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.
[RO1] National Institute of Statistics (NIS) (Romania)
1.2. Contact organisation unit
Structural Business Statistics Directorate
1.3. Contact name
Confidential because of GDPR
1.4. Contact person function
Confidential because of GDPR
1.5. Contact mail address
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
13 November 2025
2.2. Metadata last posted
13 November 2025
2.3. Metadata last update
13 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.
For variables (2)-(5), the dataset includes only enterprises that report at least EUR 100 000 in goods or services purchased from or supplied abroad in the final year of the reference period.
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.
3.2. Classification system
NACE Rev. 2 is used to classify economic activities for all variables. Business functions are created following the 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.
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.
3.3. Coverage - sector
The 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.
3.4. Statistical concepts and definitions
All concepts and definitions follow Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/918 and the GVC Compilers’ Manual. International sourcing refers to the partial or full movement of business functions abroad within or outside the enterprise group, during 2021-2023. Variables (2)-(5) apply only to enterprises exceeding the EUR 100 000 threshold for goods/services purchased or supplied abroad. Business functions are divided into core and support categories and specific functional areas (e.g. ICT, management and administration). 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).
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.
3.6. Statistical population
The statistical population includes active market enterprises of Sections B-N NACE Rev. 2 in the Statistical Business Register (SBR) with 50 and more persons employed.
3.7. Reference area
The whole country.
3.8. Coverage - Time
2021-2023
3.9. Base period
Not applicable.
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.
2021-2023
6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements
Regulation (EU) 2019/2152 repealing 10 legal acts in the field of business statistics (EBS Regulation), and
COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) 2022/918 laying down technical specifications of data requirements for the topic Global Value Chains pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2019/2152 of the European Parliament and of the Council
The rules applied to treat confidential data are the following: when there are less than four units or one or two units are dominating the aggregates (more than 80% of the turnover). According to national legislation the value of turnover, employment and main activity at unit level are not consider as confidential data.
8.1. Release calendar
The Calendar release is issued at the begining of the year on the INSSE website
In line with the Community legal framework and the European Statistics Code of Practice, the Romanian national statistical Institute disseminates national SBS data on its website respecting professional independence and in an objective, professional and transparent manner in which all users are treated equitably.
The users are informed that the data are being released based on the dissemination calendar; the dissemination of statistical data is for all users at the same time.
triennial dissemination. 2021-2023
10.1. Dissemination format - News release
No news released for GVC data
10.2. Dissemination format - Publications
National publication on Global Value Chains
10.3. Dissemination format - online database
GVC data are not disseminated in the national online data
Quality assurance is carried out in line with the ESS Quality Assurance Framework (QAF) and the NSI's internal quality management system. Automated validation checks ensure completeness, internal consistency and compliance with definitions and breakdowns set out in Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/918.
In NSI Romania, according to National Statistical legislation NIS applies the quality concepts in official statistics. NSI Romania uses statistical methods and processes in compliance with the following internationally principles and standards:
Commitment to support the credibility of official national statistics NSI quality statement
Code of good practice of European statistics - 2017; 2011; 2005.
The following national standards and provisions are applied:
Quality Guidelines for Romanian Official Statistics
Methodological guide for data editing
11.2. Quality management - assessment
The overall assessment of data quality is good and is based on standard quality criteria
The sources of information for FATS statistics is the SBS survey and administrative sources. For the statistical sources (SBS) the quality management process covers all phases. In the data collection and data editing, various checks and validation rules are applied. Data are also validated against administrative sources. Unit and item non-responses are checked in order to be imputed from administrative sources, where available. The check and validation process is applied on different levels as follows:
at micro-data level variables are checked;
the main variables are checked against those available from Statistical Business Register or administrative data sources to check for any possible errors in the data collected;
the main activity of the units is checked compared to previous year and to other statistical surveys results.
12.1. Relevance - User Needs
The main internal users are the national accounts department and other statistical departments in the NSI. Other internal users are: media, researchers and businesses.
External users are: Eurostat, UN and other international organisations.
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
General user satisfaction is carried out on a multi-annual basis
12.3. Completeness
All mandatory variables and breakdowns required by Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/918 were transmitted for the 2021-2023 reference period. Data cover all required combinations of NACE sections B-N, size classes, business functions and geographical areas as specified in the regulation.
13.1. Accuracy - overall
The accuracy of the data is considered as very good. The main sources of error are linked with the non-response. A complex data editing process is applied at micro-level for the data editing carried out on a continuous basis throughout the production process
13.2. Sampling error
For the GVC survey there was carried out census data collection.
