Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic

Cross-sectional Statistics Department

Lamačská cesta 3/C, 840 05 Bratislava 45, Slovakia

The environmental goods and services sector (EGSS) accounts report on an economic sector that generates goods and services produced for environmental protection or the management of natural resources.

Products for environmental protection prevent, reduce and eliminate pollution or any other degradation of the environment. Examples are electric vehicles, catalysts and filters to decrease pollutant emissions, wastewater and waste treatment services, noise insulation works or restoration of degraded habitats.

Products for resource management safeguard the stock of natural resources against depletion. Examples are renewable energy production, energy-efficient and passive buildings, seawater desalinization or rainwater recovery, and materials recovery.

EGSS accounts provide data on output and export of environmental goods and services and on the value added of and employment in the environmental goods and services sector.

EGSS data are compiled following the statistical concepts and definitions set out in the UN System of Environmental-Economic Accounting 2012 – Central Framework.

Data are reported cross-classified by 1) the type of environmental protection or resource management activity and 2) economic activity. Environmental protection activities are classified by environmental domain as set out in the Classification of Environmental Protection Activities - CEPA. Resource management activities are classified as set out in the Classification of Resource Management Activities - CReMA. See the revised CEPA and CReMA explanatory notes for detail. Economic activity is classified according to the Statistical Classification of Economic Activities in the European Community, Rev. 2 (2008).

EGSS comprises a sector of the economy that produces goods and services aimed at environmental protection and resource management (see SEEA CF 2012 chapter 4). Environmental goods and services either reduce environmental pressures or help maintaining the stock of natural resources or they are designed to be cleaner and more resource efficient than conventional products. Environmental goods and services can be produced by corporations, households, governments and non-profit institutions. The list of environmental activities and products has been set out in the Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/2174 ('the indicative compendium of environmental goods and services').

EGSS has the same system boundaries as the European System of Accounts (ESA 2010) and consists of all environmental products within this production boundary. ESA defines production as the activity carried out under the control and responsibility of an institutional unit that uses input of labour, capital, goods and services to produce output of goods and services.

Only goods and services produced for environmental purposes are included in the scope of the environmental goods and services sector.

'Environmental purpose' means that a good or service helps either 1) preventing, reducing and eliminating pollution and any other degradation of the environment or 2) preserving and maintaining the stock of natural resources and hence safeguarding against depletion.

The EGSS statistics aim at compiling data for the following economic variables:

Output: consists of products that become available for use outside of the producer unit, any goods and services produced for own final use and goods that remain in the inventories at the end of the period in which they are produced. Apart from market output, output for own final use and non-market output, EGSS statistics also include ancillary output, comprising output intended for use within an enterprise.

Market output is to be valued at basic prices, that is, the prices receivable by the producer from the purchaser minus taxes and plus subsidies on products.
Output for own final use is to be valued at basic prices of similar products sold on the market or by the total costs of production.
Non-market output is to be estimated by the total costs of production.
Ancillary output is measured as a total of recurrent production costs (such as intermediate consumption, compensation of employees and consumption of fixed capital) incurred by enterprises to: 1) reduce environmental pressures arising from their production process or 2) produce environmental goods or services not intended for use outside the enterprise, but instead supporting other (non-environmental) activities undertaken within the enterprise (e.g. waste management services carried out in-house). For market producers, a mark-up for net operating surplus is added to the value of the EGSS ancillary output.

Gross Value Added: represents the contribution made by the production of environmental goods and services to GDP. It is the difference between the value of the output and intermediate consumption.

Employment: is measured in full-time equivalent jobs engaged in the production of output of environmental goods and services. Full-time equivalent is defined as total hours worked divided by the average annual working hours in a full-time job.

Exports: consist of sales, barter, gifts, or grants, of environmental goods and services from residents to non-residents.

Council Regulation (EEC) No 696/93 of 15 March 1993 on the statistical units for the observation and analysis of the production system in the Community describes the different statistical units of the production system.

The recommended statistical unit for the collection and compilation of EGSS statistics (excluding general government) is the establishment. For general government, the recommendation is to use institutional units and groupings of units as defined in the European System of Accounts (ESA 2010).

The statistical population is the national economy as defined in SEEA CF 2012 and the European System of Accounts (ESA 2010). It includes all economic activities undertaken by resident units.

Slovakia.

EGSS data for Slovakia are available for the period 2014-2021.

Not requested for this metadata collection.

Output, gross value added, and exports are measured in million units of national currency. Employment is measured in full time equivalents (i.e., full time equivalent jobs).

The reference period for EGSS data is the calendar year.

EGSS accounts are compiled and reported in accordance with Regulation (EU) No. 691/2011 on European environmental economic accounts (EEEA).

The EEEA follow internationally agreed concepts and definitions set out in the SEEA Central Framework (2012), the international statistical standard adopted by the UN Statistical Commission. They present data in a way that is compatible with National Accounts (ESA, 2010).

Not applicable.

The Statistical Office of the SR is responsible for the protection of confidential data obtained and guarantees their use exclusively for statistical purposes. In accordance with the Act on State Statistics No. 540/2001 Coll. §2g and §30, the Statistical Office of the SR may not publish confidential statistical data, but only information resulting from the aggregation of confidential statistical data, which does not allow direct or indirect identification of the reporting unit.

The Statistical Office of the SR has introduced principles and procedures for the protection of confidential data in internal directives and instructions. The directive on the protection of confidential statistical data regulates the method of management and implementation of activities related to ensuring the protection of confidential statistical data in the Statistical Office of the SR. The internal methodological instruction of the Statistical Office of the SR regulates specific methods and parameter values ​​used in the protection of confidential statistical data of individual statistical surveys and data sets.
The document "Principles of applying protection of confidential statistical data" is available on the website of the Statistical Office of the SR (only available in Slovak).

Confidential data may occur in EGSS tables for output and exports, since statistical surveys where the reporting units are companies/producers (industry statistics according PRODSLOV, SBS) are among data sources used for compilation of these tables. Concerned data (cells) are labelled as confidential to avoid identification of particular companies. Mostly the data are confidential due to the threshold rule - cell is confidential if less than 3 entities contribute to the total of that cell. Also the dominance rule (cell is confidential if the largest unit contribute more than 90% to the cell total) is applied in identifying confidential data.

Not applicable. EGSS statistics is not included in the First release calendar of the Statistical Office of the SR.

Not applicable.

The prenciples of release and provision of statistical information are available for users on the website of the Statistical Office of the SR: www.statistics.sk: Services > Information Services > Principles of Release and Provision of Statistical Information.

EGSS data are not disseminated at national level.

EGSS data are not disseminated at national level.

No news release at national level.

No publication at national level.

At present, EGSS data are not published in online database of the Statistical Office of the SR.

Not requested for this metadata collection.

Not applicable.

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Not requested for this metadata collection.

The national documentation on methodology for EGSS is not available. The EGSS for Slovakia is compiled in accordance with Eurostat methodology on EGSS (handbook, practical guide, EGSS list of environmental products).

Not requested for this metadata collection.

The national documentation on quality management for EGSS is not available.

Statistical Office of the SR has implemented the Quality Management System (QMS) which is based on the International Standardization Organization standard - ISO 9001. The QMS has been certified by the certification body every three years starting with 2006. Respecting the process approach principle and Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) model, the system covers issues related to management, resources, operation and measurement, analysis and improvement. The system has been enhanced by the inclusion of requirements of the European Statistics Code of Practice and of selected elements of other advanced quality management systems. The QMS is described in the Quality manual (only available in Slovak). The application of the quality manual in practice ensures that all activities that have an impact on the quality of statistical products are planned, managed, examined and assessed.

Also, the following documents are part of the QMS: Quality policy of the Statistical Office of the SR, Quality Declaration of the Statistical Office of the SR, Vision and strategic/quality objectives of the Statistical Office of the SR.

