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.
Foreign Affiliates Statistics (FATS) measure the commercial presence through affiliates in foreign markets.
In country-level business statisticsoutward foreign affiliates statistics (OFATS) describe the activity of domestic affiliates of every resident ultimate controlling institutional unit which has at least one foreign affiliate and the activity of foreign-controlling enterprises resident in the compiling country (Table 15 of the EBS Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1197).
In statistics on international activities outward foreign affiliates statistics (OFATS) describe the activity of foreign affiliates abroad ultimately controlled by an institutional unit resident in the compiling country (Table 33 of the EBS Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1197).
Variables on country-level business activities in the OFATS data category:
Number of foreign-controlling enterprises (UCI concept) and domestic affiliates
Number of employees and self-employed persons in foreign-controlling enterprises (UCI concept) and domestic affiliates
Net turnover of foreign-controlling enterprises (UCI concept) and domestic affiliates
Variables on the international activities in the OFATS data category:
Number of enterprises abroad ultimately controlled by institutional units of the reporting country
Number of employees and self-employed persons in enterprises abroad ultimately controlled by institutional units of the reporting country
Employee benefits expense in enterprises abroad ultimately controlled by institutional units of the reporting country
Gross investment in tangible non-current assets of enterprises abroad ultimately controlled by institutional units of the reporting country
Net turnover of enterprises abroad ultimately controlled by institutional units of the reporting country
3.2. Classification system
Classification systems used in the FATS are as follows:
Statistical classification of economic activities in the European Community (NACE Rev.2);
List of 2-digit country codes (ISO 3166-1);
Currency codes (ISO 4217) - OFATS data are only in PLN.
3.3. Coverage - sector
Market producers of NACE Sections B to N and P to S.
3.4. Statistical concepts and definitions
In country-level business statisticsOutward Foreign Affiliates Statistics (OFATS) describe the activity of domestic affiliates of every resident ultimate controlling institutional unit which has at least one foreign affiliate and the activity of foreign-controlling enterprises resident in the compiling country (Table 15 of the EBS Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1197).
In statistics on international activities Outward Foreign Affiliates Statistics (OFATS) describe the activity of foreign affiliates abroad ultimately controlled by an institutional unit resident in the compiling country (Table 33 of the EBS Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1197).
Foreign affiliate in the framework of outward FATS is an enterprise or branch not resident in the compiling country over which an institutional unit resident in the compiling country has ultimate (direct or indirect) control.
Domestic affiliate shall mean an enterprise resident in the compiling country over which a UCI resident in the same compiling country has control.
Ultimate Controlling Institutional of a foreign affiliate (UCI) shall mean the institutional unit, proceeding up a foreign affiliate’s chain of control, which is not controlled by another institutional unit.
Control is the ability to determine the general policy of the affiliate by choosing appropriate directors, if necessary. In this context, enterprise A is deemed to be controlled by an institutional unit B when B controls, whether directly or indirectly, more than half of the shareholders' voting power or more than half of the shares.
Indirect control means that an institutional unit may have control through another affiliate which has control over enterprise A.
Active enterprise is a statistical units which at any time during the reference period was ‘enterprise’, as defined in Regulation (EEC) No 696/93, and also active during the same reference period. A statistical unit is considered to have been active during the reference period if, in said period, it either realized positive net turnover or produced outputs or had employees or performed investments.
Employees and self-employed persons are persons who work for an observation unit on the basis of a contract of employment and receives compensation in the form of wages, salaries, fees, gratuities, piecework pay or remuneration in kind; and persons who are the sole owners or joint owners of the statistical unit in which they work. Family workers and outworkers, whose income is a function of the value of the outputs of the statistical unit, are also included.
Employee benefits expense contains all expenses arising in relation with employee benefits, recognized by the statistical unit during the reference period. Those are are all forms of consideration given by the statistical unit in exchange for service rendered by employees or for the termination of employment.
Gross investment in tangible non-current assets includes all additions to tangible non-current assets, recognized as such by the statistical unit during the reference period, except any increases from revaluations or reversals of previously recognized impairment losses and from reclassifications (transfers) of other tangible non-current assets.
Net turnover consists of all income arising during the reference period in the course of ordinary activities of the statistical unit, and is presented net of all price reductions, discounts and rebates granted by it.
Coverage of Special Purpose Entities (SPE): Information on foreign affiliates being SPE is not collected.