13.3. Non-sampling error
The source of non-sampling error could be the response or missunderstanding of the concepts of oursoursing.
14.1. Timeliness
GVC statistics was compiled for reference period 2021-2023.
Data transmission to Eurostat took place in September 2025.
Data dissemination at national level was done in December 2025.
14.2. Punctuality
Actual delivery of the data and the target date when have been delivered is the same
15.1. Comparability - geographical
No national deviations from the European definitions were applied.
15.2. Comparability - over time
The 2021-2023 cycle is the first official GVC data collection under the European Business Statistics (EBS) Regulation. However, Romania has previous experience with voluntary or pilot GVC surveys carried out before the EBS framework. Broad conceptual continuity exists between the earlier exercises and the current official collection, as key definitions, business function categories and geographical breakdowns follow the same methodological foundations.
15.3. Coherence - cross domain
Data are coherent with those obtained through other data sources or statistical domains to a great extent.
15.4. Coherence - internal
Statistics are consistent within the other business statistics data set to great extent.
Not available
17.1. Data revision - policy
The National Institute of Statistics / Romania (INS) adopted the revision policy which defines the standard rules and the principles for statistical data revision. This revision policy is compliant with: the European Statistics Code of Practice, the European Statistical System Guidelines on the revision policy of the Principal European Economic Indicators, as well as with its annexes which comprise the principles of a common policy on European statistics revision; and with the Quality Guidelines for Romanian Official Statistics issued by INS Romania in 2009. The revion policy is available on the NSI website.
17.2. Data revision - practice
Data are revised in case errors are detected. The revision policy is applied. See information at this website.
18.1. Source data
The primary data source is a dedicated survey of enterprises in NACE sections B-N with 50 or more persons employed. The sampling or coverage frame is derived from the national statistical business register (SBR), which provides core information on economic activity and size class. SBR and SBS information support validation or reduce respondent burden where appropriate.
18.2. Frequency of data collection
The GVC data are collected every three years in accordance with Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/918.
18.3. Data collection
Data collection is carried out using the NSI's standard survey modes, secure online questionnaires. Follow-up procedures, automated reminders or contacts were used to improve response rates.
18.4. Data validation
Validation procedures were based on automated checks for completeness, internal consistency, logical coherence. Cross-domain checks compare selected indicators with SBS, FATS, ITGS, ITSS and business register variables. Validation is performed at both microdata and aggregated levels.
18.5. Data compilation
Data compilation follows the NSI's standard procedures for business surveys. The survey was exhaustive, all enterprises with 50 persons employed were included in the survey. Item non-response were imputed using methods and available sources.
18.6. Adjustment
Not aplicable
No additional comments were identified at this stage
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.
For variables (2)-(5), the dataset includes only enterprises that report at least EUR 100 000 in goods or services purchased from or supplied abroad in the final year of the reference period.
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.
13 November 2025
All concepts and definitions follow Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/918 and the GVC Compilers’ Manual. International sourcing refers to the partial or full movement of business functions abroad within or outside the enterprise group, during 2021-2023. Variables (2)-(5) apply only to enterprises exceeding the EUR 100 000 threshold for goods/services purchased or supplied abroad. Business functions are divided into core and support categories and specific functional areas (e.g. ICT, management and administration). 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).
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.
The statistical population includes active market enterprises of Sections B-N NACE Rev. 2 in the Statistical Business Register (SBR) with 50 and more persons employed.
The whole country.
2021-2023
The accuracy of the data is considered as very good. The main sources of error are linked with the non-response. A complex data editing process is applied at micro-level for the data editing carried out on a continuous basis throughout the production process
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.
Data compilation follows the NSI's standard procedures for business surveys. The survey was exhaustive, all enterprises with 50 persons employed were included in the survey. Item non-response were imputed using methods and available sources.
The primary data source is a dedicated survey of enterprises in NACE sections B-N with 50 or more persons employed. The sampling or coverage frame is derived from the national statistical business register (SBR), which provides core information on economic activity and size class. SBR and SBS information support validation or reduce respondent burden where appropriate.
triennial dissemination. 2021-2023
GVC statistics was compiled for reference period 2021-2023.
Data transmission to Eurostat took place in September 2025.
Data dissemination at national level was done in December 2025.
No national deviations from the European definitions were applied.
The 2021-2023 cycle is the first official GVC data collection under the European Business Statistics (EBS) Regulation. However, Romania has previous experience with voluntary or pilot GVC surveys carried out before the EBS framework. Broad conceptual continuity exists between the earlier exercises and the current official collection, as key definitions, business function categories and geographical breakdowns follow the same methodological foundations.
