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.
1. Manufacturing services on physical inputs owned by others
2. Maintenance and repair services n.i.e.
3. Transport
4. Travel
5. Construction
6. Insurance and pension services
7. Financial services
8. Charges for the use of intellectual property n.i.e.
9. Telecommunications, computer, and information services
10. Other business services
10.1. Research and development services
10.2. Professional and management consulting services
10.3. Technical, trade-related, and other business services
11. Personal, cultural and recreational services
12. 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
The reference area describes the geographical area covered by the data disseminated. According to the BOP Vademecum, the reference area is the economic territory, country, or region for which external sector statistics are provided. The country code list follows the ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 classification and is a "cross-domain" code list, used also in National Accounts. The codes used for various regional groupings are harmonized across international agencies that use the BOP-DSD.
3.8. Coverage - Time
2023
3.9. Base period
Not applicable.
All data sent to Eurostat are in Thousands of Euro for Euro Area countries and in Thousands of National currency for non-Euro Area countries. The unit of dissemination is 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 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.
6.2. Institutional Mandate - data sharing
Data is shared between National Institute of statistics and economic studies of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg (STATEC) and Banque Centrale du Luxembourg (BCL).
Regulation (EC) No 223/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council stipulates the main principles and provisions for receiving, processing and disseminating the confidential data. According to article 3 of this Regulation, confidential data is defined as “data which allow statistical units to be identified, either directly or indirectly, thereby disclosing individual information. To determine whether a statistical unit is identifiable, account shall be taken of all relevant means that might reasonably be used by a third party to identify the statistical unit”
Applied primary confidentiality rules:
The frequency rule (less than three enterprises in one cell)
The dominance rule (one enterprise with no more of 80% of the value, or two enterprises that have 85% of the value)
Applied secondary confidentiality rules:
The application of secondary confidentiality ensures that confidential data are not unintentionally revealed, for example when only a single cell under an aggregate value is marked as confidential.
8.1. Release calendar
Currently no release.
8.2. Release calendar access
Not applicable.
8.3. Release policy - user access
Not applicable.
Annual.
10.1. Dissemination format - News release
Currently no release
10.2. Dissemination format - Publications
Currently no release
10.3. Dissemination format - online database
Currently no release
10.3.1. Data tables - consultations
Not applicable.
10.4. Dissemination format - microdata access
No microdata are accessible for people outside STATEC and BCL
10.5. Dissemination format - other
Data is shared with the national Accounts units inside STATEC
Quality is ensured by applying the concepts outlined in the STEC Compilers Guide and through thorough validation of the data provided by reporting units.
In genenral, the data collection and compilation system contains built-in quality control tools for syntactical, logical and plausibility checks. A special IT application is used to discover outliers on the level of single reporting units. Response rates are closely monitored. The staff evaluates the plausibility of the data and make crosschecks with other available data where appropriate.
Trade-offs between quality, cost and respondent burden are discussed internally.
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%), while approximately 31% of the dataset was flagged as confidential.
12.1. Relevance - User Needs
National users are STATEC, BCL, various ministries of the national government.
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
In a survey of users'satisfaction launched in 2021 by STATEC, more than 70% of users declared to trust official statistics: User Satisfaction and Confidence Surveys.
12.3. Completeness
Statistics on international trade in services by enterprise characteristics are based on EU legislation which defines the list of all STEC mandatory data sets to be provided by Member States to Eurostat.
12.3.1. Data completeness - rate
This indicator corresponds to the ratio of the number of datasets provided to Eurostat to the number of datasets legally required.
100% for mandatory STEC datasets.
13.1. Accuracy - overall
STEC data are compiled by linking ITS microdata with data from business register and other administrative sources.
The data undergo multiple validation steps to ensure consistency and plausibility. Structural and content checks are performed automatically using dedicated validation tools.
If inconsistencies or omissions are identified during the processing or validation phases, follow-up checks are conducted with the reporting units to verify and, if necessary, correct the data.
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
T+18 months after the ref. period
14.1.1. Time lag - first result
Not applicable.
14.1.2. Time lag - final result
Not applicable.
14.2. Punctuality
Transmission date: 16 June 2025
Data transmission deadline: 30 June 2025
14.2.1. Punctuality - delivery and publication
Not applicable.
15.1. Comparability - geographical
The methodological framework underlying the STEC statistics ensures high comparability between countries. Detailed data requirements are defined in the European Business Statistics Regulation (EU) 2019/2152 and the Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1197.
15.1.1. Asymmetry for mirror flow statistics - coefficient
Not applicable.
15.2. Comparability - over time
For STEC consistent time series begin from reference year 2022.
15.2.1. Length of comparable time series
Not applicable.
15.3. Coherence - cross domain
STEC data is consistent ot ITSS.
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 are compiled through microdata linking of existing administrative sources, ensuring minimal response burden. No additional data collection from enterprises is required.
17.1. Data revision - policy
Revisions in ITS lead to revisions in STEC
17.2. Data revision - practice
Revisions in ITS lead to revisions in STEC
17.2.1. Data revision - average size
Not applicable.
18.1. Source data
Enterprise surveys
Households surveys
Administrative records
VIES data
Financial statements
Estimations
18.2. Frequency of data collection
Annual.
18.3. Data collection
ITS data collection:
Data Validation for Credits
Data Collection methods and practies
Compilation methods( used to produce the required data)
Items/sub-items that are estiated( pease describe also the estimating)
Manufacturing services on physical inputs owned by others
Survey
Compilation methods according to BPM6
none
Maintenance and repair services n.i.e.
