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.
Foreign Affiliates Statistics (FATS) measure the commercial presence through affiliates in foreign markets.
Inward foreign affiliates statistics (IFATS) shall mean statistics describing the activity of foreign affiliates resident in the compiling country.
In country-level business statistics foreign-controlled enterprise shall mean an enterprise resident in the compiling country over which an ultimate controlling institutional unit not resident in the compiling country has control.(Table 14 of the EBS Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1197).
Variables on the country-level business activities in the IFATS data category:
Business activities in foreign control:
210301. Number of foreign-controlled enterprises
220501. Number of employees and self-employed persons in foreign-controlled enterprises
220701. Employee benefits expense in foreign-controlled enterprises
230301. Intramural R & D expenditure in foreign-controlled enterprises
230401. R & D personnel in foreign-controlled enterprises
240301. Total purchases of goods and services of foreign-controlled enterprises
240302. Purchases of goods and services for resale of foreign-controlled enterprises
250601. Net turnover of foreign-controlled enterprises
250701. Value of output of foreign-controlled enterprises
260201. Foreign-controlled enterprises’ gross investment in tangible non-current assets
250801. Value added of foreign-controlled enterprises
Business activities in total economy:
210101. Number of active enterprises
220101. Number of employees and self-employed persons
220301. Employee benefits expense
230101. Intramural R & D expenditure
230201. R & D personnel
240101. Total purchases of goods and services
240102. Purchases of goods and services for resale
250101. Net turnover
250301. Value of output
250401. Value added
260101. Gross investment in tangible non-current assets
3.2. Classification system
Classification systems used in the FATS are as follows:
Statistical classification of economic activities in the European Community (NACE Rev. 2);
List of 2-digit country codes (ISO 3166-1);
Currency codes (ISO 4217).
3.3. Coverage - sector
For all variables except for variables Intramural R & D expenditure, Intramural R & D expenditure in foreign-controlled enterprises, R & D personnel and R & D personnel in foreign-controlled enterprises: Market producers of NACE Sections B to N and P to R and divisions S95 and S96.
For variables Intramural R & D expenditure, Intramural R & D expenditure in foreign-controlled enterprises, R & D personnel and R & D personnel in foreign-controlled enterprises: Market producers of NACE Sections B to F.
3.4. Statistical concepts and definitions
Foreign Affiliates Statistics (FATS) measure the commercial presence through affiliates in foreign markets.
Inward foreign affiliates statistics (IFATS) shall mean statistics describing the activity of foreign affiliates resident in the compiling country.
In country-level business statistics foreign-controlled enterprise shall mean an enterprise resident in the compiling country over which an ultimate controlling institutional unit not resident in the compiling country has control.(Table 14 of the Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1197).
Domestic affiliate shall mean an enterprise resident in the compiling country over which a UCI resident in the same compiling country has control.
Ultimate Controlling Institutional of a foreign affiliate (UCI) shall mean the institutional unit, proceeding up a foreign affiliate’s chain of control, which is not controlled by another institutional unit.
Control is the ability to determine the general policy of the affiliate by choosing appropriate directors, if necessary. In this context, enterprise A is deemed to be controlled by an institutional unit B when B controls, whether directly or indirectly, more than half of the shareholders' voting power or more than half of the shares.
Indirect control means that an institutional unit may have control through another affiliate which has control over enterprise A.
Active enterprise is a statistical unit which at any time during the reference period was ‘enterprise’, as defined in Regulation (EEC) No 696/93, and also active during the same reference period. A statistical unit is considered to have been active during the reference period if, in said period, it either realized positive net turnover or produced outputs or had employees or performed investments.
Employees and self-employed persons are persons who work for an observation unit on the basis of a contract of employment and receives compensation in the form of wages, salaries, fees, gratuities, piecework pay or remuneration in kind; and persons who are the sole owners or joint owners of the statistical unit in which they work. Family workers and outworkers, whose income is a function of the value of the outputs of the statistical unit, are also included.
