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.
Statistics on international supply of services (ISS) by modes of supply (MoS) show how and where services are supplied internationally, namely by answering the question of 'how' services are exchanged across countries and 'where' services are supplied to foreign customers. Detailed information on international supply of services statistics by services category, mode of supply and partner country help policymakers carry out the ongoing and future trade negotiating agenda with facts and strong, evidence-based arguments and they allow to monitor the impact of services trade agreements.
The General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS), the first multilateral agreement to cover trade in services, defines trade in services as the supply of a service through any of four modes of supply, outlined in the bullet points below.
Mode 1 - cross-border supply: from the territory of one country into the territory of another country;
Mode 2 - consumption abroad: in the territory of one country to the service consumer of another country;
Mode 3 - commercial presence: by a service supplier of one country, through a commercial presence in the territory of another country. The FATS framework is designed to provide information on the activities of enterprises located in foreign markets;
Mode 4 - presence of natural persons: by a service supplier of one country, through the presence of natural persons of that country in the territory of any other country.
3.2. Classification system
The methodological framework followed in the compilation of the mode of supply (MoS) statistics is defined in Regulation (EU) 2019/2152 on European business statistics, respectively in the Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1197.
Mode of supply:International supply of services by mode of supply and geographical breakdown. Data are provided as a combination of all breakdowns listed below: Mode of supply breakdown:
Total international supply of services (total of modes 1, 2, 3, and 4)
Mode 1 (‘cross border transactions’),
Mode 2 (‘consumption abroad’),
Mode 3 ("commercial presence"),
Mode 4 (‘presence of natural persons’) as defined in Annex VI, Section 2. Product breakdown: — Total international supply of services Geographical breakdown: (CETO flag as defined in Annex III.B may be applied): Geo level 5 as defined in an implementing act in accordance with Article 7(1)(d) of Regulation (EU) 2019/2152.
The product breakdown follows the Extended Balance of Payments Services Classification 2010 (EBOPS 2010) and covers the EBOPS 2010 main items, as defined in the Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1197; data collected through ITS survey.
For more details on the concepts and definitions, please see section "3.4. Statistical concepts and definitions".
3.3. Coverage - sector
Total exports or imports of services, traded between residents and non-residents, services supplyed through commercial presence (foreign affiliates).
Geo level 5 as defined in an implementing act in accordance with Article 7(1)(d) of Regulation (EU) 2019/2152.
EBOPS 2010 main components, as defined in Annex VI, Section 2, Table 1 in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2019/2152, respectively Regulation (EU) 2020/1197.
Total international supply of services (total of modes 1, 2, 3 and 4)
Mode 1 (‘cross border transactions’),
Mode 2 (‘consumption abroad’),
Mode 3 (‘commercial presence’), and
Mode 4 (‘presence of natural persons’).
3.5. Statistical unit
Not applicable.
3.6. Statistical population
Total international supply of services by all four modes of supply.
3.7. Reference area
Romania (the national economic territory, including Romania's diplomatic and military missions abroad).
3.8. Coverage - Time
Starting with the reference year 2022.
3.9. Base period
Not applicable.
Data are collected in national currency and whenever a currency conversion is necessary, the monthly average exchange rate is used. As a general rule, data are disseminated in euro to the national users. According to different requirements, the data could also be provided in local currency (RON) and US dollars. Data transmitted to Eurostat are expressed in the national currency (thousands).
Eurostat disseminates data in million euro.
Calendar year.
6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements
Regulation (EU) 2019/2152 on European business statistics sets the data requirements in the field of services trade by mode of supply for the EU Member States and EFTA countries. The exact technical specifications are listed in the Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1197,table 38. "Statistics on international activities – International Supply of Services by Mode of Supply – annual data".
National legislation:
Law no. 312/2004 on the Statute of the National Bank of Romania – according to art. 9(2), the National Bank of Romania is empowered to draw up the balance of payments;
Law no. 226/2009 on the organization and functioning of official statistics in Romania;
Inter-institutional cooperation between NBR and NIS: Cooperation Agreement on conducting statistical direct surveys;
Inter-institutional cooperation between NBR and NIS: Protocol on the exchange of microdata and aggregated statistical data between the National Institute of Statistics (INS) and the National Bank of Romania (NBR).
