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.
Business Statistics Division - International Transactions Statistics Section
1.3. Contact name
Confidential because of GDPR
1.4. Contact person function
Confidential because of GDPR
1.5. Contact mail address
46, Pireos and Eponiton str. 18510 Piraeus Greece
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
28 November 2025
2.2. Metadata last posted
28 November 2025
2.3. Metadata last update
28 November 2025
3.1. Data description
The GVC dataset contains ten variables defined in Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/918. These cover:
(1) employment by business function
(2-5) enterprises purchasing or supplying goods and services abroad
(6) the number of enterprises carrying out international sourcing
(7-8) jobs created and lost resulting from international sourcing
(9) motivations and barriers for sourcing, and
(10) events affecting GVC arrangements.
All data are provided as absolute values and presented by NACE activity, business function, geographical partner area, size class, motivation and barrier types, and other breakdowns required by the regulation.
(i) Business functions,
(1)Number of employees and self-employed persons,
(ii) Global Value Chains,
(2) Number of enterprises purchasing goods from abroad,
(3) Number of enterprises supplying goods abroad,
(4) Number of enterprises purchasing services from abroad,
(5) Number of enterprises supplying services abroad,
(iii) International sourcing,
(6) Number of enterprises carrying out international sourcing,
(7) Number of jobs created in the enterprise as a result of international sourcing,
(8) Number of jobs lost or relocated abroad as a result of international sourcing,
(9) Number of enterprises having carried out or considered carrying out international sourcing,
(iv) Events impacting GVC arrangements,
(10) Number of active enterprises.
3.2. Classification system
NACE Rev. 2 is used to classify economic activities for all variables.
Business Functions (BF) are created following the Statistical Manual on the Classification of Business Function and follow the harmonised list defined in the GVC Implementing Act, distinguishing core and support functions as well as specific functional categories such as production of goods, ICT services, marketing, engineering, and R&D.
The following geographical breakdown was used in the survey:
EU Member States
Extra-EU (countries other than EU Member States)
UK (United Kingdom)
European countries other than EU Member States (including Turkey and Russia).
China
India
USA and Canada
Central and South America (including Mexico)
Other Asian countries and Oceania (not including Turkey and Russia)
Africa
Rest of the world (includes all areas not specified in other categories in a question)
This area changes context depending on the question. If the question includes the UK as an individual category, then Other European countries does not include the UK. If the question does not include the UK as an individual category, then Other European countries includes the UK.
Geographical classifications follow the breakdowns prescribed in Regulation (EU) 2022/918, including EU Member States, Extra-EU, and specific partner regions (e.g. China, India, USA and Canada, Central and South America, Africa).
Classifications for job skills follow the high-skilled / not-high-skilled distinction set out in the GVC Compilers’ Manual.
The identification of the core business function was surveyed based on the correspondance of the core BF to the main economic activity of the enterprise.
3.3. Coverage - sector
Global Value Chains (GVC) statistics cover market producers classified under NACE Rev. 2 Sections B to N. This sector coverage is defined in Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/918 and applies uniformly to all variables. Only enterprises with 50 or more employees and self-employed persons in the final year of the reference period are included. In more detail, the Sections are: B (Mining and Quarrying), C (Manufacturing), D (Electricity, Gas, Steam and Air Conditioning Supply), E (Water Supply; Sewerage, Waste Management and Remediation Activities), F (Construction), G (Wholesale and Retail Trade; Repair of Motor Vehicles and Motorcycles), H (Transportation and Storage), I (Accommodation and Food Service Activities), J (Information and Communication), K (Financial and Insurance Activities), L (Real Estate Activities), M (Professional, Scientific and Technical Activities), E (Water Supply; Sewerage, Waste Management and Remediation Activities), N (Administrative and Support Service Activities)
3.4. Statistical concepts and definitions
All concepts and definitions follow Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/918 and the GVC Compilers’ Manual.
Global Value Chains (GVCs): GVCs comprise the full range of cross-border activities required to bring a product or service from conception through the different phases of production and delivery to final consumers.
GVC trade: It refers to any international trade activity that takes place within a GVC. Most commonly, this includes trade in intermediate goods and services.
Non-GVC trade: It refers to an international trade that does not take place within a GVC. Most commonly this refers to purchases of goods and services for final use.
International sourcing refers to the partial or full movement of business functions abroad within or outside the enterprise group, during 2021-2023.
Business functions are divided into core and support categories and specific functional areas (e.g. ICT, management and administration).
The core business function represents the revenue-producing activity of the enterprise. In most cases, it will be consistent with the enterprise's main activity as classified by the main activity code entered in the business register. A core business function denotes a set of tasks that produce goods or services intended for the market. A core function may span several activities and include related vertical activities (e.g. production of inputs). While enterprises incur costs from carrying out core business functions, these functions' outputs can also be directly associated with turnover. An enterprise may have one or more core functions.
Support business functions are carried out to permit or facilitate the production of goods or services. They do not directly generate turnover, only costs.
Motivations and barriers follow the fixed lists provided in the regulation, and importance factors use the standard four-level scale (very important, moderately important, not important, not applicable/do not know).
Demographic variables
Number of enterprises: the number of enterprises that are active at least for a part of the reference period.
Number of local units: the number of local units that are active, at least for a part of the reference period.
The Head LeU is typically identified as the parent legal unit that is not directly or indirectly controlled by any other legal unit, with the possibility of applying additional criteria such as number of employees, turnover, or the main economic activity.
Labour input
Number of persons employed: The total number of persons who work in the enterprise, inclusive of working proprietors, partners and unpaid family workers, as well as persons who work outside the enterprise but they belong to it and they are paid by it (e.g. sales representatives, delivery personnel, repair and maintenance teams). The number of persons employed excludes manpower supplied to the enterprise by other enterprises, persons carrying out repair and maintenance work in the enquiry enterprise on behalf of other enterprises, as well as those on compulsory military service.
Number of employees: The number of persons who work for an employer and who have a contract of employment and receive compensation in the form of wages, salaries, fees, gratuities, piecework pay or remuneration in kind. The worker from a temporary employment agency is considered to be an employee of the temporary employment agency and not of the unit (customer) in which he works.
3.5. Statistical unit
The statistical unit used for the GVC statistics is the enterprise, as defined in Regulation (EU) 2019/2152 on European business statistics and the Business Register Regulation.
Delineated information from the Business register are used to identify the head legal unit in each enterprise and data was collected only from this LeU.
3.6. Statistical population
The total of enterprises residing in Greece and having activity in the sectors mentioned in section 3.3 (B to N) with at least 50 employees and self-employed persons, in the final year of the reference period.
3.7. Reference area
The reference area is the national economic territory of Greece, as defined in Regulation (EU) 2019/2152 for European business statistics. Units located within the national territory and covered by national statistical legislation are included.
3.8. Coverage - Time
Triennial reference period 2021-2023, as defined in Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/918. All data transmitted relate exclusively to this three-year reference period.
3.9. Base period
Not applicable. No base year or index is used, as the data are compiled as absolute values within the triennial reference period defined by Regulation (EU) 2022/918.
All variables in the GVC dataset are compiled and transmitted in absolute values, in accordance with the measurement unit specified in Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/918. No percentages, indexes, ratios or other derived units are transmitted to Eurostat. This unit applies uniformly to all variables and all breakdowns required by the regulation.
For the number of employees and self-employed persons (variable 1) the reference period is the last year of the reference period of the survey (that is the average of the persons employed in that year). For the current survey (2021-2023), this is the year 2023.
The data that correspond to 'GVC Arrangements' (variables 2-5) have as reference period the last year of the reference period of the survey, this is the year 2023.
The data that correspond to the sections 'International Sourcing', 'Backsourcing' and 'Domestic Sourcing' cover actions that took place at any time between 1 January 2021 and 31 December 2023.
6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements
The legal framework concerning the organization and operation of ELSTAT is available at the following website: Legal framework.
GVC statistics are produced under the legal framework of European business statistics:
Regulation (EU) 2019/2152 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 November 2019 on European business statistics and
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/918 of 13 June 2022 laying down technical specifications of data requirements
The topic Global Value Chains is listed in Annex I of Regulation (EU) 2019/2152
The national statistical authority collects and compiles these data under the national statistical law, which provides the legal mandate for data collection, access to administrative sources and the obligation of enterprises to respond. Regulation (EC) 223/2009 on European statistics provides the general legal framework for professional independence, data quality and statistical confidentiality.
6.2. Institutional Mandate - data sharing
Data are transmitted to Eurostat in accordance with Regulation (EC) 223/2009 and Articles 17 and 18 of Regulation (EU) 2019/2152, which govern data and metadata transmission. Only authorised staff have access to identifiable information at the national level, and no microdata are shared outside the national statistical authority. Data transmitted to Eurostat by ELSTAT are handled under strict confidentiality rules and disseminated only in aggregated form. Secure transmission channels are used for all data transfers.
7.1. Confidentiality - policy
The issues concerning the observance of statistical confidentiality by ELSTAT are arranged by articles 7, 8 and 9 of the Law 3832/2010 as in force, by Articles 8, 10 and 11(2) of the Regulation on Statistical Obligations of the agencies of the Hellenic Statistical System and by Articles 10 and 15 of the Regulation on the Operation and Administration of ELSTAT (relevant website: Statistical confidentiality)
The Statistical Confidentiality Policy of ELSTAT includes the rules and principles implemented by ELSTAT for the observance of statistical confidentiality and is available at the following website: ELSTAT_Statistical_Confidentiality_Policy_EN.
7.2. Confidentiality - data treatment
Confidential enterprise data are processed under strict disclosure control procedures. Primary and secondary suppression are applied in accordance with national confidentiality rules and ESS guidelines to prevent any direct or indirect identification of individual enterprises. The data are used exclusively for statistical purposes. Right to access these data has exclusively only the staff of ELSTAT employed for that purpose and designated by act of the President of ELSTAT. The receipt, storage and processing of data by ELSTAT is carried out by implementing strict security and personal data protection rules, in accordance with ELSTAT’s Circular on the Information Systems Security Policy and Digital Data Protection. Only aggregated data are transmitted to Eurostat, and microdata are not disseminated. Eurostat applies its own confidentiality rules to the aggregated data received, ensuring secure handling and safe dissemination.
Confidentiality was applied on GVC data transmitted to Eurostat. Percentage of data suppression=0.0%.
8.1. Release calendar
The dissemination of GVC statistics follows the national Release Calendar published on ELSTAT's website.
The data from the Global Value Chains statistics are disseminated in accordance with ELSTAT’s Dissemination Policy, which is available at the following website: ELSTAT-Dissemination Policy
ELSTAT protects and does not disseminate the data it has obtained, or it has access to, which enable the direct or indirect identification of the statistical units by the disclosure of individual information directly received for statistical purposes or indirectly supplied from administrative or other sources. ELSTAT takes all appropriate preventive measures so as to render impossible the identification of individual statistical units by technical or other means which might reasonably be used by a third party. Statistical data that could potentially enable the identification of the statistical unit are disseminated by ELSTAT if and only if:
These data have been treated, as specifically set out in the Regulation on the Statistical Obligations of the ELSS agencies, in such a way that their dissemination does not prejudice the statistical confidentiality
The statistical unit has given its consent, without any reservations, for the disclosure of data
ELSTAT may grant researchers conducting statistical analyses for scientific purposes access to data that enable the indirect identification of the statistical units concerned. The access is granted provided the following conditions are satisfied:
an appropriate request together with a detailed research proposal in conformity with current scientific standards have been submitted;
the research proposal indicates in sufficient detail the legitimate purpose of the research, the set of data to be accessed, the methods of analysing them, the persons who will have access to the data and the time needed for the research;
a contract specifying the conditions for access, the obligations of the researchers, the measures for respecting the confidentiality of statistical data and the sanctions in case of breach of these obligations has been signed by the individual researcher, by his / her institution, or by the organization commissioning the research, as the case may be, and by ELSTAT.
Information on the access to confidential data for scientific purposes is available at the following website: ELSTAT- Scientific Provision Data.
Triennial frequency of dissemination.
10.1. Dissemination format - News release
A GVC statistics announcement following the national release calendar published on ELSTAT's website will be disseminated is scheduled on 18 December, 2025. Tables with GVC data will be disseminated with the above announcement.
10.2. Dissemination format - Publications
A GVC statistics announcement following the national release calendar published on ELSTAT's website will be disseminated is scheduled on 18 December, 2025. Tables with GVC data will be disseminated with the above announcement.
Quality report is transmitted to Eurostat, every three years, when the compilation and validation of Global Value Chains is completed. Section 11.2 provides a more detailed description of the quality report.
11.1. Quality assurance
Quality checks and validation of data are carried out during the whole process of GVC survey, according with the ESS Quality Assurance Framework (QAF) and ELSTAT's internal quality management system. More specificaly:
Well-trained and experienced in enterprises' surveys staff is utilized for all stages of the GVC survey. Before data collection, they were responsible for the identification of the correct person to complete the survey at the head LeU's - a rather challenging task. During data collection helpdesk availability for questions and clarifications towards the enterprises to be carried out efficiently.
Automated validation checks througout the electronic questionnaire with specific validation rules, ensuring completness, internal consistency and compliance with the definitions and breakdowns, in accordance with Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/918
Data are validated by means of logical and quality checks.
After the completion of all the aforementioned checks, any processing errors are minimized. ELSTAT aims to ensure and further improve the quality of statistics produced and maintain the confidence of users in them. This is achieved through the Quality Policy of ELSTAT.
11.2. Quality management - assessment
GVS statistics follow the concepts, definitions and methodology according to the European Standards. The quality of the data is assessed for its consistency , relevance, accuracy and completeness in accordance with the Code of Practice.
External coherence is checked against other business statistics domains. (ταιριάζει;;;)
Common limitations include:
perception by the enterprises as additional administrative load even before reviewing the content of the questionnaire,
understanding specific terms, particularly those related to business functions.
For large enterprises:
locating the individual within each enterprise who is best positioned to complete the questionnaire. May lead to responses being provided by staff without full oversight of all required information,
relevant knowledge distributed across departments and need for coordination between them (additional response burden).
In order to overcome these limitations and reduce response burden: enhancement of follow-up procedures, cooperation with the Business Registry department regarding updates of the business registry, extra attention to the LCU's, expantion of the use of registered-based auxiliary variables.
Among the strengths of the GVC survey: novelty of the survey, as no other source is currently providing infromation on Global Value Chains, making results particularly valuable and timely.
12.1. Relevance - User Needs
The GVC survey aims to identify and estimate the levels of production of goods/services, international sourcing or backsourcing (including the motivation /barriers involved in these decisions). This information is valuable specialy for central government and public entities, entreprises, scientific cummunity.
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
ELSTAT conducts a user satisfaction survey as well as an annual users’ Congress in which all potential users are invited to express their opinion and their needs regarding Statistical data.
The results of the user satisfaction survey are available at following website: User satisfaction survey.
The conclusions of the user conferences are available at the website: User conference.
12.3. Completeness
According to the relevant European Regulation, completeness is 100%.
13.1. Accuracy - overall
The sources of errors that affect the accuracy of the index are a) sampling errors and b) non-sampling errors. Sampling errors are due to the fact that the survey is not a census, but it is based on a sample. The size of the business sample provides high-precision estimates for the most important variables, as well as for the most categories of grouped sectors of economic activity. The non-sample errors of the index mainly concern the data measurement errors and the non-response errors of the companies in the sample. The measurement errors made when collecting the data are detected by performing quality checks and then corrected.
With regard to non-response errors, every effort is made to communicate by telephone or other communication with the enterprises that did not send data, in order to cooperate and provide the requested information. Therefore, the overall accuracy is generally considered satisfied.
13.2. Sampling error
In order to minimize the sampling error that is implicated when a sample is used, we perfomered stratified sampling, based on the most recent Statistical Business Register (SBR) and each stratum was defined by the compibation of NACE Rev 2, Region (Nuts II), and size class of the enterprise.
The stratification and weighting procedures are designed to support representativeness across NACE sections B-N and enterprises with 50 or more persons employed.
13.3. Non-sampling error
Non-sampling errors involve coverage errors, errors due to non-response, and errors in completion of the questionnaire.
In order to minimise the completion errors, an electronic questionnaire is used, with analytical information available for all questions, with dependable questions. Moreover, well trained employees were used in order to follow and promote the completion of the questionnaires, as well as provide any information required.
To reduce item or unit non-response, follow-up procedures were carried out. Coverage errors are limited due to the use of the SBR as the sampling frame.
The response rate of the survey reached: 41.07%.
14.1. Timeliness
GVC statistics are transmitted to Eurostat within the 21 months after the end of the reference period (T+21) in compliance with the European Regulation for Business Statistics (EU) 2019/2152 and Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/918.
14.2. Punctuality
The transmission of GVC data to Eurostat is in compliance with European Regulation for Business Statistics (EU) 2019/2152 and Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/918. Data collection, editing and validation procedures were completed according to the established timetable. ELSTAT'S first
Announcement of the GVC 2021-2023, was published as scheduled according to Releases Calendar (18 December 2025).
15.1. Comparability - geographical
The data are comparable at the level of the Region (NUTS 2). Moreover, data are comparable among EU Member States, since the statistics are produced following a common methodology, with no national deviations from the European definitions.
15.2. Comparability - over time
The 2021-2023 cycle is the first official GVC data collection carried out under the European Business Statistics (EBS) Regulation, and no earlier national or voluntary GVC surveys were conducted. As a result, no direct time-series comparison with previous periods is possible.
The current cycle establishes the first reference point for future GVC data collections, which will follow the same harmonised framework and triennial structure. No methodological breaks exist within the 2021–2023 cycle.
15.3. Coherence - cross domain
Cross-domain coherence is generally ensured through comparisons with related statistics such as SBS, FATS, TEC and STEC. Differences may arise due to varying reference periods, reporting thresholds (such as the EUR 100 000 criterion) or domain-specific definitions. These discrepancies are limited and do not substantially affect the interpretation of GVC results.
15.4. Coherence - internal
Ιnternal coherence is assissted by validation checks.
The additional question that was added by ELSTAT, on whether the NACE assigned to the enterprise corresponds to its core economic activity, provoked the examination of the correspondance table between NACE and business function assignment.
The survey is limited to enterprises with 50 or more persons employed, and some variables are supported by business register information or pre-filled where available. Burden reduction measures include clear questionnaire design with mostly qualitative and no quantitative questions as well as targeted follow-up.
17.1. Data revision - policy
The Revision Policy of ELSTAT lays down standard rules and principles for data revisions, in accordance with the European Statistics Code of Practice and the principles for a common revision policy for European Statistics contained in the Annex of the European Statistical System (ESS) guidelines on revision policy.
Because the GVC dataset is collected for a fixed reference period, revision activity is typically limited to the period shortly after the initial transmission.
17.2. Data revision - practice
In practice, revisions are infrequent and usually concern clarifications or corrections identified during validation or respondent follow-up. These adjustments may relate to detailed classifications such as geographical partner categories or sourcing motivations. All revisions are documented internally and communicated to Eurostat as part of the validation process.
18.1. Source data
The information obtained for the Statistics on Global Value Chains (GVC) is based on a sample survey of the reference population of active enterprises having headquarters in Greece in the final year of the reference period (for the survey with reference period 2021-2023 that is 2023), with 50 or more employees and having activity in sections B to N of NACE Rev.2 Classification of Economic Activities.
The sampling frame was stratified by NACE Rev.2 section, region (NUTS II) and size class of employees.
The whole population was 5,044 statistical units’ ‘enterprise’ which are active head enterprises established in Greece, in the period 2021-2023, of NACE sections B to N, with more than 50 employees in 2023.
18.2. Frequency of data collection
Statistics on Global Value Chains (GVC) are compiled on a triannual basis.
18.3. Data collection
The data collection was carried out by an electronic questionnaire through an online platfom designed and provided by ELSTAT, between 25th of November 2024 and 15th of May 2025. It was completed by 2,009 surveyed statistical units ‘enterprises’ (40.0% of the target population). At a first stage the selected enterprises are invited to participate in the GVC survey via a personalized e-mail, automatically generated through a web-application.
The next step is to follow-up on the enterprises that do not reply within the given deadline, by statistical interviewers that are appointed by ELSTAT for the specific purpose: to communicate with the enterprises that have not responded, as a reminder, and give any further assistance that they may require for the completion of the questionnaire.