We consider the quality of EGSS data for Slovakia sufficient. We continually work on improvement of this statistics.

The key user of the EGSS data for Slovakia is Eurostat. At present, EGSS statistics is not disseminated at national level. We haven't noticed any specific demands for this statistical product from national users.

Not applicable. EGSS statistics is not disseminated at national level.

According to our assessment, data completeness and compliance with the reporting obligations under the regulation on environmental accounts could be considered as satisfactory and continuously enhancing.

Not requested for this metadata collection.

The sufficient level of accuracy of reported EGSS data for Slovakia is ensured by using reliable verified source data for estimating and compiling the EGSS and by applying as precise as possible methods for data estimations.

Data with lower quality are reported for: NACE E36/CREMA 10 and NACE F/CREMA 13b - rough estimates with lower accuracy; CEPA 8 (environmental R&D) - estimates on the basis of approximation.

Not applicable. EGSS compilation for Slovakia is based entirely on existing statistics. No specific statistical survey for collecting EGSS data is carried out.

Not requested for this metadata collection.

Not applicable. EGSS compilation for Slovakia is based entirely on existing statistics. No specific statistical survey for collecting EGSS data is carried out.

Not requested for this metadata collection.

Not requested for this metadata collection.

Not requested for this metadata collection.

Not requested for this metadata collection.

Not requested for this metadata collection.

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Not requested for this metadata collection.

Transmission deadline for EGSS data is 22 months after the end of the reference year. EGSS questionnaire 2023 (ref. year 2021) for Slovakia was compiled by given deadline.

First EGSS estimates are not calculated.

Final EGSS estimates are available 22 months after the end of reference year (T+22 months).

The data were delivered to Eurostat on 30 October 2023. The reporting deadline for EGSS to Eurostat is 31 October.

The transmission deadline for EGSS data according the regulation on environmental accounts, Annex V (t+22 months) was met.

Comparability of EGSS accounts compiled by EU Member States is ensured by a common conceptual framework, harmonized guidelines provided by Eurostat and through Implementing Regulation 2174/2015 that provides an indicative compendium of environmental goods and services which should be included in the EGSS. 

In case of Slovakia however not all the products/services from the Indicative compendium are covered in the EGSS at present (see the sub-concept 15.1.2. - excluded products), which affects the comparability with other EU Member States.

Not requested for this metadata collection.

Data on several environmental products/services from the Indicative compendium that are only partly environmental (non 100% environmental) have been not yet included in EGSS reporting for Slovakia because of the lack of information necessary to determine the environmental share.

Products/activities not listed in the Indicative compendium are not included in EGSS reporting for Slovakia.

There has been no change in source data and compilation methods (see sections 18.1, 18.5) within reported time series.

However some enhancements regarding extension of the coverage of environmental activities/products have been implemented in EGSS reporting for reference year 2021.

2014-2021

No breaks in time series.

See the sub-concepts 15.3.1-15.3.4.

Not applicable.

EGSS accounts are coherent with principles, definitions and concepts in National Accounts (ESA) and satellite System of Environmental-Economic Accounting (SEEA).

Coherence with national accounts data, specifically SUT, is ensured since SUT are used as one of main data sources for compiling EGSS.

Data on output of EP services presented in EPEA and EGSS are from the same data sources - national accounts SUT.

SBS, industry, energy, agricultural statistics (other statistics) are used as data sources for compiling EGSS. Thus we don't need to compare EGSS results with these statistics.

Coherence between output and export is ensured by applying the same data sources for compiling the data - SUT, industry statistics, SBS.

Coherence between output, GVA and employment is ensured since the data on GVA and employment are estimated on the basis of distribution keys derived from data on output.

EGSS questionnaire for Slovakia is compiled by 1 expert/statistician and the working time needed for production of this statistics is roughly 3 months (work on collection and production of source data is not included).

