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.
Services Trade by Enterprise Characteristics (STEC) statistics provide information on the types of enterprises engaged in international trade in services and show how enterprises in different industries supply services and how this relates to their primary activity. STEC disclose additional insights into trade statistics, by allowing the profiling of the enterprises according to selected characteristics such as number of employees, type of ownership and economic activity.
A+B - Agriculture, forestry, and fishing; mining and quarrying,
D+E - Electricity, gas, steam, and air conditioning supply; water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities,
I+L+O+P+Q+R+S+T+U - Accommodation and food service activities; real estate activities; public administration, defence; compulsory social security; education; human health and social work activities; other services.
NACE Sections:
C - Manufacturing,
F - Construction,
G - Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles,
H - Transportation and storage,
J - Information and communication,
K - Financial and insurance activities,
M - Professional, scientific, and technical activities,
N - Administrative and support service activities.
Manufacturing services on physical inputs owned by others
Maintenance and repair services n.i.e.
Transport
Travel
Construction
Insurance and pension services
Financial services
Charges for the use of intellectual property n.i.e.
Telecommunications, computer, and information services
Other business services
Research and development services
Professional and management consulting services
Technical, trade-related, and other business services
Personal, cultural and recreational services
Government goods and services, n.i.e.
3.5. Statistical unit
Enterprise.
3.6. Statistical population
The activity breakdown covers NACE sections from A to U.
The product breakdown covers EBOPS 2010 main items.
3.7. Reference area
Greece
3.8. Coverage - Time
From 2022 onwards.
3.9. Base period
Not applicable.
The data are presented in thousands of Euro.
Calendar year.
6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements
Institutional Mandate - in European level
Regulation (EU) 2019/2152 on European business statistics sets the data requirements in the field of services trade by enterprise characteristics for the EU Member States and EFTA countries. The exact technical specifications are listed in the Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1197, table 17 "Country-level business statistics on trade in services by enterprise characteristics (STEC) – annual data". The variable must be reported annually with first reference year 2022.
Institutional Mandate – in National level
Statute of the Bank of Greece (Article 55C)
Law 3424/1927 (as amended by 2609/1998 and 2832/2000)
2) Bank of Greece Statute protects the confidentiality of statistical information collected by BoG and prohibits the disclosure of confidential information. Violators of statistical confidentiality rules are penalized under Article 371 of the Penal Code.
7.2. Confidentiality - data treatment
In Greece, the total number of cells that have to be provided to Eurostat according to the Regulation are flagged as non-confidential and are fully available to the users.
8.1. Release calendar
There is no release calendar for STEC statistical outputs.
Only Eurostat disseminates the data.
8.2. Release calendar access
Not available.
8.3. Release policy - user access
Not available.
Annual.
10.1. Dissemination format - News release
No press release concerning the results of STEC data is issued.
Bank of Greece emphasizes and promotes the importance of the quality of statistical data.
Quality controls are applied at both disaggregated and aggregated level. Data are checked at the level of the data collection tool for syntax (codification), consistency and completeness. Further controls consist, inter alia, in performing cross-checks with other data sources and plausibility checks.
In the monthly production process, top-down quality controls are carried out. In the quarterly and yearly production cycle, bottom-up procedures are applied.
11.2. Quality management - assessment
Eurostat assessed the completeness and accessibility of the 2023 dataset by evaluating the proportion of mandatory cells reported and the extent of confidentiality.
All mandatory cells across all tables were fully reported (100%) and 100% of the dataset was flagged as free.
12.1. Relevance - User Needs
Not available.
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
Not available.
12.3. Completeness
Greece completeness rate is 100% for all STEC tables.
12.3.1. Data completeness - rate
100% completeness.
13.1. Accuracy - overall
STEC data for Greece are compiled by linking microdata from the International Trade in Services Statistics (ITSS) and the Register of Institutions and Affiliates Database (RIAD) via the Tax Identification Number, with supplementary information from the Balance of Payments Register (BOP Register), the General Electronic Commercial Registry (G.E.MI.), and the Foreign Affiliates Statistics (FATS) survey. The data are validated by Eurostat for internal consistency and plausibility. Any discrepancies or omissions identified during the validation process are referred to the Bank of Greece for verification and, where necessary, correction.
13.2. Sampling error
Not applicable.
