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.
Lamacska cesta 3/C, P. O. BOX 67, 840 00, Bratislava 4, Slovak Republic
1.6. Contact email address
Confidential because of GDPR
1.7. Contact phone number
Confidential because of GDPR
1.8. Contact fax number
Confidential because of GDPR
2.1. Metadata last certified
30 October 2025
2.2. Metadata last posted
30 October 2025
2.3. Metadata last update
30 October 2025
3.1. Data description
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).
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): SPE are not identified in the enterprise population.
Treatment of equally shared control: Statistical Office of the SR tries to eliminate those cases by the manual data validation in line with the European business statistics compilers’ manual for Foreign Affiliate Statistics.
Treatment of multiple minority ownership: In exceptional cases where no partner has more than 50% of ownership or we have no information about the country of residence we allocate data to SK.
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.
3.6. Statistical population
Market producers of NACE Sections B to N and P to S (for the EBS Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1197 table 15) and market producers of NACE Sections B to N and P to S abroad (should cover the foreign affiliates of all ultimate controlling institutional units of the reporting country) (for the EBS Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1197 table 33).
3.7. Reference area
Slovak Republic
3.8. Coverage - Time
2004 - 2023
Up to 2006 OFATS data included only information on enterprises with 20 and more employees. Since 2007 data on small enterprises (less than 20 employees) are included as well. Data files 2004-2005 contained only information about required non-EU countries. Since 2006 we included as well as voluntary data on EU Member states.
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 Euro currency.
2023
6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements
Right to collect data in general is governed by the Slovak National Council law No 540/2001(Digest) on the State statistics as amended and supplemented by further regulations. The obligation to provide data is stated in the Statistical Law and its provisions (Programme of State Statistical Surveys), which is fixed for a 3-year period.
The Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic is responsible for the protection of confidential data obtained and guarantees their use exclusively for statistical purposes. In accordance with the Act on State Statistics No. 540/2001 Coll. §2g and §30, the Statistical Office of the SR may not publish confidential statistical data, but only information resulting from the aggregation of confidential statistical data, which does not allow direct or indirect identification of the reporting unit. Statistical Office of the SR has introduced principles and procedures for the protection of confidential data in internal directives and instructions. The directive on the protection of confidential statistical data regulates the method of management and implementation of activities related to ensuring the protection of confidential statistical data in the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic. The internal methodological instruction of the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic regulates specific methods and parameter values used in the protection of confidential statistical data of individual statistical surveys and data sets.
The primary and secondary confidentiality data protection is applied manually bearing in mind the minimum data protection treatment and finally validated by the Eurostat validation software based on the set up rules.
8.1. Release calendar
The full set of OFATS variables is transmitted to Eurostat. In a case of an inquiry from users they are advised to consult Eurostat website.
8.2. Release calendar access
Not applicable
8.3. Release policy - user access
In line with the Community legal framework and the European Statistics Code of Practice, Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic disseminates national OFATS statistics on Eurostat website respecting professional independence and in an objective, professional and transparent manner in which all users are treated equitably.
Annual
10.1. Dissemination format - News release
The full set of OFATS variables is transmitted to Eurostat and users are advised to consult Eurostat website.
10.2. Dissemination format - Publications
please consult concept 10.1
10.3. Dissemination format - online database
Not applicable
10.3.1. Data tables - consultations
Not applicable
10.4. Dissemination format - microdata access
Micro-data are not disseminated.
10.5. Dissemination format - other
The full set of OFATS variables is transmitted to Eurostat annually 20 months after the reference year. The OFATS data are provided to Eurostat in order to be used in European aggregates and to be released as national data.
Statistical questionnaires including methodological guidelines and explanations of variables and methodological explanations within the Glossary of the statistical terms are published on the website of the Statistical Office of the SR.
10.6.1. Metadata completeness - rate
All relevant metadata elements required by the EBS Regulation are provided.
Following internal project documentation exists for the compilation of statistical outputs in Slovak language:
technical projects within the Integrated Statistical Information System.
methodological guidelines for applying mathematical-statistical methods for statistical surveys.
methodological guidelines for quality indicators of statistical outputs and statistical processes.
11.1. Quality assurance
The Quality policy is defined and publicly accessible in the Quality Declaration and Quality Policy documents. The Quality Declaration expresses the basic ideas and commitments of the President and top management of the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic for the Quality Policy as well as increasing efficiency and effectiveness of the integrated management system of the Statistical Office of the SR.
Quality policy is based on the mission of the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic to provide high quality and objective statistical products and services by keeping confidentiality of statistical data and by minimising burden on interested parties using effectively existing resources with the aim to support improvement of the information and intellectual capital of our customers. In this way we want to contribute to reduce risks and improve effectiveness in their decision making processes and so to support the sustainable development of the Slovak Republic as the part of EU.
The Quality manual describes the documented procedures of the quality system that are used for implementation and continuous improvement of the quality management system in Statistical Office of the SR. It contains a description of the quality management system and the fulfilment of requirements ISO 9001 standards. Application of the manual in practice ensures that all activities that have an impact on the quality of the products created are planned, managed, reviewed, evaluated and meet requirements.
The European Statistics Code of Practice is the basis of the common quality framework of the European Statistical System. It is a self-regulatory tool and it is based on 16 Principles covering the institutional environment, statistical processes and statistical outputs. A set of indicators of best practices and standards for each of the Principles provides guidelines and benchmarks for reviewing the implementation of the Code of Practice, thus increasing transparency within the European Statistical System.
Coverage, reference period, data collection, control and data processing are in line with the Eurostat methodological guidelines. The data collection process is conducted in the Integrated statistical information system called ISIS. SOSR creates technical projects of the statistical surveys describing data collection and its evaluation, including a description of statistical controls and algorithms within the integrated ISIS. The data collection process is ensured by the regional offices of the SOSR during the phase of electronic data collection, ensure using statistical controls and algorithms the data collection process itself. Data validation is done during the data collection, processing and validation of relevant data by the SOSR experts. A data comparison is done with previous periods. Statistics are available in the system to evaluate the quality of the completed questionnaires, the number of questionnaires with errors or outliers, the number of reminders etc. SOSR also performs internal methodical audits. Evaluation of statistical surveys and methodological audits including the analysis of the results are integrated into the existing quality management system.
12.1. