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.
Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia (SORS)
1.2. Contact organisation unit
Environmental statistics and accounts division
1.3. Contact name
Confidential because of GDPR
1.4. Contact person function
Confidential because of GDPR
1.5. Contact mail address
5 Milana Rakica st. Belgrade, Serbia
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
12 March 2026
2.2. Metadata last posted
12 March 2026
2.3. Metadata last update
12 March 2026
3.1. Data description
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.
3.2. Classification system
Data are reported cross-classified by the type of environmental purpose.
The environmental activities are classified by purpose according to the classification of environmental purposes (CEP).
3.3. Coverage - sector
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) 2024/1769 ('the indicative compendium of environmental goods and services').
3.4. Statistical concepts and definitions
Environmental Goods and Service Sector:
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.
3.5. Statistical unit
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 data collection and compilation of private corporations is the establishment. For general government, households and NPISH, the recommendation is to use institutional units and groupings of units as defined in the European System of Accounts (ESA 2010).
3.6. Statistical population
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.
3.7. Reference area
The Republic of Serbia
3.8. Coverage - Time
2014-2023
3.9. Base period
Not requested for this metadata collection.
Output, gross value added, 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.
6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements
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).
6.2. Institutional Mandate - data sharing
Not applicable.
7.1. Confidentiality - policy
Data confidentiality is stipulated by:
Official Statistics Law (Official Gazette of RS, number 104/2009), Articles 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, and 49.
Confidentiality is based on the principles according to the Official Statistics Law (“Official Gazette of RS” no. 104/09).
Confidential data are not published.
8.1. Release calendar
Calendar of releases is available at SORS website on the 1st day of December every year for the forthcoming year (Stat website - calendar).
All SORS releases are launched at 12.00.
Any divergence from the defined time schedule are announced in advance and explained in the Calendar.
8.2. Release calendar access
Calendar of releases is available at SORS website: calendar.
8.3. Release policy - user access
The data obtained through statistical surveys are released at the internet presentation (Stat website), in statistical releases and publications (Stat website).
The results of official statistics are available at the same time to all users on impartial basis; any privileged access by external users before their release is not allowed.
Annual
10.1. Dissemination format - News release
Not applicable.
10.2. Dissemination format - Publications
Via statistical release Environmental goods and services sector accounts (Publikacije)
10.3. Dissemination format - online database
Not applicable
10.3.1. Data tables - consultations
Not requested for this metadata collection.
10.4. Dissemination format - microdata access
Not applicable.
10.5. Dissemination format - other
Not applicable.
10.5.1. Metadata - consultations
Not requested for this metadata collection.
10.6. Documentation on methodology
Not applicable.
10.6.1. Metadata completeness - rate
Not requested for this metadata collection.
10.7. Quality management - documentation
Not applicable.
11.1. Quality assurance
The SORS quality management system is relied on the Serbian official statistics mission and vision, as well as on the European Statistics Code of Practice – CoP and the Total Quality Management – TQM principles, which together make the common quality framework of the European Statistical System (ESS).
For more information, please see the documents at Stat website.
11.2. Quality management - assessment
Not applicable.
12.1. Relevance - User Needs
The key users are the state institutions (Ministries, agencies etc), other national users (environmental analysts, non-government organizations, students, general public etc.), EU and international institutions.
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
On biennial basis (once in two years), by the means of web interview, implemented is the User Satisfaction Survey. The survey results are available at SORS website.
12.3. Completeness
The data are updated up to 2023.
12.3.1. Data completeness - rate
Not requested for this metadata collection.
13.1. Accuracy - overall
The quality of the accounts is only as good as the quality of the underlying basic statistics.
13.2. Sampling error
EGSS accounts are compiled using a range of primary statistical sources. The sampling and non-sampling errors are described in the metadata of the underlying statistical data.
13.2.1. Sampling error - indicators
Not requested for this metadata collection.
13.3. Non-sampling error
EGSS accounts are compiled using a range of primary statistical sources. The sampling and non-sampling errors are described in the metadata of the underlying statistical data.
