services, n.i.e.
3.5. Statistical unit
Enterprise that report services transactions between the residents and non-residents during a given period.
3.6. Statistical population
The activity breakdown covers NACE sections from A to U.
The product breakdown covers EBOPS 2010 main items.
Stastical population consists of total resident and active entities, regardless of their system of ownership, that carry out their activity in one of the areas included in the classification of national economic activities – NACE (non-financial commercial entities, banking and non-banking financial institutions, insurance and reinsurance corporations, non-profit institutions serving households, natural persons otherwise authorized, other units) that carry out sales/acquisitions of services to/from non-residents.
3.7. Reference area
Romania (the national economic territory, including Romania's diplomatic and military missions abroad).
3.8. Coverage - Time
Starting with first reference year 2022.
3.9. Base period
Not applicable.
Data are collected in national currency and whenever a currency conversion is necessary the monthly average exchange rate is used. As a general rule, data are disseminated in euro million to the national users. According to different requirements, the data could also be provided in local currency (RON) and US dollars. Data transmitted to the international institution (Eurostat, ECB) are expressed in the national currency (thousands of national currency).
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 services trade by enterprise characteristics for the EU Member States and EFTA countries. The exact technical specifications are listed in the Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1197, table 17 "Country-level business statistics on trade in services by enterprise characteristics (STEC) – annual data".
The statistical activity performed by NBR in collaboration with NIS is included in the Annual Statistics Programme.
6.2. Institutional Mandate - data sharing
As part of the inter-institutional cooperation between the NBR and the NIS, the NIS supplies microdata from tax returns 300 and 390 VIES, which serve as the sampling frame for the statistical survey on international trade in services.
Conversely, the NBR supplies the National Institute of Statistics with the microdata resulting from the ITS survey results.
7.1. Confidentiality - policy
The confidentiality of individual statistical data is ensured by national legal provisions:
Law no. 312/2004 on the Statute of the National Bank of Romania, art.49(5); stating that: “[…] The National Bank of Romania shall ensure protection of data referring to individual subjects – legal entities or individuals – obtained either directly or indirectly, from administrative sources or other sources.”
A verification procedure regarding confidentiality of data is incorporated into the electronic data collection system. The rules provided by law are followed.
The data are disseminated to public public institutions, research institutes, higher education institutions, the media, and other national and international users, and are available on the National Bank of Romania's website":
Quality is ensured through the implementation of methodological concepts outlined in the Compilers Guide for Statistics on Services Trade by Enterprise Characteristics (STEC), the Manual on Statistics of International Trade in Services 2010, the sixth edition of the IMF Balance of Payments and International Investment Position Manual (BPM6), as well as through validation procedures at the time of the data transmission established by Eurostat (Conval, Struval).
11.2. Quality management - assessment
Eurostat assessed the completeness and accessibility of the 2023 dataset by evaluating the proportion of mandatory cells reported and the extent of confidentiality.
All mandatory cells across all tables were fully reported (100%), while approximately 10% of the dataset was flagged as confidential.
12.1. Relevance - User Needs
External users: Eurostat
National users: Government of Romania, the National Bank of Romania, the National Institute of Statistics, ministries and other public administration bodies, research institutes, higher education institutions, the media, and other users.
Users need and are offered complete and consistent data on international trade in services.
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
Not available.
12.3. Completeness
Data offer complete and consistent description of the components of the EBOPS/STEC components with the geographical breakdown and in accordance with Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1197, Compilers Guide for statistics on Services Trade by Enterprise Characteristics (STEC), the Manual on Statistics of International Trade in Services 2010, the sixth edition of the IMF Balance of Payments and International Investment Position Manual (BPM6).
12.3.1. Data completeness - rate
Completeness rate is 100 percent.
13.1. Accuracy - overall
Data transmitted by the reporters are checked by the central bank for their consistency and plausibility. If any problems are found, the relevant economic agents are contacted to check the figures in order to confirm or rectify them. Data on international services are generally based on International trade in services survey
The main data source for international services statistics is the quarterly survey conducted by National Bank of Romania in co-operation with the National Statistics Institute. All the type of services are subject to the ITS survey. Responding agents are provided with instructions comprising standardized descriptions of services transactions to help them fill in the forms.
Sampling techniques:
The sample of the statistical survey International trade in services comprises approximately 9000 reporting entities; it is a “cut-off” type of sample, with a 85 percent coverage both in respect of exports as well as imports of services, both for intra Community as well as extra Community trade;
The sampling frame for determining the statistical survey sample is composed of all units active in previous year and which have filled in VAT fiscal statements in the previous fiscal period or which have reported to the NBR data on international services.
Techniques for addressing non-responses, and techniques for grossing up the data collected at the level of the entire statistical population,
Mathematic models for estimating certain items, based on administrative data or data collected by economic agents.
13.2. Sampling error
The sample of the ITSS survey, consisting of approximately 9000 reporting entities, is a "cut-off" type sample, with a degree of coverage of 85% for both the export and import of services, both for intra-community trade and for extra-community trade; The reporting agents are are selected in order to ensure the representativeness of the sample for all required variables.
13.2.1. Sampling error - indicators
Not applicable.
13.3. Non-sampling error
Considering the coverage of the sample, the possible non-sampling errors are not significant and could be represented by the non-responses, response errors due to misinterpretation of definition misunderstandings, or deliberate misreporting, mistakes in recording the data or coding it to standard classifications. To facilitate statistical reporting, the National Bank of Romania pays particular attention to relations with respondents, providing them with instructions on reporting requirements, as well as information on the purpose of data collection. Nevertheless, the staff from NBR territorial structures maintain contact with economic agents in order to verify and validate the data collected, while also monitoring their atypical fluctuations. Alternative data sources used are to assess the quality of data related to certain components (e.g. data obtained from statistical surveys on international tourism carried out by the INS, for the analysis of the Tourism/travel component).
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
Data are disseminated 10 months after the end of the reference year (T+10M).
14.1.1. Time lag - first result
Year + 10 months
14.1.2. Time lag - final result
Year + 10 months
14.2. Punctuality
Thanks to well-established data collection and compilation procedures, the punctuality of data transmissions to Eurostat is estimated to be very good.
14.2.1. Punctuality - delivery and publication
9 months ahead of the scheduled deadline (-9 months) for reference year 2023.
15.1. Comparability - geographical
The underlying statistical methodological and regulation framework mentioned above ensures a high degree of comparability across countries, and also all the details on the coding system, the format of the data, the deadlines for transmission.
15.1.1. Asymmetry for mirror flow statistics - coefficient
Not applicable.
15.2. Comparability - over time
Not yet available. Under analysis.
15.2.1. Length of comparable time series
Not applicable.
15.3. Coherence - cross domain
The purpose is to ensure comparability between STEC/ITSS/BOP data sets.
15.3.1. Coherence - sub annual and annual statistics
Not applicable.
15.3.2. Coherence - National Accounts
Not applicable.
15.4. Coherence - internal
Consistency in structure (in the types of services hierarchy, NACE, number of employees, type of control).
Consistency between EBOPS / STEC and MOS data sets.
Methodology, definitions, coverage and level of detail of the EBOPS 2010 are identical for each periodicity, and each data set.
In order to improve performance and reduce the costs of data collection and processing, the use of IT tools in data collection has been identified as a priority. Taking into consideration the size of the ITSs survey's sample (more than 9000 reporting units) and the number of employees from territorial network of central bank, involved in collection and validation of the reporting data the cost and burden, also for the respondents, are high. Nevertheless, as a mention, ITSS survey is the same primary data source for BOP, AITS, STEC, MOS data set. All requested variables are collected trough the ITSS questionnaire. In this respect no delimitation to split the cost and burden between the data sets.
17.1. Data revision - policy
The National Bank of Romania agreed to follow the harmonized European revision (HERP); The STEC revisions are made in line with the BOP and AITS revisions. The goal is to maintain the comparability between the mentioned data sets and STEC/EBOPS.
17.2. Data revision - practice
Routine revisions - that refer to the changes made to the economic data published initially and to its subsequent releases for a particular reference year.
Benchmark revisios with the - purpose to incorporate the main new data sources and major changes in international statistical methodology.
Non-scheduled revisions may be often related to errors. Reported errors are assessed for seriousness to determine whether they should trigger a correction of already disseminated data.
17.2.1. Data revision - average size
Not applicable.
18.1. Source data
The quarterly statistical survey International trade in services is the main data source; all types of services are in the scope of the survey; the methodology for the survey is available on the NBR website: NBR Statistical survey on International Trade in Services (ITS)
Monthly reports of resident banks on the transactions performed on their own behalf;
Administrative data for the component Travel: international transactions performed using bank cards, resident to non-resident transactions reported by the exchange offices, data from the quarterly surveys on international tourism implemented by the NIS, acquisitions of goods and services by short term workers from abroad etc.
Other administrative data:
Online acquisition of services from abroad performed by resident individuals,
Credit and deposit stocks in resident to non-resident relation by currency, the reference interest rates – data necessary in order to compute financial services indirectly measured,
Illegal international trade in services, data provided by the NIS.
The mathematic models used in order to determine certain items (e.g. insurance services, financial services indirectly measured).
18.2. Frequency of data collection
Quarterly.
18.3. Data collection
Data from economic agents are collected trough dedicated IT applications (on line reporting), respectively:
Data reported in the International trade in services survey are collected using the Direct reporting system (RAPDIR), according to: (i) Law No. 312 / 2004 on the Statute of the National Bank of Romania – according to art. 9(2), the National Bank of Romania is empowered to draw up the balance of payments; (ii) Law no. 226/2009 regulates the organization and functioning of official statistics in Romania. The methodology and the questionaire of ITSS are available on NBR website:
Data reported by resident banks are collected using the NBR IT reporting system (SIRBNR), based on the Regulation no. 4/2021 regarding data and statistical information reporting to the National Bank of Romania.
18.4. Data validation
A validation procedure is incorporated into the electronic data collection system – the report is not accepted unless it is both valid and consistent. For instance, the system will reject reported data if they do not comprise country codes or if the totals are smaller than the sum of the components at different levels of aggregation. The territorial network of NBR is involved in maintaining contact with reporters of statistical data and validating the information collected. Data controls are also based on the Statistics Department's staff knowledge and expertise. Unusual fluctuations in the data reported are monitored and the reporting agents are asked for an explanation. Alternative data sources can be used for some items to evaluate the quality of services data (travel, for instance). Data validation is ensured in two stages:
Pre-validation - identification of potential issues in the datasets and their correction before the official transmission is performed;
Eurostat validation systems (Struval and Conval) - automated validation of the official transmissions.
18.5. Data compilation
Statistical data collection, processing and validation processes are closely monitored in the dedicated IT applications.
Validation procedures are implemented in the data collection IT systems (RAPDIR, SIRBNR). Reports are not accepted if they are not valid and consistent. For example, the system rejects reports that do not include the partner country or if the sum of the subcomponents does not match the total reported value.
In order to facilitate the statistical reporting, the NBR provides special attention to its relation with the respondents, providing them with instructions on reporting requirements as well as information on the purpose of data collection.
The personnel of regional NBR structures keep in touch with economic agents in order to check and validate collected data, also monitoring any atypical fluctuations in the reported data.
Alternative data sources are used in evaluating data quality for some components (e.g. data obtained from the NIS’ statistical survey on international tourism, for analyzing the Travel component).
Time of recording: in line with the international methodological standards, recording is on a transaction basis ("accruals principle"), meaning that transactions have to be recorded when economic value is created, transformed, transferred or extinguished.
The main criterion is change of ownership. The change may be legal or economic.
In principle: market prices are used for data validation.
18.5.1. Imputation - rate
Nonresponses estimates, grossing up procedure (to 100 percent of export and import).
18.6. Adjustment
Only exceptionally, in case of additional information available not received through the dedicated sources.
18.6.1. Seasonal adjustment
Not applicable.
Services Trade by Enterprise Characteristics (STEC) statistics provide information on the types of enterprises engaged in international trade in services and show how enterprises in different industries supply services and how this relates to their primary activity. STEC disclose additional insights into trade statistics, by allowing the profiling of the enterprises according to selected characteristics such as number of employees, type of ownership and economic activity.
A+B - Agriculture, forestry, and fishing; mining and quarrying,
D+E - Electricity, gas, steam, and air conditioning supply; water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities,
I+L+O+P+Q+R+S+T+U - Accommodation and food service activities; real estate activities; public administration, defence; compulsory social security; education; human health and social work activities; other services.
· NACE Sections:
C - Manufacturing,
F - Construction,
G - Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles,
H - Transportation and storage,
J - Information and communication,
K - Financial and insurance activities,
M - Professional, scientific, and technical activities,
N - Administrative and support service activities.