The National Bank of Romania (NBR) has the final responsibility for the compilation and dissemination of the balance of payments (BOP), AITS, STEC and MoS statistics.
The statistical activity performed by NBR in collaboration with NIS is included in the Annual Statistics Programme.
6.2. Institutional Mandate - data sharing
As part of the inter-institutional cooperation between the NBR and the NIS, the NIS supplies microdata from tax returns 300 and 390 VIES, which serve as the sampling frame for the statistical survey on international trade in services, and FATS microdata which are used for compiling the MoS3 dataset (services provided through commercial presence).
Conversely, the NBR supplies the National Institute of Statistics with the microdata resulting from the ITS survey results.
7.1. Confidentiality - policy
The confidentiality of individual statistical data is ensured by national legal provisions:
Law no. 312/2004 on the Statute of the National Bank of Romania art.49(5); stating that: “[…] The National Bank of Romania shall ensure protection of data referring to individual subjects – legal entities or individuals – obtained either directly or indirectly, from administrative sources or other sources.”
Law no. 226/2009 on the organization and functioning of official statistics in Romania, art. 36. According to the regulations mentioned above, data are considered confidential if there are less than three reporting units for an specific item or if one of the reporting units covers 80 percent or more of the value of an specific item.
7.2. Confidentiality - data treatment
Confidential data are flagged, and they are not published.
A verification procedure regarding confidentiality of data is incorporated into the electronic data collection and compilation system. The rules provided by law are followed.
The data are disseminated to public public institutions, research institutes, higher education institutions, the media, and other national and international users, and are available on the National Bank of Romania's website":
Quality is assured by the application of concepts according to the European Business Statistics Compilers Guide for European statistics on international supply of services by mode of supply of services - edition 2023, the Manual on Statistics of International Trade in Services 2010, the sixth edition of the IMF Balance of Payments and International Investment Position Manual (BPM6), and Eurostat validation (Conval, Struval).
11.1. Quality assurance
Quality is assured by the application of concepts according to the European Business Statistics Compilers Guide for European statistics on international supply of services by mode of supply of services - edition 2023, the Manual on Statistics of International Trade in Services (MSITS) 2010, the sixth edition of the IMF Balance of Payments and International Investment Position Manual (BPM6), and Eurostat validation (Conval, Struval).
11.2. Quality management - assessment
Eurostat assessed the completeness and accessibility of the 2023 and 2024 datasets by evaluating the proportion of mandatory cells reported and the extent of confidentiality.
All mandatory cells across all tables were fully reported (100%), while approximately 10% of the datasets was flagged as confidential.
12.1. Relevance - User Needs
External users: Eurostat
National users: Government of Romania, the National Bank of Romania, the National Institute of Statistics, ministries and other public administration bodies, research institutes, higher education institutions, the media, and other users.
Users need and are offered complete and consistent data on international trade in services by EU Member States (total and individual), extra EU member states - total, and some other countries.
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
Not available.
12.3. Completeness
Data offer complete and consistent description of the EBOPS/MoS components with the geographical breakdown in accordance with Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1197, European Business Statistics Compilers Guide for European statistics on international supply of services by mode of supply - edition 2023, the Manual on Statistics of International Trade in Services 2010, the sixth edition of the IMF Balance of Payments and International Investment Position Manual (BPM6).
12.3.1. Data completeness - rate
Completenness rate is 100 percent.
13.1. Accuracy - overall
Data transmitted by the reporters are checked by the central bank for their consistency and plausibility. If any problems are found, the relevant economic agents are contacted to check the figures in order to confirm or rectify them. Data on international services are generally based on International trade in services survey and also on the banks reports for transactions on their own behalf.
The main data source for international services statistics is the quarterly survey conducted by National Bank of Romania in cooperation with the National Statistics Institute. All the type of services are subject to the ITS survey. Responding agents are provided with instructions comprising standardized descriptions of services transactions to help them fill in the forms.