Employee benefits expense contains all expenses arising in relation with employee benefits, recognized by the statistical unit during the reference period. Those are all forms of consideration given by the statistical unit in exchange for service rendered by employees or for the termination of employment.
Research and experimental development (R & D) comprise creative and systematic work undertaken in order to increase the stock of knowledge – including knowledge of humankind, culture and society – and to devise new applications of available knowledge. Expenditures on intramural R & D represent the amount of money spent on R & D that is performed within a reporting unit. Intramural R & D expenditures are all current expenditures plus gross fixed capital expenditures for R & D performed within a statistical unit during a specific reference period whatever the source of funds. R & D current expenditures include labour costs for internal R & D personnel and other current costs (costs for external R & D personnel, purchase of services.). Gross fixed capital expenditures for R & D include: acquisition of land, acquisition of buildings, acquisition of information and communication equipment, acquisition of transport equipment, acquisition of other machinery and equipment, acquisition of capitalised computer software, acquisition of other intellectual property products.
R & D personnel in a statistical unit include all persons engaged directly in R & D, whether employed by the statistical unit or external contributors fully integrated into the statistical unit’s R & D activities, as well as those providing direct services for the R & D activities (such as R & D managers, administrators, technicians and clerical staff).
Total purchases of goods and services contains all amount of goods and services purchased by the statistical unit, recognized in accounting as either current assets or expenses during the reference period.
Purchases of goods and services for resale in are purchases of goods for resale to third parties without further processing. It also includes purchases of services by ‘invoicing’ service companies, i.e. those whose turnover is composed not only of agency fees charged on a service transaction (as in the case of estate agents) but also the actual amount involved in the service transaction, e.g. transport purchases by travel agents.
Net turnover consists of all income arising during the reference period in the course of ordinary activities of the statistical unit, and is presented net of all price reductions, discounts and rebates granted by it.
Value of output represents the value of the total output of the statistical unit, generated during the reference period.
Value added is a composite indicator of net operating income, adjusted for depreciation, amortization and employee benefits, all components being recognized as such by the statistical unit during the reference period.
Gross investment in tangible non-current assets includes all additions to tangible non-current assets, recognized as such by the statistical unit during the reference period, except any increases from revaluations or reversals of previously recognized impairment losses and from reclassifications (transfers) of other tangible non-current assets.
Coverage of Special Purpose Entities (SPE): No SPEs were covered in the context of IFATS.
Treatment of equally shared control: In Cyprus the number of cases of equal share control is quite low. In cases of equal shareholdings, the same procedure as for joint ventures is followed. Firstly, we check whether both investors are foreign from the perspective of the affiliate. If one investor is resident in the same country as the affiliate under consideration, the enterprise is considered to be as under domestic control and irrelevant for FATS. If the unit is controlled only by foreign partners and one of them is from an EU country, the European controlling unit is chosen. If all countries are EU members, then the UCI is attributed to the country where the decision making takes place. In cases of only non-European controlling units, the UCI is again attributed to the country where the decision making takes place.
Treatment of multiple minority ownership: In the case of multiple minority ownership, we obtain information regarding the dominant investor by contacting the enterprise. When the effective minority control is established, then the UCI is attributed to the country where the effective minority controller is resident. All data are allocated to the country of this dominant investor (UCI).
3.5. Statistical unit
The statistical unit of FATS is the enterprise as defined in line with the Regulation (EEC) No 696/93 on the statistical units for the observation and analysis of the production system in the Community.
3.6. Statistical population
For all variables except for variables 230101 (Intramural R & D expenditure), 230301 (Intramural R & D expenditure in foreign-controlled enterprises), 230201 (R & D personnel) and 230401 (R & D personnel in foreign-controlled enterprises): Market producers of NACE Sections B to N and P to R and divisions S95 and S96.
For variables 230101 (Intramural R & D expenditure), 230301 (Intramural R & D expenditure in foreign-controlled enterprises), 230201 (R & D personnel) and 230401 (R & D personnel in foreign-controlled enterprises): Market producers of NACE Sections B to F.
3.7. Reference area
CYPRUS
3.8. Coverage - Time
Data are available from 2004 to 2023.
3.9. Base period
Not applicable
Number of enterprises and employment variables are recorded in absolute figures.
Monetary data of enterprises are recorded in thousands in Euro.
2023
6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements
Please see Table 7.2 in the Annex 1 at the bottom.
8.1. Release calendar
IFATS data are not published at national level.
8.2. Release calendar access
IFATS data are not published at national level.
8.3. Release policy - user access
IFATS data are not published at national level.
Annual for all variables except for variables 230101 (Intramural R & D expenditure), 230301 (Intramural R & D expenditure in foreign-controlled enterprises), 230201 (R & D personnel) and 230401 (R & D personnel in foreign-controlled enterprises): Market producers of NACE Sections B to N and P to R and divisions S95 and S96.
Biennial (every odd-numbered year) for variables 230101 (Intramural R & D expenditure), 230301 (Intramural R & D expenditure in foreign-controlled enterprises), 230201 (R & D personnel) and 230401 (R & D personnel in foreign-controlled enterprises): Market producers of NACE Sections B to F.
10.1. Dissemination format - News release
No press release concerning the results of IFATS data is issued. IFATS data are not published at national level.
10.2. Dissemination format - Publications
IFATS data are not published at national level.
10.3. Dissemination format - online database
IFATS data are not published at national level.
10.3.1. Data tables - consultations
IFATS data are not published at national level.
10.4. Dissemination format - microdata access
IFATS data are not published at national level.
10.5. Dissemination format - other
IFATS data are not published at national level.
10.5.1. Metadata - consultations
IFATS data are not published at national level.
10.6. Documentation on methodology
IFATS data are not published at national level.
10.6.1. Metadata completeness - rate
IFATS data are not published at national level.
10.6.2. Availability of statistical metadata
IFATS data are not published at national level.
10.6.3. Web links if metadata are published electronically
IFATS data are not published at national level.
10.7. Quality management - documentation
IFATS data are not published at national level.
11.1. Quality assurance
The IFATS 2023 data are derived from a combination of administrative sources and data collected via SBS surveys which are mandatory surveys carried out in accordance to the national Official Statistics Law, No 25(I)/2021. The administrative sources (Central Bank, Insurance Companies Control Service and the Department of Registrar of Companies and Intellectual Property) provide us with all necessary economic variables for part of the financial sector. Geographical breakdowns (for the UCI) come from SBS surveys, the Department of Registrar of Companies and Intellectual Property and the EGR.
The SBS surveys are mandatory, conducted with face to face personal interviews and the use of administrative sources. Most of the statistical units that are in the scope of IFATS are included in all SBS mandatory surveys. Only part of NACE K, is not covered within the SBS surveys. Those data are collected from different administrative sources. This ensures a high unit response rate and no item non-response. Therefore, a non-response analysis is not necessary.
All quality checks suggested by the Foreign Affiliates Statistics Recommendations Manual regarding the characteristics, geographical breakdown and activity breakdown, are fully respected and applied.
The IFATS data set produced and transmitted is complete, fully checked and validated.
11.2. Quality management - assessment
All necessary measures are taken to ensure a high level of quality of the data transmitted according to common quality standards. The five quality principles of statistical output consisting of 1. relevance, 2. accuracy and reliability, 3. timeliness and punctuality, 4. coherence and comparability and 5. accessibility and clarity, are respected.
Due to the mandatory nature of the surveys in Cystat, all data are collected (100% data availability), checked carefully and corrected for any inconsistencies. Most of the statistical units that are in the scope of IFATS are included in all SBS mandatory surveys. Only part of NACE K, is not covered within the SBS surveys. Those data are collected from different administrative sources.