The cost and burden to compile EGSS data are comparable to those of other environmental accounts.

No specific national revision policy for EGSS is established. EGSS data are submitted to Eurostat as final, preliminary data are not reported thus no regular/planned revisions are performed.

In case that some revisions are necessary (e.g. resulting from data validation), the concerned data are revised/corrected and the revised version of the questionnaire is submitted to Eurostat.

No revisions have been performed on final EGSS data (version 31.10.2022) provided in previous EGSS reporting round.

The submitted data can be considered as final.

See the enclosed annex (excel file) containing detail overview of data sources used for compiling EGSS output (sheet "Data sources - Output") and detail overview of data sources used for compiling EGSS export (sheet "Data sources - Export").

Data sources used for compiling EGSS GVA for all reported CEPA, CREMA / NACEs are the following: SUT matrices (CPA/NACE) for output P.1, market output P.11, intermediate consumption P.2 and distribution keys derived from data on EGSS output for particular CEPA, CReMA / NACEs. 

Data sources used for compiling EGSS employment for all reported CEPA, CREMA / NACEs are the following: employment (total, related to market activities) broken down by NACE categories expressed in FTE from national accounts and distribution keys derived from data on EGSS output for particular CEPA, CReMA / NACE.

EGSS data on output are used as a source for estimation of EGSS GVA and employment data - the distribution keys/shares of EGSS output for particular NACEs, CEPA/CREMA.

Other environmental accounts are not used as a data source for compiling EGSS for Slovakia.

Statistics produced by the Statistical Office of the SR that are used as data source for compiling EGSS for Slovakia are the following:

- National accounts: SUT - matrices (CPA/NACE) for output P.1 and market output P.11; Data on output (P.1), market output (P.11) and intermediate consumption (P.2) broken down by NACE categories (for EGSS GVA table); Data on employment (total, related to market activities) broken down by NACE categories in FTE; Data on exports of goods and services broken down by CPA codes.

- Statistical survey on business statistics/SBS: Module 182 "Specification of selected items of gross turnover" - variables "turnover" and "turnover from sales of products/services abroad" by CPA codes; Module 527 “Environmental protection - financial indicators” - variable "environmental protection revenues".

- Industry Statistics: Statistical survey on manufacturing of industrial products (according the List of Industrial Products - PRODSLOV)/module 632 "Manufacture and sale of industrial products and industrial services" - variables "manufacture of products" and "sales of products abroad".

- Energy statistics: Data on total production of electricity and production of electricity from renewable sources in GWh.

- Agriculture statistics: Data on agriculture area converted and under conversion to organic farming.

- Statistical survey on municipalities: Module 528 “Environmental protection - financial indicators" - variable "environmental protection revenues".

No specific statistical survey for the purpose of EGSS data collection is carried out.

Other data sources that are used for compiling EGSS for Slovakia are the following:

- Database of the Slovak Water Research Institute which contains data from property records and operational records on objects and facilities of public water supply and public sewerage.

- Companies websites.

The source data used for compiling the EGSS are obtained on annual basis.

EGSS are compiled by using data from already existing data sources listed in the concept 18.1 "Source data". No specific statistical survey for the purpose of EGSS data collection is carried out.

The source data used for compiling EGSS are checked and verified within the process of collection and processing of respective data (statistical survey on manufacturing of industrial products according PRODSLOV, statistical survey on business statistics, statistical surveys used as data sources for national accounts).

Compiled EGSS data are checked by applying the built-in checking tool incorporated in the questionnaire. Compiled data are also compared with data for previous reference years for individual variables, NACE, CEPA, CReMA categories.

Scope of EGSS: The scope of national EGSS services/products is based on the EGSS operational list and it covers the following - environmental services e.g. waste and wastewater management services; recycling of waste; production of electricity from renewable sources; organic farming production; all 100% environmental goods; selected partially environmental goods (non 100% environmental) which is possible identify according PRODSLOV or CPA classification; electric vehicles; water management activities related to repair and maintenance; energy-efficient buildings and related activities; forest trees nurseries, support services to forestry; engineering activities and related technical consultancy - in the area of waste, water and waste water management, cars technical inspection services, cleaning activities - street sweeping; expenditure on R&D in environment, R&D for resource management (partially).