Treatment of equally shared control: There were foreign affiliates with 50% of capital share and voting power of UCI included in the OFATS dataset for 2023. Joint arrangements involving joint ventures and joint operations were covered.
Treatment of multiple minority ownership: Minority ownership was taken into consideration while preparing dataset for 2023. There were included foreign affiliates controlled by UCI with less than 50% of voting power (about 80 foreign units). It results from detailed analysis of annual financial reports as well as profiled enterprise groups.
3.5. Statistical unit
The statistical unit of FATS is the enterprise as defined in line with the Regulation (EEC) No 696/93 on the statistical units for the observation and analysis of the production system in the Community. The OFATS data have been prepared according to the statistical unit 'enterprise' since the reference year 2018.
The data are available for the years 2008-2023. However, as a result of fully implementing statistical unit 'enterprise' in FATS, there was a break in series for the year 2018. The comparable data are for the years 2008-2017 and 2018-2023.
3.9. Base period
Not applicable.
Number of enterprises and employment variables are recorded in absolute figures.
Monetary data of enterprises are recorded in thousands PLN currency.
2023
6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements
Primary and secondary confidentiality treatment is applied. Primary confidentiality rules: number of statistical units less than 3 and dominance of one unit in data cell larger or equal 75% (checked for turnover).
7.2. Confidentiality - data treatment
Please see Table 7.2 in the Annex at the bottom.
8.1. Release calendar
National OFATS data are published once a year on Statistics Poland website in press release (at the end of March T+2) and annual publication (at the end of April T+2).
Release dates are announced on the Statistics Poland website in two categories: Latest Statistical News and Publications.
National OFATS data are disseminated on the Statistics Poland website. The policy for release of the data to users is available: Statistics Poland / Press bureau
Users are informed in advance on Facebook and X platform of Statistics Poland about upcoming publications.
Annual
10.1. Dissemination format - News release
There is a news release concerning national Outward FATS data which is published at the end of March T+2. For the reference year 2023 it was disseminated on the 27th of March 2025.
There is an annual publication concerning national Outward FATS data which is published at the end of April T+2. For the reference year 2023 it was disseminated on the 30th of April 2025.
The national publication covers all reporting units having foreign entities included in the national survey regardless they are UCIs or not and whether foreign entities are controlled by them or not (there are no thresholds concerning capital share of reporting unit in equity of foreign unit). This dataset disseminated at national level concern all foreign units regardless of their country of residence and number of persons employed and is based on legal units.
However, there is a separate chapter in the publication concerning only OFATS data prepared for Eurostat. Because publication for reference year T is released in April year T+2, it covers OFATS data for the year T-1 as data for the reference year T are not yet available at that moment.
Not applicable. The micro-data are not disseminated.
10.5. Dissemination format - other
Outward FATS data disseminated to Eurostat. They are prepared according to the concept of Ultimate Controlling Institutional Unit. Data sources used to identify UCI: Outward FATS survey, Enterprise groups survey, IFATS Survey, EGR register, profiling results, financial statements available in National Court Register, tax website of Ministry of Finance.
The OFATS data are not disseminated to other international organisations.
10.5.1. Metadata - consultations
Not available.
10.6. Documentation on methodology
Methodological notes referring to OFATS survey are included in the annual publication.
In the national OFATS publication two metadata elements out of three are provided - methodological notes and definitions. The third item concerning quality issues about the OFATS survey is available on Statistics Poland website: GUS - Raporty jakości na potrzeby krajowe (stat.gov.pl)
10.7. Quality management - documentation
There is an annual quality report for national Outward FATS survey. It covers information i.a. about accuracy, timeliness and punctuality, consistency, comparability, costs and burden. Abbreviated version of national OFATS quality report is available on the website: GUS - Raporty jakości na potrzeby krajowe (stat.gov.pl). This is a quality report for national needs.
11.1. Quality assurance
The European Statistics Code of Practice is applied.
Moreover, in order to obtain and measure quality of OFATS data, general quality management system functioning at Statistics Poland is applied while preparing quality report for national Outward FATS survey.
11.2. Quality management - assessment
Overall assessment of quality management is very good.
The components of national quality report include: relevance of data, accuracy of data, timeliness and punctuality of data, comparability of data, consistency of data, costs and burdens of respondents, confidentiality, transparency and safety of data.
12.1. Relevance - User Needs
There are internal and external users of Outward FATS data. Among internal users there are National Accounts, Profiling domain, International Trade in Goods as well as International Trade in Services and Large Cases Unit which is being developed at Statistics Poland.