13.3.1. Coverage error
Not requested for this metadata collection.
13.3.1.1. Over-coverage - rate
Not requested for this metadata collection.
13.3.1.2. Common units - proportion
Not requested for this metadata collection.
13.3.2. Measurement error
Not requested for this metadata collection.
13.3.3. Non response error
Not requested for this metadata collection.
13.3.3.1. Unit non-response - rate
Not requested for this metadata collection.
13.3.3.2. Item non-response - rate
Not requested for this metadata collection.
13.3.4. Processing error
Not requested for this metadata collection.
13.3.5. Model assumption error
Not requested for this metadata collection.
14.1. Timeliness
Data are available with a timeliness of T+22 months after the end of the reference year.
14.1.1. Time lag - first result
Data are available with a timeliness of T+22 months after the end of the reference year.
14.1.2. Time lag - final result
Data are available with a timeliness of T+22 months after the end of the reference year.
14.2. Punctuality
The data were delivered to Eurostat on 31st October. The reporting deadline for EGSS to Eurostat is 31 October.
14.2.1. Punctuality - delivery and publication
Not applicable.
15.1. Comparability - geographical
The methodology of the survey on EGSS allows reporting according to the rules of the European environmetal economic accounts Regulation No. 691/2011/ EC and geographical comparability with the data of the countries of the European Union.
15.1.1. Asymmetry for mirror flow statistics - coefficient
Data are classified according to the CEPA 2000 and CReMA classifications for years 2014-2020; from reference year 2021 onwards, data is classified according to the CEP classification.
15.2.1. Length of comparable time series
EGSS: 2014-2023
15.2.2. Comparability - over time detailed
Data are comparable according to the CEPA and CReMA classifications from 2014 to 2020, and according to the CEP classification from 2021 to 2023.
15.3. Coherence - cross domain
EGSS: Not applicable.
15.3.1. Coherence - sub annual and annual statistics
SORS used the same data in calculation for EGSS and EPEA.
15.3.4. Coherence - other statistics
Not applicable.
15.4. Coherence - internal
EGSS: Not applicable.
Not applicable.
16.1. Cost and Burden - other accounts
Not applicable.
17.1. Data revision - policy
The SORS general revision policy constitutes the global frame ensuring that each statistical domain shall define its own revision policy in compliance with its specific nature.
The general SORS revision policy determines:
general rules of revisions of the published data,
forms of informing users as regards the possible causes of revisions,
categories of revisions, and
documents covering all aspects of revisions.
The general SORS revision policy is available at Stat website.
17.2. Data revision - practice
The data for the years 2021 and 2022 have been revised. The revision was conducted because the data from EPEA was used, which includes data from SUT tables. Additionally, new products from the Indicative Compendium have been included.
17.2.1. Data revision - average size
Not applicable.
17.2.2. Status of data
Given that the data sources used for the compilation of EGSS come from various statistical domains, revisions are possible. This particularly applies to the data derived from EPEA.
18.1. Source data
The environmental goods and services sector accounts are based on data from administrative and statistical sources.
18.1.1. Source data - detailed - environmental accounts
Industrial production statistics - value of industrial prodaction.
Agricultural statistics - number of organic farms.
Construction statistics - data on the value of construction works.
Energy statistics - data on production of energy from renewable sources, data on energy prices.
National accounts statistics - data on GVA.
External trade statistics - value of export.
Labor market statistics - number of employees from Registred employment.
18.1.3. Source data - survey
EGSS: There is no surveys used.
18.1.4. Source data - detailed - other macro economic data (trade, VAT etc.)
EGSS: There are no other source data.
18.2. Frequency of data collection
Annual.
18.3. Data collection
Data are taken from administrative and statistical sources.
18.4. Data validation
Validation of data is done during the entire data processing from input to final results.