Sampling techniques:
The sample of the statistical survey International trade in services comprises approximately 9000 reporting entities; it is a “cut-off” type of sample, with a 85 percent coverage both in respect of exports as well as imports of services, both for intra Community as well as extra Community trade;
The sampling frame for determining the statistical survey sample is composed of all units active in previous year and which have filled in VAT fiscal statements in the previous fiscal period or which have reported to the NBR data on international services.
Techniques for addressing non-responses, and techniques for grossing up the data collected at the level of the entire statistical population,
Mathematic models for estimating certain items, based on administrative data or data collected by economic agents,
INFATS and OFATS data provided by NIS, supplemented by FDI data, used to compile MoS3 dataset.
The structural and content validations of the transmitted data sets are authomatically checked by Eurostat in EDAMIS via the automatic validation process performed with the tools Struval and Conval.
13.2. Sampling error
For mode 1, 2, and 4, data are collected directly, by type of services, from the economic agents. Estimates are made for non-responses using automated imputation procedures. The sample of the ITSS survey, consisting of approximately 9000 reporting entities, is a cut-off type sample, with a degree of coverage of 85 percent for both the export and import of services, both for intra-community trade and extra-community trade; The reporting agents are selected in order to ensure the representativeness of the sample for all required variables. The statistical population for establishing the sample of the survey is represented by all units active in the previous year, which submitted during the previous year VAT fiscal statements or reported to the National Bank of Romania transactions of the nature of international services. The response rates to survey are approximately 90 percent. An automatic IT grossing up procedure is used in order to ensure 100% coverage of data collected from the cut-off sample.
For mode 3 the statistical population is represented by the foreign affiliates.
13.2.1. Sampling error - indicators
Not applicable.
13.3. Non-sampling error
Considering the coverage of the sample, the possible non-sampling errors are not signifiant but could be represented by the non-responses, response errors due to misinterpretation of definitions, misunderstandings, or deliberate misreporting, mistakes in recording the data or coding it to standard classifications. To facilitate statistical reporting, the National Bank of Romania pays particular attention to relations with respondents, providing them with instructions on reporting requirements, as well as information on the purpose of data collection. Nevertheless, the NBR staff maintain contact with economic agents in order to verify and validate the data collected, while also monitoring their atypical fluctuations. Alternative data sources used are to assess the quality of data related to certain components (e.g. data obtained from statistical surveys on international tourism carried out by the NIS, for the analysis of the Tourism/travel component).
13.3.1. Coverage error
Not applicable.
13.3.1.1. Over-coverage - rate
Not applicable.
13.3.1.2. Common units - proportion
Not applicable.
13.3.2. Measurement error
Not applicable.
13.3.3. Non response error
Not applicable.
13.3.3.1. Unit non-response - rate
Not applicable.
13.3.3.2. Item non-response - rate
Not applicable.
13.3.4. Processing error
Not applicable.
13.3.5. Model assumption error
Not applicable.
14.1. Timeliness
MoS1, MoS2, and MoS4 datasets are disseminated 10 months after the reference period (T+10M).
MoS3 dataset is disseminated 22 months after the reference period (T+22M).
14.1.1. Time lag - first result
Year + 10 months.
14.1.2. Time lag - final result
Year + 22 months.
14.2. Punctuality
Thanks to well-established data collection and compilation procedures, the punctuality of data transmissions to Eurostat is estimated to be very good.
14.2.1. Punctuality - delivery and publication
According to the official deadlines.
15.1. Comparability - geographical
The underlying statistical methodological and regulation framework mentioned above ensures a high degree of comparability across countries, and also all the details on the coding system, the format of the data, the deadlines for transmission. Each country compiles its ITS statistics using the data coming from a number of surveys and administrative sources.
15.1.1. Asymmetry for mirror flow statistics - coefficient
Not applicable.
15.2. Comparability - over time
Not yet available. Under analysis.
15.2.1. Length of comparable time series
Not applicable.
15.3. Coherence - cross domain
The purpose is to ensure comparability between MoS/STEC/AITS/BOP datasets.
15.3.1. Coherence - sub annual and annual statistics
Not applicable.
15.3.2. Coherence - National Accounts
Not applicable.
15.4. Coherence - internal
Consistency between ITS datasets.
Consistency in structure (within the hierarchy of service types). Coherence between data series is checked before dissemination.
In order to improve performance and reduce the costs of data collection and processing, the use of IT tools in data collection has been identified as a priority. Taking into consideration the size of the ITS survey's sample (more than 9000 reporting units), and the number of employees from NBR's territorial network involved in collection and validation of the reporting data, the cost and burden are high. Also for the respondents, the overall effots to transmit the data are high.
Nevertheless, ITS survey is the same primary data source for BOP, AITS, STEC, MoS124. All requested variables not available in administrative sources are collected through the ITS questionnaire. In this respect there is no delimitation to split the cost and burden between the data sets.
17.1. Data revision - policy
The National Bank of Romania agreed to follow the harmonised European revision policy (HERP). The MoS revisions are made in line with the BOP and AITS revisions. The goal is to maintain the comparability between the mentioned data sets and MoS/STEC.
17.2. Data revision - practice
Routine revisions that refer to the changes made to the economic data published initially and to its subsequent releases for a particular reference year.
Benchmark revisios with the purpose to incorporate the main new data sources and major changes in international statistical methodology.
Non-scheduled revisions may be often related to errors/misclassifications. Reported errors are assessed for seriousness to determine whether they should trigger a correction of already disseminated data.
17.2.1. Data revision - average size
Not applicable.
18.1. Source data
The main data sources are:
The quarterly International Trade in Services survey, conducted on a national cut-off sample of over 9,000 companies, covering about 85% of service exports and imports.
Monthly direct reports from resident banks (in their own name and account).
Administrative data sources, including: monthly banking reports on credit/debit card transactions, data provided by exchange offices, and data from the NIS survey “Tourism expenditure of non-residents”, export and import of goods to estimate distribution services' value, structural business statistics).
Mathematical models to estimate insurance and pension fund services, FISIM, the acquisition of goods and services by border, seasonal, and other short-term workers, and other items.
For the MoS3 dataset (services supplied through commercial presence), the main data source is FATS data (Foreign Affiliates Statistics). NIS provides microdata related to turnover, NACE codes, and the country of the ultimate investor for all INFATS and OFATS companies. These data are complemented by FDI data compiled by NBR.
To estimate the value of services provided through commercial presence, starting from turnover and economic activity, the international methodology outlined in the European Business Statistics Compilers’ Guide for European Statistics on International Supply of Services by Mode of Supply, 2023 edition is applied.
18.2. Frequency of data collection
Quarterly.
18.3. Data collection
Data from economic agents are collected through dedicated IT applications (on line reporting), respectively:
Data reported in the International trade in services survey are collected using the Direct reporting system (RAPDIR), according to: (i) Law No. 312 / 2004 on the Statute of the National Bank of Romania – according to art. 9(2), the National Bank of Romania is empowered to draw up the balance of payments; (ii) Law no. 226/2009 regulates the organization and functioning of official statistics in Romania. The methodology and the questionaire of ITSS are available on NBR website: https://www.bnr.ro/en/24203-statistical-survey-on-international-trade-in-services-its
Data reported by resident banks are collected using the NBR's IT reporting system (SIRBNR), based on the Regulation no. 4/2021 regarding data and statistical information reporting to the National Bank of Romania.
The territorial network of the central bank (NBR) is involved in maintaining contact with reporters of statistical data and validating the information collected.
18.4. Data validation
A validation procedure is incorporated into the electronic data collection system – the report is not accepted unless it is both valid and consistent. For instance, the system will reject reported data if they do not comprise country codes or if the totals are smaller than the sum of the components at different levels of aggregation. Data controls are also based on the Statistics Department's staff knowledge and expertise. Unusual fluctuations in the data reported are monitored and the reporting agents are asked for an explanation. Alternative data sources can be used for some items to evaluate the quality of services data (travel, for instance). Data validation is ensured in two stages:
Pre-validation - identification of potential issues in the datasets and their correction before the official transmission is performed;
Eurostat validation systems (Struval and Conval) - automated validation of the official transmissions.
18.5. Data compilation
Statistical data collection, processing and validation processes are closely monitored in the dedicated IT applications.