Finally, in order to further increase the response rate, reminder e-mails are sent out to the enterprises that still have not submitted their data, or telephone calls to the more significant enterprises (head groups) by ELSTAT staff, with experience in business surveys.
18.4. Data validation
Data are validated by means of logical and qualitative checks, as these are described in section 11.1. Logical validation checks are performed even in the platform of completion, and cross-checks between relevant variables are performed after the extraction of the information. In case of obvious illogical answers, there is comunication with the enterprise for correction.
Once the questionnaires have been collected and processed and checked, the raw data are sent to the Methodology Department for the calculation of standard errors . This is followed by tabulation of the data and, finally, a confidentiality check. The final results are sent to Eurostat, which carries out additional checks, requests clarifications where necessary, and then publishes the data at European and national level.
18.5. Data compilation
After the data collection, the information gained was checked for its completeness and validity. Appropriate imputations were performed in cases of item non-response for which the answers were obvious. As a next step, the weighting factors are calculated and applied for each stratum, and the final results are calculated forming the tables that were sent to Eurostat for their final validation checks and acceptance.
18.6. Adjustment
No seasonal or trend adjustments are applied.
No additional comments were identified at this stage. Possible future improvements may include expanded use of administrative sources, increased microdata linking and enhancements to follow-up procedures to reduce item non-response.
The GVC dataset contains ten variables defined in Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/918. These cover:
(1) employment by business function
(2-5) enterprises purchasing or supplying goods and services abroad
(6) the number of enterprises carrying out international sourcing
(7-8) jobs created and lost resulting from international sourcing
(9) motivations and barriers for sourcing, and
(10) events affecting GVC arrangements.
All data are provided as absolute values and presented by NACE activity, business function, geographical partner area, size class, motivation and barrier types, and other breakdowns required by the regulation.
(i) Business functions,
(1)Number of employees and self-employed persons,
(ii) Global Value Chains,
(2) Number of enterprises purchasing goods from abroad,
(3) Number of enterprises supplying goods abroad,
(4) Number of enterprises purchasing services from abroad,
(5) Number of enterprises supplying services abroad,
(iii) International sourcing,
(6) Number of enterprises carrying out international sourcing,
(7) Number of jobs created in the enterprise as a result of international sourcing,
(8) Number of jobs lost or relocated abroad as a result of international sourcing,
(9) Number of enterprises having carried out or considered carrying out international sourcing,
(iv) Events impacting GVC arrangements,
(10) Number of active enterprises.
28 November 2025
All concepts and definitions follow Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/918 and the GVC Compilers’ Manual.
Global Value Chains (GVCs): GVCs comprise the full range of cross-border activities required to bring a product or service from conception through the different phases of production and delivery to final consumers.
GVC trade: It refers to any international trade activity that takes place within a GVC. Most commonly, this includes trade in intermediate goods and services.
Non-GVC trade: It refers to an international trade that does not take place within a GVC. Most commonly this refers to purchases of goods and services for final use.
International sourcing refers to the partial or full movement of business functions abroad within or outside the enterprise group, during 2021-2023.
Business functions are divided into core and support categories and specific functional areas (e.g. ICT, management and administration).
The core business function represents the revenue-producing activity of the enterprise. In most cases, it will be consistent with the enterprise's main activity as classified by the main activity code entered in the business register. A core business function denotes a set of tasks that produce goods or services intended for the market. A core function may span several activities and include related vertical activities (e.g. production of inputs). While enterprises incur costs from carrying out core business functions, these functions' outputs can also be directly associated with turnover. An enterprise may have one or more core functions.
Support business functions are carried out to permit or facilitate the production of goods or services. They do not directly generate turnover, only costs.
Motivations and barriers follow the fixed lists provided in the regulation, and importance factors use the standard four-level scale (very important, moderately important, not important, not applicable/do not know).
Demographic variables
Number of enterprises: the number of enterprises that are active at least for a part of the reference period.
Number of local units: the number of local units that are active, at least for a part of the reference period.
The Head LeU is typically identified as the parent legal unit that is not directly or indirectly controlled by any other legal unit, with the possibility of applying additional criteria such as number of employees, turnover, or the main economic activity.
Labour input
Number of persons employed: The total number of persons who work in the enterprise, inclusive of working proprietors, partners and unpaid family workers, as well as persons who work outside the enterprise but they belong to it and they are paid by it (e.g. sales representatives, delivery personnel, repair and maintenance teams). The number of persons employed excludes manpower supplied to the enterprise by other enterprises, persons carrying out repair and maintenance work in the enquiry enterprise on behalf of other enterprises, as well as those on compulsory military service.
Number of employees: The number of persons who work for an employer and who have a contract of employment and receive compensation in the form of wages, salaries, fees, gratuities, piecework pay or remuneration in kind. The worker from a temporary employment agency is considered to be an employee of the temporary employment agency and not of the unit (customer) in which he works.
The statistical unit used for the GVC statistics is the enterprise, as defined in Regulation (EU) 2019/2152 on European business statistics and the Business Register Regulation.
Delineated information from the Business register are used to identify the head legal unit in each enterprise and data was collected only from this LeU.
The total of enterprises residing in Greece and having activity in the sectors mentioned in section 3.3 (B to N) with at least 50 employees and self-employed persons, in the final year of the reference period.
The reference area is the national economic territory of Greece, as defined in Regulation (EU) 2019/2152 for European business statistics. Units located within the national territory and covered by national statistical legislation are included.
For the number of employees and self-employed persons (variable 1) the reference period is the last year of the reference period of the survey (that is the average of the persons employed in that year). For the current survey (2021-2023), this is the year 2023.
The data that correspond to 'GVC Arrangements' (variables 2-5) have as reference period the last year of the reference period of the survey, this is the year 2023.
The data that correspond to the sections 'International Sourcing', 'Backsourcing' and 'Domestic Sourcing' cover actions that took place at any time between 1 January 2021 and 31 December 2023.
The sources of errors that affect the accuracy of the index are a) sampling errors and b) non-sampling errors. Sampling errors are due to the fact that the survey is not a census, but it is based on a sample. The size of the business sample provides high-precision estimates for the most important variables, as well as for the most categories of grouped sectors of economic activity. The non-sample errors of the index mainly concern the data measurement errors and the non-response errors of the companies in the sample. The measurement errors made when collecting the data are detected by performing quality checks and then corrected.
With regard to non-response errors, every effort is made to communicate by telephone or other communication with the enterprises that did not send data, in order to cooperate and provide the requested information. Therefore, the overall accuracy is generally considered satisfied.
All variables in the GVC dataset are compiled and transmitted in absolute values, in accordance with the measurement unit specified in Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/918. No percentages, indexes, ratios or other derived units are transmitted to Eurostat. This unit applies uniformly to all variables and all breakdowns required by the regulation.
After the data collection, the information gained was checked for its completeness and validity. Appropriate imputations were performed in cases of item non-response for which the answers were obvious. As a next step, the weighting factors are calculated and applied for each stratum, and the final results are calculated forming the tables that were sent to Eurostat for their final validation checks and acceptance.
The information obtained for the Statistics on Global Value Chains (GVC) is based on a sample survey of the reference population of active enterprises having headquarters in Greece in the final year of the reference period (for the survey with reference period 2021-2023 that is 2023), with 50 or more employees and having activity in sections B to N of NACE Rev.2 Classification of Economic Activities.
The sampling frame was stratified by NACE Rev.2 section, region (NUTS II) and size class of employees.
The whole population was 5,044 statistical units’ ‘enterprise’ which are active head enterprises established in Greece, in the period 2021-2023, of NACE sections B to N, with more than 50 employees in 2023.
Triennial frequency of dissemination.
GVC statistics are transmitted to Eurostat within the 21 months after the end of the reference period (T+21) in compliance with the European Regulation for Business Statistics (EU) 2019/2152 and Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/918.
The data are comparable at the level of the Region (NUTS 2). Moreover, data are comparable among EU Member States, since the statistics are produced following a common methodology, with no national deviations from the European definitions.
The 2021-2023 cycle is the first official GVC data collection carried out under the European Business Statistics (EBS) Regulation, and no earlier national or voluntary GVC surveys were conducted. As a result, no direct time-series comparison with previous periods is possible.
The current cycle establishes the first reference point for future GVC data collections, which will follow the same harmonised framework and triennial structure. No methodological breaks exist within the 2021–2023 cycle.