The Pre-validating data series with EDAMIS ACC is used for the final validation of data and confidentiality checks before transmitting the data to Eurostat.
12.1. Relevance - User Needs
IFATS data are not published at national level.
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
IFATS data are not published at national level.
12.3. Completeness
All statistics required by the Regulation (EBS) are 100% available.
12.3.1. Data completeness - rate
Please see Table 12.3.1 in the Annex 2 at the bottom.
13.1. Accuracy - overall
According to the findings 13.1 in the Annex 3, the accuracy-overall is very good.
13.1.1. Use of residual geographic codes (Extra EU-27 not allocated, etc.)
Please see Table 13.1 in the Annex 3 at the bottom.
13.1.2. UCI Approach applied to identify the relevant population of reporting units
Yes, the UCI-approach (Ultimate Controlling Institutional Unit), as defined in the EBS Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1197, has been applied. Geographical breakdowns for the UCI regarding the IFATS 2023 data are derived from a combination of administrative sources (the Department of Registrar of Companies and Intellectual Property and the Central Bank ), data collected through SBS surveys and the EGR.
When UCI information is obtained from one of the aforementioned sources, cross-checks are conducted with the remaining sources to ensure the highest possible data quality. The information is primarily provided by the surveys and the Department of Registrar of Companies and Official Receiver, accounting for approximately 90% of cases. The remaining 10% of UCI information is derived from the EGR.
13.1.3. Update date (or frequency of updates) of the information regarding the country of the UCI by the “source administration”
The administrative sources have reference to year 2023.
13.1.4. Description of other method used to improve the accuracy of the UCI
For the accuracy of the UCI, we compare information from the Department of Registrar of Companies and Intellectual Property, the EGR database, enterprises' websites and contacts via email or telephone to confirm the correct UCI when needed.
13.2. Sampling error
Not applicable. Since IFATS aims to cover the full population of relevant enterprises, it is considered a census and therefore not subject to sampling or non-sampling errors.
13.2.1. Sampling error - indicators
Not applicable. IFATS is not a sampling survey it is considered a census.
13.3. Non-sampling error
Not applicable. The IFATS survey is not based on sampling; it is considered a census covering the entire target population. The surveys are conducted in accordance with the Official Statistics Law, No. 25(I)/2021, and participation in the surveys is mandatory. As a result, there is full response from enterprises in providing the required data. No estimation has been made to the IFATS data.
13.3.1. Coverage error
Not applicable. Given that IFATS is conducted as a census and participation is mandatory under the Official Statistics Law, No. 25(I)/2021, the risk of coverage bias is considered very low.
13.3.1.1. Over-coverage - rate
The over-coverage rate compared to the EGR, for the year 2023 is estimated to be 5%.
This 5% refers to enterprises incorrectly classified as IFATS in the EGR, as they are actually under domestic rather than foreign control.
13.3.1.2. Common units - proportion
The proportion of common units covered by both the survey and the administrative sources in relation to the total number of units in the survey is 85%.
13.3.1.3. Misclassification errors
There is a possibility of misclassification errors occurring, for example when enterprises are incorrectly assigned to activity codes, sectors, or foreign ownership categories. When such errors are identified, the data are reviewed and revised accordingly, and the revised figures are resubmitted. Given that continuous validation and cross-checks are performed using administrative sources and business registers, the overall risk of misclassification is considered low.
13.3.1.4. Under- and over-coverage problems
Under-coverage problem: Some foreign affiliates are missing from the business register due to delayed updates or lack of information on small enterprises operating abroad. Solution: Cross-check data with administrative sources to identify missing units.
Over-coverage problem: Some enterprises included in the register are inactive or have moved abroad. Solution: Annual verification with administrative sources and removal of inactive entities.
13.3.2. Measurement error
Measurement errors: There may be errors either due to incorrect recording of numerical values by statistical processing or due to incorrect reporting by the enterprises themselves.
Corrective procedure: If such an error is detected, a recheck is carried out and the revised entry is resubmitted, so that the data reflect the true values.
13.3.3. Non response error
The IFATS survey is not a sample survey but a census. The IFATS population is determined administratively by obtaining all Financial Statements from the Department of Registrar of Companies and Intellectual Property.
A total of 85% of IFATS enterprises are included in the Structural Business Statistics (SBS) surveys, and their data are cross-checked with the information obtained from the Registrar of Companies. Due to the mandatory nature of the SBS surveys, full data collection is ensured (100% data availability).
For the remaining 15% of enterprises not covered by the SBS surveys, the Financial Statements or data are obtained from the following sources:
The Central Bank of Cyprus (financial data and UCI),
Direct contact of specific Financial Institutions (financial data and UCI),
The Department of Registrar of Companies and Official Receiver (Financial Statements and UCI).
In cases where certain information is not included in the Financial Statements, direct contact is made with the enterprises to obtain the missing data.
There are no cases of unit or item non-response; therefore, a non-response analysis is not required.
13.3.3.1. Unit non-response - rate
See Table 13.3.3 in the Annex 4 at the bottom.
13.3.3.2. Item non-response - rate
See Table 13.3.3 in the Annex 4 at the bottom.
13.3.4. Processing error
No error in the final collection process results.
13.3.5. Model assumption error
No statistical models are used for estimation or imputation. The survey achieves a 100% response rate, and there is no item non-response. Consequently, no estimation or imputation has been necessary to date.
14.1. Timeliness
IFATS statistics are calculated annually for reference year T.
Data collection takes place at t+18 months after the end of the reference period.
Data transmission to Eurostat takes place at t+20 months.
Data dissemination at national level takes place at t+… months. (IFATS data are not published at national level.)
14.1.1. Time lag - first result
There are not regular revisions.
14.1.2. Time lag - final result
There are not regular revisions.
14.2. Punctuality
-9 days
14.2.1. Punctuality - delivery and publication
-9 days from EBS deadline. We do not publish nationally.
15.1. Comparability - geographical
Cyprus is one region at NUTS 2 level.
15.1.1. Asymmetry for mirror flow statistics - coefficient
Not applicable
15.2. Comparability - over time
Data are cohered and comparable over time.
15.2.1. Length of comparable time series
Length of time series: 2004 - 2023
Length of comparable time series: 2004 - 2020
2021 - 2023
15.2.2. Reasons and differences in concepts and measurement methods for breaks in time series
From 2021 onwards, there is a new nace coverage due to the implementation of the EBS Regulation. Some new nace codes were added, of which some were voluntary before 2020 and were not transmitted by Cyprus. With the EBS, for NACE K there is full variable coverage with better and more precise explanation on the variable definitions. Consequently, NACE K is not at all comparable between the two periods 2004 - 2020 and 2021 - 2023.
15.3. Coherence - cross domain
As part of the SBS surveys IFATS data have the same coherence as the SBS data.
15.3.1. Coherence - sub annual and annual statistics
Not applicable (we only produced annual data)
15.3.2. Coherence - National Accounts
Not applicable
15.3.3. Coherence – National Statistical Business Register (NSBR)
No inconsistencies between IFATS and NSBR.
15.3.4. Coherence – Structural Business Statistics (SBS)
IFATS is compiled in the framework of the SBS. No inconsistencies exist between them.
15.3.5. Coherence – R & D
Not applicable (1% rule exception)
15.3.6. Coherence – Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)
We do not compare FDI against IFATS.
15.3.7. Coherence – EuroGroups Register (EGR)
IFATS frame has approximately a 71% comparability with the EGR data.
15.4. Coherence - internal
Internal coherence is assured because most of the IFATS enterprises (85%) are covered in the SBS sample. For the rest 15% we have coherence with the NSBR.
Restricted from publication
17.1. Data revision - policy
Restricted from publication
17.2. Data revision - practice
Restricted from publication
17.2.1. Data revision - average size
Restricted from publication
18.1. Source data
The main data sources used to identify UCI are:
SBS survey data (58%). This is cross checked with the information provided on UCI in the EuroGroups Register. Note that part of SBS survey data is collected from the financial accounts provided by the Department of Registrar of Companies and Intellectual Property.
Administrative sources (42%-Department of Registrar of Companies and Intellectual Property). Indirectly this percentage may be much higher if we could add the percentage from the SBS that is collected from administrative sources.
18.1.1. Methodological approach
The sources that provide the frame population for the IFATS are: The Department of Registrar of Companies and Intellectual Property, the Business Register and the EuroGroups Register. Enterprises may belong to all or some of the sources. The final population consists of the unique enterprises.
Data collection involves multiple sources. For enterprises that belong to the IFATS population and are part of SBS sample surveys, data come from the SBS surveys. Additionally, the Department of Registrar of Companies and Intellectual Property and the Central Bank of Cyprus, provide us with data for some enterprises (part of NACE K) which have submitted their financial statements for the specific period. Another source of information about foreign ownership and economic activity that is also used for cross checking, is the enterprises' website.
Since we can have information for the whole population of IFATS, we are doing a census, not a sample survey.
18.1.2. Use of cut-off thresholds
Not applicable
18.2. Frequency of data collection
Restricted from publication
18.3. Data collection
Breakdown of sources currently used:
85% Structural Business Statistics (all variables including the information for the UCI)
13% EuroGroups Register (only for the UCI, the rest economic data are derived from the Department of Registrar of Companies and Intellectual Property)
2% Administrative sources (Central Bank of Cyprus, Department of Registrar of Companies and Intellectual Property_all variables including the information for the UCI)
This approach ensures that the full IFATS population is adequately represented despite delays in the official EGR data.
Economic data obtained using:
85% Structural Business Statistics (SBS)
15% Administrative sources (Department of Registrar of Companies and Intellectual Property)
18.4. Data validation
Inward Fats 2023 final results are validated via the EDAMIS online tools.
18.5. Data compilation
Microdata from the SBS surveys are used for the compilation of IFATS statistics. No weights are used, IFATS is considered a census.
18.5.1. Imputation - rate
We do not have unit or item no response.
18.5.2. Use of a method to deal with non-response (both unit and item non-response)
We do not have unit or item no response. There is no need for a non response analysis.
18.5.3. Share of estimated values
0% of estimated values. We do not have unit or item no response.
18.6. Adjustment
No adjustments are made for seasonality.
18.6.1. Seasonal adjustment
No adjustments are made for seasonality.
Unfortunately, the final EGR frame is received too late to allow the proper construction of the IFATS population, as well as the necessary verification of data and UCI information. The preliminary frame, which is usually received at the end of February, is also of limited use. Moreover, there are considerable discrepancies between the preliminary and final EGR files, which further complicate the process.
It would be highly preferable to receive both the preliminary and final EGR frames at least two months earlier. This would allow sufficient time for the accurate construction of the IFATS population, as well as for the thorough verification of data and UCI information.
Foreign Affiliates Statistics (FATS) measure the commercial presence through affiliates in foreign markets.
Inward foreign affiliates statistics (IFATS) shall mean statistics describing the activity of foreign affiliates resident in the compiling country.
In country-level business statistics foreign-controlled enterprise shall mean an enterprise resident in the compiling country over which an ultimate controlling institutional unit not resident in the compiling country has control.(Table 14 of the EBS Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1197).