For compilation MoS1, MoS2, MoS4 datasets, validation procedures are implemented in the data collection IT systems (RAPDIR, SIRBNR). Reports are not accepte, and if they are not valid and consistent.
In order to facilitate the statistical reporting, the NBR provides special attention to its relation with the respondents, providing them with instructions on reporting requirements as well as information on the purpose of data collection.
The personnel of regional NBR structures keep in touch with economic agents in order to check and validate collected data, also monitoring any atypical fluctuations in the reported data.
Alternative data sources are used in evaluating data quality for some components (e.g. data obtained from the NIS’ statistical survey on international tourism, for analyzing the Travel component).
Time of recording: in line with the international methodological standards, recording is on a transaction basis ("accruals principle"), meaning that transactions have to be recorded when economic value is created, transformed, transferred or extinguished.
The main criterion is change of ownership. The change may be legal or economic.
In principle, market prices are used.
For compilation of MoS3 dataset,FATS data related to turnover, NACE codes, and the country of the ultimate investor, provided by NIS, are incorporated into the NBR's IT system and are analysed and enhanced with FDI data compiled by the NBR. Mathematical algorithms are used to derive the value of services according to the methodology foreseen in the European Business Statistics Compilers’ Guide for European Statistics on International Supply of Services by Mode of Supply – 2023 edition.
Distribution services are included in Mode1 and are compiled based on the value of exports and imports of goods carried out by traders (NACE - section G), adjusted by the gross trade margin (structural business statistics); distribution services are also included in Mode3.
The value of the goods is not excluded from the value of the services for any item.
18.5.1. Imputation - rate
Non-responses estimates, grossing up procedure (to 100 percent of export and import).
18.6. Adjustment
Only exceptionally in case of additional information available, not received through the dedicated sources.
18.6.1. Seasonal adjustment
Not applicable.
Documentation on the EBOPS 2010 - ITS concepts, scope, classifications, basis of recording, and data sources are published in Romanian and English, through the NBR’s website in the Statistics section (BNR Metadata Sheets).
Statistics on international supply of services (ISS) by modes of supply (MoS) show how and where services are supplied internationally, namely by answering the question of 'how' services are exchanged across countries and 'where' services are supplied to foreign customers. Detailed information on international supply of services statistics by services category, mode of supply and partner country help policymakers carry out the ongoing and future trade negotiating agenda with facts and strong, evidence-based arguments and they allow to monitor the impact of services trade agreements.
The General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS), the first multilateral agreement to cover trade in services, defines trade in services as the supply of a service through any of four modes of supply, outlined in the bullet points below.
Mode 1 - cross-border supply: from the territory of one country into the territory of another country;
Mode 2 - consumption abroad: in the territory of one country to the service consumer of another country;
Mode 3 - commercial presence: by a service supplier of one country, through a commercial presence in the territory of another country. The FATS framework is designed to provide information on the activities of enterprises located in foreign markets;
Mode 4 - presence of natural persons: by a service supplier of one country, through the presence of natural persons of that country in the territory of any other country.
Total international supply of services (total of modes 1, 2, 3 and 4)
Mode 1 (‘cross border transactions’),
Mode 2 (‘consumption abroad’),
Mode 3 (‘commercial presence’), and
Mode 4 (‘presence of natural persons’).
Not applicable.
Total international supply of services by all four modes of supply.
Romania (the national economic territory, including Romania's diplomatic and military missions abroad).
Calendar year.
Data transmitted by the reporters are checked by the central bank for their consistency and plausibility. If any problems are found, the relevant economic agents are contacted to check the figures in order to confirm or rectify them. Data on international services are generally based on International trade in services survey and also on the banks reports for transactions on their own behalf.
The main data source for international services statistics is the quarterly survey conducted by National Bank of Romania in cooperation with the National Statistics Institute. All the type of services are subject to the ITS survey. Responding agents are provided with instructions comprising standardized descriptions of services transactions to help them fill in the forms.