External users include Eurostat, National Bank of Poland, ministries, researchers.
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
User satisfaction survey concerning OFATS data has not been carried out. However, there is a direct positive feedback from users of OFATS data.
12.3. Completeness
National Outward FATS data are fully consistent with EBS Regulation. All required variables for OFATS tables are available.
There are only missing data for some variables of foreign affiliates since on national OFATS statistical form there is a possibility to leave empty cell when a reporting unit does not know the exact value of variable. The part of these missing data is imputed.
12.3.1. Data completeness - rate
Please see Table 12.3.1 in the Annex at the bottom.
13.1. Accuracy - overall
Data accuracy is of high quality. All required variables are collected on national Outward FATS survey.
13.1.1. Use of residual geographic codes (Extra EU-27 not allocated, etc.)
Please see Table 13.1.in the Annex at the bottom.
13.1.2. Use of residual activity codes (NACE activity “not allocated”)
Please see Table 13.1.in the Annex at the bottom.
13.1.3. Comments on the Extra EU-27 not allocated and on the Activity “not allocated”
Component 'not allocated' was not applied.
13.1.4. UCI Approach applied to identify the relevant population of reporting units
The UCI approach was applied to identify the relevant population of reporting units for the needs of Outward FATS calculated for Eurostat in accordance with EBS Regulation. The main source used to determine UCIs in Poland:was EGR Final Frame for the reference year 2023. Other sources used: national OFATS survey, survey on enterprise groups, IFATS survey, Profiling, FDI survey, financial statements, tax website of Ministry of Finance.
National OFATS survey includes all reporting units located in Poland regardless they are UCI or not, their number of persons employed, amount of shares in statistical units abroad as well as the country of location of foreign statistical unit.
13.1.5. Update date (or frequency of updates) of the information regarding the country of the UCI by the “source administration”
The administrative source - FDI survey is used concerning the information on country code of UCI. It is additional information which enables to establish whether a certain reporting unit is UCI located in Poland. It is not a main source to update UCIs.
13.2. Sampling error
National Outward FATS survey is a census survey. No sample method is applicable.
13.2.1. Sampling error - indicators
Not applicable.
13.3. Non-sampling error
Non-sampling error concerns coverage error.
13.3.1. Coverage error
Population of respondents to which national OFATS statistical forms are sent is limited since certain criteria are taken into account to select target population. These criteria include e.g. a specific filter question on other statistical forms concerning shares in foreign entities. Therefore in case of national OFATS survey, it is not possible to separate frame population from target population.
13.3.1.1. Over-coverage - rate
Population of respondents of national OFATS survey is a target population, however, the share of reporting units who were included in the survey and declared in 2023 not having foreign entities is 54.0% out of the whole target population.
13.3.1.2. Common units - proportion
The share of common respondents in national OFATS survey and survey of National Bank of Poland in the total number of units in national OFATS survey - 14.8%.
13.3.1.3. Misclassification errors
Main misclassification errors concern:
1. There is a question in national Business Annual Survey regarding ownership in foreign entities. Some reporting units give wrong responses to that question or they understand incorrectly this question.
2. Legal units from EGR are added to target population but in some cases their status of activity is not 'fully active' in Business Register however they are not liquidated so they are left in target population of national OFATS survey.
13.3.1.4. Under- and over-coverage problems
Under-coverage problems are usually not encountered.
Over-coverage errors refer mainly to the following aspects:
In cases of some enterprises groups too many Polish legal units are added to target population.
Taking to the target population all entities having shares in foreign entities at least in 1 year out of the last 5 years.
13.3.2. Measurement error
There are few measurement errors concerning numerical values since IT system for electronic version of OFATS statistical form on the website and IT system for data processing include a lot of validations. However in some cases respondents may put wrong values of certain variables.
13.3.3. Non response error
Unit non-response occurs when not all the reporting units in the target population participate in the survey.
Item non-response occurs when a respondent provides some, but not all, of the information requested.
13.3.3.1. Unit non-response - rate
See Table 13.3.3 in the Annex at the bottom.
13.3.3.2. Item non-response - rate
See Table 13.3.3 in the Annex at the bottom.
13.3.4. Processing error
Not applicable.
13.3.5. Model assumption error
Not applicable.
14.1. Timeliness
OFATS statistics are calculated annually for reference year T.
Data collection takes place at t+9/t+10 months after the end of the reference period.
Data transmission to Eurostat takes place at t+20 months.