18.5. Data compilation
In Output compilation SORS use same data sources and calculations method for period 2014-2023. For each NACE section calculations made separately. In compilation, instruction from EGSS Guidelines was used and following data: statistical data from industrial production, environmental expenditure, data on organic agriculture, data on the value of construction works, data on production of energy from renewable sources, data on energy prices. SORS used a list of environmental products.
In GVA compilation SORS use same data sources and calculations method for period 2014-2023. GVA is calculated starting from output data using ratios from NA.
SORS compiles data on exports only for EGSS products from the PRODCOM survey. In Export compilation SORS use same data sources and calculations method for period 2014-2023. For export of environmental products (for selected EGSS products from the PRODCOM list) SORS obtain data from External trade statistics.
In Employment compilation SORS use same data sources and calculations method for period 2014-2023.The employment relating to the EGSS ancillary output is calculated using a value of income on one full time employed person in specialist environmental producers. Employment from market activities is calculated based on number of employees from Registred employment and appropriate ratio for NACE Rev.2 sections.
In cases where environmental share has to be estimated (goods from PRODCOM survey), we assume that environmental share is the same as the share of environmental subsidies in our country which is 26%. We use the same share for all EGSS variables in NACE B and C. The same share is used for the entire period reported. The SORS will monitor the share of government subsidies on environmental protection and, if necessary, update the share used in the EGSS calculation.
18.5.1. Imputation - rate
Not requested for this metadata collection.
18.5.2. Data compilation - by variable and type of output
SORS is still unable to provide data for own-final use, nor for non-market.
18.5.3. Data compilation - by NACE
The breakdown by NACE is done based on the CPA product classification.
18.5.4. Data compilation – CReMA 13B memo item
18.6. Adjustment
Not applicable.
18.6.1. Seasonal adjustment
Not requested for this metadata collection.
No further comments.
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.
12 March 2026
Environmental Goods and Service Sector:
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 data collection and compilation of private corporations is the establishment. For general government, households and NPISH, 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.
The Republic of Serbia
The reference period for EGSS data is the calendar year.
The quality of the accounts is only as good as the quality of the underlying basic statistics.
Output, gross value added, exports are measured in million units of national currency. Employment is measured in full time equivalents (i.e., full time equivalent jobs).
In Output compilation SORS use same data sources and calculations method for period 2014-2023. For each NACE section calculations made separately. In compilation, instruction from EGSS Guidelines was used and following data: statistical data from industrial production, environmental expenditure, data on organic agriculture, data on the value of construction works, data on production of energy from renewable sources, data on energy prices. SORS used a list of environmental products.
In GVA compilation SORS use same data sources and calculations method for period 2014-2023. GVA is calculated starting from output data using ratios from NA.
SORS compiles data on exports only for EGSS products from the PRODCOM survey. In Export compilation SORS use same data sources and calculations method for period 2014-2023. For export of environmental products (for selected EGSS products from the PRODCOM list) SORS obtain data from External trade statistics.
In Employment compilation SORS use same data sources and calculations method for period 2014-2023.The employment relating to the EGSS ancillary output is calculated using a value of income on one full time employed person in specialist environmental producers. Employment from market activities is calculated based on number of employees from Registred employment and appropriate ratio for NACE Rev.2 sections.
In cases where environmental share has to be estimated (goods from PRODCOM survey), we assume that environmental share is the same as the share of environmental subsidies in our country which is 26%. We use the same share for all EGSS variables in NACE B and C. The same share is used for the entire period reported. The SORS will monitor the share of government subsidies on environmental protection and, if necessary, update the share used in the EGSS calculation.
The environmental goods and services sector accounts are based on data from administrative and statistical sources.
Annual
Data are available with a timeliness of T+22 months after the end of the reference year.
The methodology of the survey on EGSS allows reporting according to the rules of the European environmetal economic accounts Regulation No. 691/2011/ EC and geographical comparability with the data of the countries of the European Union.
Data are classified according to the CEPA 2000 and CReMA classifications for years 2014-2020; from reference year 2021 onwards, data is classified according to the CEP classification.