Survey
Compilation methods according to BPM6
none
Transport
Survey
Compilation methods according to BPM6
Grossing up based on VAT data
Travel
Data from supervisory administrations, survey data (tourism survey, accommodation business survey, household survey), employment data
Compilation procedures according to BPM6, common procedures for NA (ESA2010) and BOP (BPM6) for certain subdivisions
none
Construction
Survey
Compilation methods according to BPM6
Grossing up based on VAT data
Insurance and pension services
Administrative data from supervisory administration
One procedure for NA and BOP according BPM6 an ESA2010
none
Financial services
Administrative data from supervisory administration and survey of financial institutions
One procedure for NA and BOP according BPM6 an ESA2010
none
Charges for the use of intellectual property n.i.e.
Survey
Compilation methods according to BPM6
Telecommunications, computer, and information services
Survey
Compilation methods according to BPM6
Grossing up based on VAT data
Other business services
Survey
Compilation methods according to BPM6
Grossing up based on VAT data
Operational lease
Administrative data from supervisory administration and survey of financial institutions
One procedure for NA and BOP according BPM6 an ESA2010
none
Personal, cultural, and recreational services
Survey
Compilation methods according to BPM6
Grossing up based on VAT data
Government goods and services n.i.e.
Administrative data
One procedure for NA and BOP according BPM6 an ESA2010
none
Data Validation for Debits
Data Collection methods and practies
Compilation methods( used to produce the required data)
Items/sub-items that are estiated( pease describe also the estimating)
Manufacturing services on physical inputs owned by others
Survey
Compilation methods according to BPM6
none
Maintenance and repair services n.i.e.
Survey
Compilation methods according to BPM6
none
Transport
Survey
Compilation methods according to BPM6
Grossing up based on VAT data
Travel
Data from supervisory administrations, survey data (tourism survey, accommodation business survey, household survey), employment data
Compilation procedures according to BPM6, common procedures for NA (ESA2010) and BOP (BPM6) for certain subdivisions
none
Construction
Survey
Compilation methods according to BPM6
Grossing up based on VAT data
Insurance and pension services
Administrative data from supervisory administration
One procedure for NA and BOP according BPM6 an ESA2010
none
Financial services
Administrative data from supervisory administration and survey of financial institutions
One procedure for NA and BOP according BPM6 an ESA2010
none
Charges for the use of intellectual property n.i.e.
Survey
Compilation methods according to BPM6
none
Telecommunications, computer, and information services
Survey
Compilation methods according to BPM6
Grossing up based on VAT data
Other business services
Survey
Compilation methods according to BPM6
Grossing up based on VAT data
Operational lease
Administrative data from supervisory administration and survey of financial institutions
One procedure for NA and BOP according BPM6 an ESA2010
none
Personal, cultural, and recreational services
Survey
Compilation methods according to BPM6
Grossing up based on VAT data
Government goods and services n.i.e.
Administrative data
One procedure for NA and BOP according BPM6 an ESA2010
none
18.4. Data validation
After the questionnaires have been accepted by STATEC and the Central Bank, there are a number of validation practices in the compilation process for the BOP, IIP and related statistics. In principle, the plausibility of the data is observed (development of time series), presence of outliers, size of revisions as well as correspondence with other statistical data (e.g. Foreign Trade Statistics, Banking Statistics) as well as mirror data from main partner countries. For the current account in particular, survey data for the BOP are entering I/O analysis as part of reconciling business statistics on a micro level. The results of I/O analysis in turn are entering the BOP/current account in the course of the revision process.
18.5. Data compilation
STEC is a multisource statistic compiled by linking and consolidating data from various sources, such as ITSS, national business registers, and other administrative datasets. The compilation process relies on existing data collections to produce detailed statistics without additional burden on respondents.
18.5.1. Imputation - rate
Not applicable.
18.6. Adjustment
Not applicable.
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.
1. Manufacturing services on physical inputs owned by others
2. Maintenance and repair services n.i.e.
3. Transport
4. Travel
5. Construction
6. Insurance and pension services
7. Financial services
8. Charges for the use of intellectual property n.i.e.
9. Telecommunications, computer, and information services
10. Other business services
10.1. Research and development services
10.2. Professional and management consulting services
10.3. Technical, trade-related, and other business services
11. Personal, cultural and recreational services
12. 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.
The reference area describes the geographical area covered by the data disseminated. According to the BOP Vademecum, the reference area is the economic territory, country, or region for which external sector statistics are provided. The country code list follows the ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 classification and is a "cross-domain" code list, used also in National Accounts. The codes used for various regional groupings are harmonized across international agencies that use the BOP-DSD.
Calendar year.
STEC data are compiled by linking ITS microdata with data from business register and other administrative sources.
The data undergo multiple validation steps to ensure consistency and plausibility. Structural and content checks are performed automatically using dedicated validation tools.
If inconsistencies or omissions are identified during the processing or validation phases, follow-up checks are conducted with the reporting units to verify and, if necessary, correct the data.
All data sent to Eurostat are in Thousands of Euro for Euro Area countries and in Thousands of National currency for non-Euro Area countries. The unit of dissemination is Euro.
STEC is a multisource statistic compiled by linking and consolidating data from various sources, such as ITSS, national business registers, and other administrative datasets. The compilation process relies on existing data collections to produce detailed statistics without additional burden on respondents.
Enterprise surveys
Households surveys
Administrative records
VIES data
Financial statements
Estimations
Annual.
T+18 months after the ref. period
The methodological framework underlying the STEC statistics ensures high comparability between countries. Detailed data requirements are defined in the European Business Statistics Regulation (EU) 2019/2152 and the Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1197.
For STEC consistent time series begin from reference year 2022.