Data dissemination at national level takes place at t+15 (press release) and t+16 (publication) months.
14.1.1. Time lag - first result
The number of months from the last day of the reference period to the day of the first data publication (news release) is 15.
14.1.2. Time lag - final result
The number of months from the last day of the reference period to the day of the final data publication (an annual publication) is 16.
14.2. Punctuality
The punctuality of the data collection and dissemination was respected. There was no delays and the deadlines were met.
14.2.1. Punctuality - delivery and publication
The national OFATS data were published exactly on the date it was planned so the number of days between release date and target date is 0.
OFATS data for 2023 were delivered to Eurostat on the 29th of August 2025.
15.1. Comparability - geographical
Not applicable.
15.1.1. Asymmetry for mirror flow statistics - coefficient
Not applicable.
15.2. Comparability - over time
National Outward FATS data are comparable over time, i.e. for the years 2008-2015 and for the years 2010-2023. In the publication for reference year 2016 there was a change in NACE scope - A and K sections were excluded. However, there was backcasting of data starting from 2010.
Outward FATS data sent to Eurostat are comparable over time with one break in series for the reference year 2018 when a statistical unit enterprise was fully implemented.
15.2.1. Length of comparable time series
Length of time series of OFATS data for Eurostat: 2008-2023.
Length of comparable time series of OFATS data for Eurostat: 2008-2017 and 2018-2023.
15.2.2. Reasons and differences in concepts and measurement methods for breaks in time series
The break in time series results from introducing statistical unit enterprise in accordance with Regulation 696/1993 since 2018.
15.3. Coherence - cross domain
Cross-domain coherence is checked between national OFATS survey and national survey on enterprise groups referring to UCI and global group head as well as foreign entities. However, national OFATS survey has a larger scope since there are covered foreign affiliates as well as entities not controlled by reporting units (with share of capital/voting power below 50%).
When determining UCI in Poland, IFATS and OFATS domains are coordinated in order to obtain consistency.
Moreover, enterprises within the scope of Table 15 are part of SBS for the same NACE range.
15.3.1. Coherence - sub annual and annual statistics
Not applicable.
15.3.2. Coherence - National Accounts
Not available.
15.3.3. Coherence – Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)
The part of population of FDI survey is an input to the target population of national OFATS survey. Moreover, the information from FDI dataset on country code of UCI is compared with UCI information from OFATS survey.
15.3.4. Coherence – EuroGroups Register (EGR)
The EuroGroups Register is used when works on determining UCI are performed and this year was the main source for establishing UCI population.
However, there are UCIs in Poland existing in national OFATS unavailable in EGR and otherwise - some UCIs from EGR OFATS Frame are not found in national OFATS database, so there were some adjustments to the final dataset of UCIs for 2023 n comparison to EGR 2023 Final Frame.
15.4. Coherence - internal
Statistical outputs within Outward FATS datasets are consistent.
Efforts to improve efficiency: contacts by telephone and e-mails continuously during collection phase, notification by letter or phone, reminders via internet, checking whether other statistical forms were filled in by entity, checking activity status of entity in National Court Register, checking if national OFATS survey data were available for the previous years.
Efforts to minimise burdens:
The personalisation of selected variables - some information is rewritten on the basis of the survey from the previous year. Respondents must update the data.
Implemented validations on the electronic version of OFATS statistical form which facilitate checking of the inputted data.
Code lists concerning country codes and NACE classification added to the electronic version of OFATS statistical form.
The average time for preparing data and filling in OFATS statistical form for the reference year 2023 per one reporting units was about 150 minutes (this information is collected from respondents in national OFATS survey).
17.1. Data revision - policy
Preliminary data are not disseminated. Only final data are published.
17.2. Data revision - practice
See Table 17.2. in the Annex at the bottom.
17.2.1. Data revision - average size
There was no revision of OFATS data for the reference years: 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020 and 2019.
18.1. Source data
The basic source to calculate Outward FATS data for Eurostat is an annual national OFATS survey.
The main data sources used to identify UCI:
EuroGroups Register,
national Outward FATS survey data,
national survey on enterprise groups,
national Inward FATS survey,
Foreign Direct Investment data,
financial statements available in National Court Register database,
publicly available sources.
Statistical surveys and information about UCI in financial statements are the most reliable source regarding establishing UCI in Poland however this year EGR was the main source to establish UCIs.