Variables on the country-level business activities in the IFATS data category:
Business activities in foreign control:
210301. Number of foreign-controlled enterprises
220501. Number of employees and self-employed persons in foreign-controlled enterprises
220701. Employee benefits expense in foreign-controlled enterprises
230301. Intramural R & D expenditure in foreign-controlled enterprises
230401. R & D personnel in foreign-controlled enterprises
240301. Total purchases of goods and services of foreign-controlled enterprises
240302. Purchases of goods and services for resale of foreign-controlled enterprises
250601. Net turnover of foreign-controlled enterprises
250701. Value of output of foreign-controlled enterprises
260201. Foreign-controlled enterprises’ gross investment in tangible non-current assets
250801. Value added of foreign-controlled enterprises
Business activities in total economy:
210101. Number of active enterprises
220101. Number of employees and self-employed persons
220301. Employee benefits expense
230101. Intramural R & D expenditure
230201. R & D personnel
240101. Total purchases of goods and services
240102. Purchases of goods and services for resale
250101. Net turnover
250301. Value of output
250401. Value added
260101. Gross investment in tangible non-current assets
30 October 2025
Foreign Affiliates Statistics (FATS) measure the commercial presence through affiliates in foreign markets.
Inward foreign affiliates statistics (IFATS) shall mean statistics describing the activity of foreign affiliates resident in the compiling country.
In country-level business statistics foreign-controlled enterprise shall mean an enterprise resident in the compiling country over which an ultimate controlling institutional unit not resident in the compiling country has control.(Table 14 of the Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1197).
Domestic affiliate shall mean an enterprise resident in the compiling country over which a UCI resident in the same compiling country has control.
Ultimate Controlling Institutional of a foreign affiliate (UCI) shall mean the institutional unit, proceeding up a foreign affiliate’s chain of control, which is not controlled by another institutional unit.
Control is the ability to determine the general policy of the affiliate by choosing appropriate directors, if necessary. In this context, enterprise A is deemed to be controlled by an institutional unit B when B controls, whether directly or indirectly, more than half of the shareholders' voting power or more than half of the shares.
Indirect control means that an institutional unit may have control through another affiliate which has control over enterprise A.
Active enterprise is a statistical unit which at any time during the reference period was ‘enterprise’, as defined in Regulation (EEC) No 696/93, and also active during the same reference period. A statistical unit is considered to have been active during the reference period if, in said period, it either realized positive net turnover or produced outputs or had employees or performed investments.
Employees and self-employed persons are persons who work for an observation unit on the basis of a contract of employment and receives compensation in the form of wages, salaries, fees, gratuities, piecework pay or remuneration in kind; and persons who are the sole owners or joint owners of the statistical unit in which they work. Family workers and outworkers, whose income is a function of the value of the outputs of the statistical unit, are also included.
Employee benefits expense contains all expenses arising in relation with employee benefits, recognized by the statistical unit during the reference period. Those are all forms of consideration given by the statistical unit in exchange for service rendered by employees or for the termination of employment.
Research and experimental development (R & D) comprise creative and systematic work undertaken in order to increase the stock of knowledge – including knowledge of humankind, culture and society – and to devise new applications of available knowledge. Expenditures on intramural R & D represent the amount of money spent on R & D that is performed within a reporting unit. Intramural R & D expenditures are all current expenditures plus gross fixed capital expenditures for R & D performed within a statistical unit during a specific reference period whatever the source of funds. R & D current expenditures include labour costs for internal R & D personnel and other current costs (costs for external R & D personnel, purchase of services.). Gross fixed capital expenditures for R & D include: acquisition of land, acquisition of buildings, acquisition of information and communication equipment, acquisition of transport equipment, acquisition of other machinery and equipment, acquisition of capitalised computer software, acquisition of other intellectual property products.
R & D personnel in a statistical unit include all persons engaged directly in R & D, whether employed by the statistical unit or external contributors fully integrated into the statistical unit’s R & D activities, as well as those providing direct services for the R & D activities (such as R & D managers, administrators, technicians and clerical staff).
Total purchases of goods and services contains all amount of goods and services purchased by the statistical unit, recognized in accounting as either current assets or expenses during the reference period.
Purchases of goods and services for resale in are purchases of goods for resale to third parties without further processing. It also includes purchases of services by ‘invoicing’ service companies, i.e. those whose turnover is composed not only of agency fees charged on a service transaction (as in the case of estate agents) but also the actual amount involved in the service transaction, e.g. transport purchases by travel agents.