Sampling techniques:
The sample of the statistical survey International trade in services comprises approximately 9000 reporting entities; it is a “cut-off” type of sample, with a 85 percent coverage both in respect of exports as well as imports of services, both for intra Community as well as extra Community trade;
The sampling frame for determining the statistical survey sample is composed of all units active in previous year and which have filled in VAT fiscal statements in the previous fiscal period or which have reported to the NBR data on international services.
Techniques for addressing non-responses, and techniques for grossing up the data collected at the level of the entire statistical population,
Mathematic models for estimating certain items, based on administrative data or data collected by economic agents,
INFATS and OFATS data provided by NIS, supplemented by FDI data, used to compile MoS3 dataset.
The structural and content validations of the transmitted data sets are authomatically checked by Eurostat in EDAMIS via the automatic validation process performed with the tools Struval and Conval.
Data are collected in national currency and whenever a currency conversion is necessary, the monthly average exchange rate is used. As a general rule, data are disseminated in euro to the national users. According to different requirements, the data could also be provided in local currency (RON) and US dollars. Data transmitted to Eurostat are expressed in the national currency (thousands).
Eurostat disseminates data in million euro.
Statistical data collection, processing and validation processes are closely monitored in the dedicated IT applications.
For compilation MoS1, MoS2, MoS4 datasets, validation procedures are implemented in the data collection IT systems (RAPDIR, SIRBNR). Reports are not accepte, and if they are not valid and consistent.
In order to facilitate the statistical reporting, the NBR provides special attention to its relation with the respondents, providing them with instructions on reporting requirements as well as information on the purpose of data collection.
The personnel of regional NBR structures keep in touch with economic agents in order to check and validate collected data, also monitoring any atypical fluctuations in the reported data.
Alternative data sources are used in evaluating data quality for some components (e.g. data obtained from the NIS’ statistical survey on international tourism, for analyzing the Travel component).
Time of recording: in line with the international methodological standards, recording is on a transaction basis ("accruals principle"), meaning that transactions have to be recorded when economic value is created, transformed, transferred or extinguished.
The main criterion is change of ownership. The change may be legal or economic.
In principle, market prices are used.
For compilation of MoS3 dataset,FATS data related to turnover, NACE codes, and the country of the ultimate investor, provided by NIS, are incorporated into the NBR's IT system and are analysed and enhanced with FDI data compiled by the NBR. Mathematical algorithms are used to derive the value of services according to the methodology foreseen in the European Business Statistics Compilers’ Guide for European Statistics on International Supply of Services by Mode of Supply – 2023 edition.
Distribution services are included in Mode1 and are compiled based on the value of exports and imports of goods carried out by traders (NACE - section G), adjusted by the gross trade margin (structural business statistics); distribution services are also included in Mode3.
The value of the goods is not excluded from the value of the services for any item.
The main data sources are:
The quarterly International Trade in Services survey, conducted on a national cut-off sample of over 9,000 companies, covering about 85% of service exports and imports.
Monthly direct reports from resident banks (in their own name and account).
Administrative data sources, including: monthly banking reports on credit/debit card transactions, data provided by exchange offices, and data from the NIS survey “Tourism expenditure of non-residents”, export and import of goods to estimate distribution services' value, structural business statistics).
Mathematical models to estimate insurance and pension fund services, FISIM, the acquisition of goods and services by border, seasonal, and other short-term workers, and other items.
For the MoS3 dataset (services supplied through commercial presence), the main data source is FATS data (Foreign Affiliates Statistics). NIS provides microdata related to turnover, NACE codes, and the country of the ultimate investor for all INFATS and OFATS companies. These data are complemented by FDI data compiled by NBR.
To estimate the value of services provided through commercial presence, starting from turnover and economic activity, the international methodology outlined in the European Business Statistics Compilers’ Guide for European Statistics on International Supply of Services by Mode of Supply, 2023 edition is applied.
Annual.
MoS1, MoS2, and MoS4 datasets are disseminated 10 months after the reference period (T+10M).
MoS3 dataset is disseminated 22 months after the reference period (T+22M).
The underlying statistical methodological and regulation framework mentioned above ensures a high degree of comparability across countries, and also all the details on the coding system, the format of the data, the deadlines for transmission. Each country compiles its ITS statistics using the data coming from a number of surveys and administrative sources.