18.1.1. Methodological approach
National Outward FATS survey is a census survey on enterprises having foreign entities (shares in other companies, foreign branches or other types of foreign units). The survey includes all reporting units regardless number of persons employed, amount of shares in statistical units abroad as well as the country of location of foreign statistical unit.
18.1.2. Use of cut-off thresholds
Cut-off thresholds are not applied.
18.2. Frequency of data collection
The national Outward FATS survey is annual.
18.3. Data collection
The data are collected mainly on electronic statistical form. However, some entities are excused from filling in electronic form and they receive paper version of national OFATS statistical form.
The stages of national OFATS survey include:
data collection process: T+9/T+10
processing of data collected: T+11 until T+13
dissemination of data: T+15.
The production of OFATS data for Eurostat starts T+14 months after the end of reference period.
The main source to define OFATS population for Eurostat are:
national OFATS census survey - the main source of data for table 33,
EuroGroups Register (EGR),
profiling process,
publicly available sources - individual and consolidated financial statements are reviewed to establish UCI and foreign entities belonging to a certain UCI,
Structural Business Statistics (SBS) for table 15,
Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) survey - information on country code of UCI is used when determining population of UCIs.
18.4. Data validation
The raw source data from national Outward FATS survey are checked in two-step approach. There are validations on electronic statistical platform in the application on the website as well as validations in IT system for data processing. Moreover, there is about 65 listings within OFATS survey which contain different phenomenon in terms of selected variables e.g. with the highest values of export. import, turnover etc. They are checked manually by OFATS experts. Data concerning the same or similar variables are compared among different statistical surveys.
OFATS data calculated for Eurostat are checked through fixed validations available in EDAMIS for FATS datasets in terms of structure and content of data.
Additionally, data transmitted to Eurostat which are prepared by automatic calculations are also validated before sending them to Eurostat by manual aggregation of selected breakdowns on the basis of micro-data dataset.
18.5. Data compilation
Outward FATS data calculated for Eurostat are compiled mainly on the basis of national OFATS dataset. Other sources used to compile the data include: profilng data for MNEs and financial statements.
18.5.1. Imputation - rate
The ratio of imputed values for variables concerning foreign entities in national OFATS survey is about 3.5%.
18.5.2. Use of a method to deal with non-response (both unit and item non-response)
Imputation concerns mainly item non-response. Firstly, EGR dataset is used to impute missing values of persons employed (on the basis of EGR LEU dataset) and turnover (on the basis of EGR ENT dataset). Moreover, information on NACE of foreign entity is imputed from EGR for selected foreign entities when in national OFATS survey these data are different.
The second phase of imputation process is done on the basis of data from the national OFATS database from the previous year.
For a few cases the data from financial statements and the OFATS survey from the previous year were used to complete units non-response.
Foreign Affiliates Statistics (FATS) measure the commercial presence through affiliates in foreign markets.
In country-level business statisticsoutward foreign affiliates statistics (OFATS) describe the activity of domestic affiliates of every resident ultimate controlling institutional unit which has at least one foreign affiliate and the activity of foreign-controlling enterprises resident in the compiling country (Table 15 of the EBS Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1197).
In statistics on international activities outward foreign affiliates statistics (OFATS) describe the activity of foreign affiliates abroad ultimately controlled by an institutional unit resident in the compiling country (Table 33 of the EBS Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1197).
Variables on country-level business activities in the OFATS data category:
Number of foreign-controlling enterprises (UCI concept) and domestic affiliates
Number of employees and self-employed persons in foreign-controlling enterprises (UCI concept) and domestic affiliates
Net turnover of foreign-controlling enterprises (UCI concept) and domestic affiliates
Variables on the international activities in the OFATS data category:
Number of enterprises abroad ultimately controlled by institutional units of the reporting country
Number of employees and self-employed persons in enterprises abroad ultimately controlled by institutional units of the reporting country
Employee benefits expense in enterprises abroad ultimately controlled by institutional units of the reporting country
Gross investment in tangible non-current assets of enterprises abroad ultimately controlled by institutional units of the reporting country
Net turnover of enterprises abroad ultimately controlled by institutional units of the reporting country
7 November 2025
In country-level business statisticsOutward Foreign Affiliates Statistics (OFATS) describe the activity of domestic affiliates of every resident ultimate controlling institutional unit which has at least one foreign affiliate and the activity of foreign-controlling enterprises resident in the compiling country (Table 15 of the EBS Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1197).