Net turnover consists of all income arising during the reference period in the course of ordinary activities of the statistical unit, and is presented net of all price reductions, discounts and rebates granted by it.
Value of output represents the value of the total output of the statistical unit, generated during the reference period.
Value added is a composite indicator of net operating income, adjusted for depreciation, amortization and employee benefits, all components being recognized as such by the statistical unit during the reference period.
Gross investment in tangible non-current assets includes all additions to tangible non-current assets, recognized as such by the statistical unit during the reference period, except any increases from revaluations or reversals of previously recognized impairment losses and from reclassifications (transfers) of other tangible non-current assets.
Coverage of Special Purpose Entities (SPE): No SPEs were covered in the context of IFATS.
Treatment of equally shared control: In Cyprus the number of cases of equal share control is quite low. In cases of equal shareholdings, the same procedure as for joint ventures is followed. Firstly, we check whether both investors are foreign from the perspective of the affiliate. If one investor is resident in the same country as the affiliate under consideration, the enterprise is considered to be as under domestic control and irrelevant for FATS. If the unit is controlled only by foreign partners and one of them is from an EU country, the European controlling unit is chosen. If all countries are EU members, then the UCI is attributed to the country where the decision making takes place. In cases of only non-European controlling units, the UCI is again attributed to the country where the decision making takes place.
Treatment of multiple minority ownership: In the case of multiple minority ownership, we obtain information regarding the dominant investor by contacting the enterprise. When the effective minority control is established, then the UCI is attributed to the country where the effective minority controller is resident. All data are allocated to the country of this dominant investor (UCI).
The statistical unit of FATS is the enterprise as defined in line with the Regulation (EEC) No 696/93 on the statistical units for the observation and analysis of the production system in the Community.
For all variables except for variables 230101 (Intramural R & D expenditure), 230301 (Intramural R & D expenditure in foreign-controlled enterprises), 230201 (R & D personnel) and 230401 (R & D personnel in foreign-controlled enterprises): Market producers of NACE Sections B to N and P to R and divisions S95 and S96.
For variables 230101 (Intramural R & D expenditure), 230301 (Intramural R & D expenditure in foreign-controlled enterprises), 230201 (R & D personnel) and 230401 (R & D personnel in foreign-controlled enterprises): Market producers of NACE Sections B to F.
CYPRUS
2023
According to the findings 13.1 in the Annex 3, the accuracy-overall is very good.
Number of enterprises and employment variables are recorded in absolute figures.
Monetary data of enterprises are recorded in thousands in Euro.
Microdata from the SBS surveys are used for the compilation of IFATS statistics. No weights are used, IFATS is considered a census.
The main data sources used to identify UCI are:
SBS survey data (58%). This is cross checked with the information provided on UCI in the EuroGroups Register. Note that part of SBS survey data is collected from the financial accounts provided by the Department of Registrar of Companies and Intellectual Property.
Administrative sources (42%-Department of Registrar of Companies and Intellectual Property). Indirectly this percentage may be much higher if we could add the percentage from the SBS that is collected from administrative sources.
Annual for all variables except for variables 230101 (Intramural R & D expenditure), 230301 (Intramural R & D expenditure in foreign-controlled enterprises), 230201 (R & D personnel) and 230401 (R & D personnel in foreign-controlled enterprises): Market producers of NACE Sections B to N and P to R and divisions S95 and S96.
Biennial (every odd-numbered year) for variables 230101 (Intramural R & D expenditure), 230301 (Intramural R & D expenditure in foreign-controlled enterprises), 230201 (R & D personnel) and 230401 (R & D personnel in foreign-controlled enterprises): Market producers of NACE Sections B to F.
IFATS statistics are calculated annually for reference year T.
Data collection takes place at t+18 months after the end of the reference period.
Data transmission to Eurostat takes place at t+20 months.
Data dissemination at national level takes place at t+… months. (IFATS data are not published at national level.)