1. Manufacturing services on physical inputs owned by others
2. Maintenance and repair services n.i.e.
3. Transport
4. Travel
5. Construction
6. Insurance and pension services
7. Financial services
8. Charges for the use of intellectual property n.i.e.
9. Telecommunications, computer, and information services
10. Other business services
10.1. Research and development services
10.2. Professional and management consulting services
10.3. Technical, trade-related, and other business services
11. Personal, cultural and recreational services
12. Government goods and services, n.i.e.
Enterprise that report services transactions between the residents and non-residents during a given period.
The activity breakdown covers NACE sections from A to U.
The product breakdown covers EBOPS 2010 main items.
Stastical population consists of total resident and active entities, regardless of their system of ownership, that carry out their activity in one of the areas included in the classification of national economic activities – NACE (non-financial commercial entities, banking and non-banking financial institutions, insurance and reinsurance corporations, non-profit institutions serving households, natural persons otherwise authorized, other units) that carry out sales/acquisitions of services to/from non-residents.
Romania (the national economic territory, including Romania's diplomatic and military missions abroad).
Calendar year.
Data transmitted by the reporters are checked by the central bank for their consistency and plausibility. If any problems are found, the relevant economic agents are contacted to check the figures in order to confirm or rectify them. Data on international services are generally based on International trade in services survey
The main data source for international services statistics is the quarterly survey conducted by National Bank of Romania in co-operation with the National Statistics Institute. All the type of services are subject to the ITS survey. Responding agents are provided with instructions comprising standardized descriptions of services transactions to help them fill in the forms.
Sampling techniques:
The sample of the statistical survey International trade in services comprises approximately 9000 reporting entities; it is a “cut-off” type of sample, with a 85 percent coverage both in respect of exports as well as imports of services, both for intra Community as well as extra Community trade;
The sampling frame for determining the statistical survey sample is composed of all units active in previous year and which have filled in VAT fiscal statements in the previous fiscal period or which have reported to the NBR data on international services.
Techniques for addressing non-responses, and techniques for grossing up the data collected at the level of the entire statistical population,
Mathematic models for estimating certain items, based on administrative data or data collected by economic agents.
Data are collected in national currency and whenever a currency conversion is necessary the monthly average exchange rate is used. As a general rule, data are disseminated in euro million to the national users. According to different requirements, the data could also be provided in local currency (RON) and US dollars. Data transmitted to the international institution (Eurostat, ECB) are expressed in the national currency (thousands of national currency).
Statistical data collection, processing and validation processes are closely monitored in the dedicated IT applications.
Validation procedures are implemented in the data collection IT systems (RAPDIR, SIRBNR). Reports are not accepted if they are not valid and consistent. For example, the system rejects reports that do not include the partner country or if the sum of the subcomponents does not match the total reported value.
In order to facilitate the statistical reporting, the NBR provides special attention to its relation with the respondents, providing them with instructions on reporting requirements as well as information on the purpose of data collection.
The personnel of regional NBR structures keep in touch with economic agents in order to check and validate collected data, also monitoring any atypical fluctuations in the reported data.
Alternative data sources are used in evaluating data quality for some components (e.g. data obtained from the NIS’ statistical survey on international tourism, for analyzing the Travel component).
Time of recording: in line with the international methodological standards, recording is on a transaction basis ("accruals principle"), meaning that transactions have to be recorded when economic value is created, transformed, transferred or extinguished.
The main criterion is change of ownership. The change may be legal or economic.
In principle: market prices are used for data validation.
The quarterly statistical survey International trade in services is the main data source; all types of services are in the scope of the survey; the methodology for the survey is available on the NBR website: NBR Statistical survey on International Trade in Services (ITS)
Monthly reports of resident banks on the transactions performed on their own behalf;
Administrative data for the component Travel: international transactions performed using bank cards, resident to non-resident transactions reported by the exchange offices, data from the quarterly surveys on international tourism implemented by the NIS, acquisitions of goods and services by short term workers from abroad etc.
Other administrative data:
Online acquisition of services from abroad performed by resident individuals,
Credit and deposit stocks in resident to non-resident relation by currency, the reference interest rates – data necessary in order to compute financial services indirectly measured,
Illegal international trade in services, data provided by the NIS.
The mathematic models used in order to determine certain items (e.g. insurance services, financial services indirectly measured).
Annual.
Data are disseminated 10 months after the end of the reference year (T+10M).
The underlying statistical methodological and regulation framework mentioned above ensures a high degree of comparability across countries, and also all the details on the coding system, the format of the data, the deadlines for transmission.