In statistics on international activities Outward Foreign Affiliates Statistics (OFATS) describe the activity of foreign affiliates abroad ultimately controlled by an institutional unit resident in the compiling country (Table 33 of the EBS Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1197).
Foreign affiliate in the framework of outward FATS is an enterprise or branch not resident in the compiling country over which an institutional unit resident in the compiling country has ultimate (direct or indirect) control.
Domestic affiliate shall mean an enterprise resident in the compiling country over which a UCI resident in the same compiling country has control.
Ultimate Controlling Institutional of a foreign affiliate (UCI) shall mean the institutional unit, proceeding up a foreign affiliate’s chain of control, which is not controlled by another institutional unit.
Control is the ability to determine the general policy of the affiliate by choosing appropriate directors, if necessary. In this context, enterprise A is deemed to be controlled by an institutional unit B when B controls, whether directly or indirectly, more than half of the shareholders' voting power or more than half of the shares.
Indirect control means that an institutional unit may have control through another affiliate which has control over enterprise A.
Active enterprise is a statistical units which at any time during the reference period was ‘enterprise’, as defined in Regulation (EEC) No 696/93, and also active during the same reference period. A statistical unit is considered to have been active during the reference period if, in said period, it either realized positive net turnover or produced outputs or had employees or performed investments.
Employees and self-employed persons are persons who work for an observation unit on the basis of a contract of employment and receives compensation in the form of wages, salaries, fees, gratuities, piecework pay or remuneration in kind; and persons who are the sole owners or joint owners of the statistical unit in which they work. Family workers and outworkers, whose income is a function of the value of the outputs of the statistical unit, are also included.
Employee benefits expense contains all expenses arising in relation with employee benefits, recognized by the statistical unit during the reference period. Those are are all forms of consideration given by the statistical unit in exchange for service rendered by employees or for the termination of employment.
Gross investment in tangible non-current assets includes all additions to tangible non-current assets, recognized as such by the statistical unit during the reference period, except any increases from revaluations or reversals of previously recognized impairment losses and from reclassifications (transfers) of other tangible non-current assets.
Net turnover consists of all income arising during the reference period in the course of ordinary activities of the statistical unit, and is presented net of all price reductions, discounts and rebates granted by it.
Coverage of Special Purpose Entities (SPE): Information on foreign affiliates being SPE is not collected.
Treatment of equally shared control: There were foreign affiliates with 50% of capital share and voting power of UCI included in the OFATS dataset for 2023. Joint arrangements involving joint ventures and joint operations were covered.
Treatment of multiple minority ownership: Minority ownership was taken into consideration while preparing dataset for 2023. There were included foreign affiliates controlled by UCI with less than 50% of voting power (about 80 foreign units). It results from detailed analysis of annual financial reports as well as profiled enterprise groups.
The statistical unit of FATS is the enterprise as defined in line with the Regulation (EEC) No 696/93 on the statistical units for the observation and analysis of the production system in the Community. The OFATS data have been prepared according to the statistical unit 'enterprise' since the reference year 2018.
Data accuracy is of high quality. All required variables are collected on national Outward FATS survey.
Number of enterprises and employment variables are recorded in absolute figures.
Monetary data of enterprises are recorded in thousands PLN currency.
Outward FATS data calculated for Eurostat are compiled mainly on the basis of national OFATS dataset. Other sources used to compile the data include: profilng data for MNEs and financial statements.
The basic source to calculate Outward FATS data for Eurostat is an annual national OFATS survey.
The main data sources used to identify UCI:
EuroGroups Register,
national Outward FATS survey data,
national survey on enterprise groups,
national Inward FATS survey,
Foreign Direct Investment data,
financial statements available in National Court Register database,
publicly available sources.
Statistical surveys and information about UCI in financial statements are the most reliable source regarding establishing UCI in Poland however this year EGR was the main source to establish UCIs.
Annual
OFATS statistics are calculated annually for reference year T.
Data collection takes place at t+9/t+10 months after the end of the reference period.
Data transmission to Eurostat takes place at t+20 months.
Data dissemination at national level takes place at t+15 (press release) and t+16 (publication) months.
Not applicable.
National Outward FATS data are comparable over time, i.e. for the years 2008-2015 and for the years 2010-2023. In the publication for reference year 2016 there was a change in NACE scope - A and K sections were excluded. However, there was backcasting of data starting from 2010.
Outward FATS data sent to Eurostat are comparable over time with one break in series for the reference year 2018 when a statistical unit enterprise was fully implemented.