EGSS share: In case that used data sources do not provide a sufficient level of detail, the share of environmental products is mainly determined on the basis of supplementary information regarding environmental production of respective companies published on their websites. The shares are calculated/estimated specifically for particular NACE/CEPA and CREMA and for the given reference year.

Note: Further breakdown of environmental products by the various types of environmental products is not available. These voluntary data are not reported. The main reason is lack in capacities/resources for developing and compiling variables beyond that which are required under the regulation.

For description of data compilation for particular EGSS variable (output, GVA, employment and exports) see the sub-concept 18.5.2.

Not requested for this metadata collection.

Compilation of EGSS output

Data on waste and wastewater management services are selected from the SUT matrices for output (P.1 - total, P.11 - market). Data on production of environmental products are compiled on the basis of source data from industry statistics - PRODSLOV and from SBS statistics - module 182 (turnover of companies by CPA) and by using ancillary information on companies from their websites. Renewable energy is estimated as follows: Values for CPA 35.11 for given NACEs are multiply by coefficient (share of production of electricity from renewable sources in total electricity production in GWh). Organic agriculture is estimated as follows: Value for output of NACE A01 for products under CPA 01 is multiply by coefficient (share of total organic crop area out of total Utilised Agricultural Area). Data for NACE 36/CREMA 10 are roughly estimated as expenditures of water companies on repair and maintenance. Data for NACE F/CREMA 13b are roughly estimated as output regarding construction of new residential buildings, reconstruction of residential buildings and related other specialised construction activities multiply by coefficient 0,25 (proxy on the basis of expert judgement).

Compilation of EGSS GVA

GVA of market activities is calculated as follows: the ratio of market output (P.11) within total output (P.1) is calculated for each NACE division; P.2_market is estimated by applying the calculated ratios to data on total intermediate consumption (P.2). Then the GVA of market activities (GVA_market) is calculated as P.11 minus P.2_market for each NACE division. Subsequently the EGSS part of GVA_market is estimated on the basis of distribution keys derived from data on output (shares of market output related to EGSS in overall market output for particular NACEs/CEPA, CReMA). EGSS GVA_total (in case of particular NACE/CEPA or CReMA for which total output is not equal with market output e.g. NACE E/CEPA 3, NACE F/CReMA 13B) is rough estimate which is calculated as follows: data on total output of this particular NACE/CEPA or CReMA are multiply by coefficient (market GVA/market output of that NACE/CEPA or CReMA). 

Compilation of EGSS employment

Data on employment related to market activities broken down by NACE categories expressed in FTE from national accounts are used for estimations. EGSS employment_market is estimated on the basis of distribution keys derived from data on output (shares of market output related to EGSS in overall market output (P.11) for particular NACEs/CEPA, CReMA). EGSS employment_total (in case of particular NACE/CEPA or CReMA for which total output is not equal with market output e.g. NACE E/CEPA 3, NACE F/CReMA 13B) is rough estimate which is calculated as follows: data on total output of this particular NACE/CEPA or CReMA are multiply by coefficient (market employment/market output of that NACE/CEPA or CReMA). 

Compilation of EGSS exports

Data on exports are compiled on the basis of data on sales of industry products abroad - from industry statistics, data on turnover from sales of products/services abroad by CPA codes - from SBS and data on exports of goods and services broken down by CPA codes - from national accounts.

We apply the mixed approach - in some cases it is based on classification of the producers of EGSS goods and activities (i) and in other cases on the product classification CPA (ii).

Data on memo item are not reported. We haven't been able to obtain any information related to national labelling schemes following Directive 2010/31/EU. 

Not applicable.

Not requested for this metadata collection.

No comment.