13.2.1. Sampling error - indicators
Not applicable.
13.3. Non-sampling error
Not applicable.
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
According to the Regulation (EU) 2019/2152 on European business statistics, data transmission of STEC datasets to Eurostat takes place 18 months after the end of the reference period (T+18).
14.1.1. Time lag - first result
Not applicable.
14.1.2. Time lag - final result
Not applicable.
14.2. Punctuality
All data were delivered before the official deadline.
14.2.1. Punctuality - delivery and publication
Not applicable.
15.1. Comparability - geographical
STEC data are compiled in accordance with the methodology set out in Regulation (EU) 2019/2152, ensuring a high degree of geographical comparability across reporting countries.
15.1.1. Asymmetry for mirror flow statistics - coefficient
Not applicable.
15.2. Comparability - over time
STEC data for Greece are compiled following a consistent methodology since their first transmission to Eurostat under Regulation (EU) 2019/2152. The same data sources and compilation methods have been applied over the available time series, ensuring a high level of comparability over time.
15.2.1. Length of comparable time series
Not applicable.
15.3. Coherence - cross domain
Full cross domain consistency/coherence between STEC and ITSS data.
15.3.1. Coherence - sub annual and annual statistics
Not applicable.
15.3.2. Coherence - National Accounts
Not applicable.
15.4. Coherence - internal
All STEC tables (STEC01, STEC02, STEC03) are internally consistent.
STEC data in Greece are compiled mainly from existing administrative sources (ITSS, BOP Register, RIAD, G.E.MI.) and the FATS survey, minimizing reporting burden. Data processing and validation are carried out by the Bank of Greece.
17.1. Data revision - policy
Data revisions are transmitted to Eurostat along with the next data transmission cycle.
17.2. Data revision - practice
Not available.
17.2.1. Data revision - average size
Not applicable.
18.1. Source data
In Greece, the Bank of Greece is responsible for the compilation and dissemination of Services Trade by Enterprise Characteristics (STEC data).
Sources:
1) International Trade in Services (ITSS) data
2) BOP Register
3) Register of Institutions and Affiliates Database (RIAD)
4) General Electronic Commercial Registry (G.E.M.I.)
5) Foreign Affiliates Statistics (FATS) data
18.2. Frequency of data collection
Annual.
18.3. Data collection
ITSS data is the source of information for the STEC dimensions related to Exports and Imports of Services, Product (EBOPS 2010) and Counterpart Area.
The Register of Institutions and Affiliates Database (RIAD) is the source of information for the STEC dimensions related to the Activity (NACE REV II), the Number of Employees and the Type of Control.
The RIAD Database has been enriched with information derived from the administrative source of General Electronic Commercial Registry (G.E.M.I) and the BOP Register.
Regarding the Type of Control dimension, the RIAD database has been complemented with Foreign Affiliates Statistics (FATS) data.
The linkage between the above sources is the Tax Identification Number of the legal units.
18.4. Data validation
Data validation rules are applied at national level to be consistent with BoP and ITSS data. Data is checked for data inconsistencies within a table and between STEC tables. These rules check whether the breakdown cells add up to the total trade. The checking for coherence between tables is done through a comparison among tables which share the same trade characteristics. For example, one validation rule is to check for consistency in the trade value of enterprises on intra-EU imports among the tables sharing the same information and so on. If the figures are not equal, further analysing is needed.
Furthermore, total STEC data are compared to the corresponding ITSS data to check consistency with the annual services ITSS data.
18.5. Data compilation
A part of the ITSS data, which is the main source of the STEC data, cannot be mapped to the RIAD database via the Tax Identification Number. More specific, the ITSS data that cannot be linked to the RIAD database are:
1) Travel Services: Frontier Survey, aggregated data, non-linked/not attributed trade. 2) Sea transport: Estimation model, aggregated data, exports of sea transport are allocated under NACE code C, imports of sea transport are reported as non-linked/non attributed trade. 3) The freight element derived from merchandise trade (CIF/FOB): aggregated figures, non-linked/not attributed trade. 4) FISIM: By definition, only banks provide the FISIM services. Therefore, exports of FISIM services are allocated under NACE code K. Imports of FISIM services are provided by foreign banks, but the domestic counterpart could be anyone (private, enterprise or public), therefore are reported as non-linked/non attributed trade. 5) ITSS data with missing Tax Identification Number: For the exports side, there is a linkage between the Activity breakdown and the Product (EBOPS 2010) in order to assign the unallocated cases to their equivalent industry.
18.5.1. Imputation - rate
Not applicable.
18.6. Adjustment
No additional adjustments are made.
18.6.1. Seasonal adjustment
Not applicable.
Services Trade by Enterprise Characteristics (STEC) statistics provide information on the types of enterprises engaged in international trade in services and show how enterprises in different industries supply services and how this relates to their primary activity. STEC disclose additional insights into trade statistics, by allowing the profiling of the enterprises according to selected characteristics such as number of employees, type of ownership and economic activity.
A+B - Agriculture, forestry, and fishing; mining and quarrying,
D+E - Electricity, gas, steam, and air conditioning supply; water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities,
I+L+O+P+Q+R+S+T+U - Accommodation and food service activities; real estate activities; public administration, defence; compulsory social security; education; human health and social work activities; other services.
NACE Sections:
C - Manufacturing,
F - Construction,
G - Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles,
H - Transportation and storage,
J - Information and communication,
K - Financial and insurance activities,
M - Professional, scientific, and technical activities,
N - Administrative and support service activities.
Manufacturing services on physical inputs owned by others
Maintenance and repair services n.i.e.
Transport
Travel
Construction
Insurance and pension services
Financial services
Charges for the use of intellectual property n.i.e.
Telecommunications, computer, and information services
Other business services
Research and development services
Professional and management consulting services
Technical, trade-related, and other business services
Personal, cultural and recreational services
Government goods and services, n.i.e.
Enterprise.
The activity breakdown covers NACE sections from A to U.
The product breakdown covers EBOPS 2010 main items.
Greece
Calendar year.
STEC data for Greece are compiled by linking microdata from the International Trade in Services Statistics (ITSS) and the Register of Institutions and Affiliates Database (RIAD) via the Tax Identification Number, with supplementary information from the Balance of Payments Register (BOP Register), the General Electronic Commercial Registry (G.E.MI.), and the Foreign Affiliates Statistics (FATS) survey. The data are validated by Eurostat for internal consistency and plausibility. Any discrepancies or omissions identified during the validation process are referred to the Bank of Greece for verification and, where necessary, correction.
The data are presented in thousands of Euro.
A part of the ITSS data, which is the main source of the STEC data, cannot be mapped to the RIAD database via the Tax Identification Number. More specific, the ITSS data that cannot be linked to the RIAD database are:
1) Travel Services: Frontier Survey, aggregated data, non-linked/not attributed trade. 2) Sea transport: Estimation model, aggregated data, exports of sea transport are allocated under NACE code C, imports of sea transport are reported as non-linked/non attributed trade. 3) The freight element derived from merchandise trade (CIF/FOB): aggregated figures, non-linked/not attributed trade. 4) FISIM: By definition, only banks provide the FISIM services. Therefore, exports of FISIM services are allocated under NACE code K. Imports of FISIM services are provided by foreign banks, but the domestic counterpart could be anyone (private, enterprise or public), therefore are reported as non-linked/non attributed trade. 5) ITSS data with missing Tax Identification Number: For the exports side, there is a linkage between the Activity breakdown and the Product (EBOPS 2010) in order to assign the unallocated cases to their equivalent industry.
In Greece, the Bank of Greece is responsible for the compilation and dissemination of Services Trade by Enterprise Characteristics (STEC data).
Sources:
1) International Trade in Services (ITSS) data
2) BOP Register
3) Register of Institutions and Affiliates Database (RIAD)
4) General Electronic Commercial Registry (G.E.M.I.)
5) Foreign Affiliates Statistics (FATS) data
Annual.
According to the Regulation (EU) 2019/2152 on European business statistics, data transmission of STEC datasets to Eurostat takes place 18 months after the end of the reference period (T+18).
STEC data are compiled in accordance with the methodology set out in Regulation (EU) 2019/2152, ensuring a high degree of geographical comparability across reporting countries.
STEC data for Greece are compiled following a consistent methodology since their first transmission to Eurostat under Regulation (EU) 2019/2152. The same data sources and compilation methods have been applied over the available time series, ensuring a high level of comparability over time.
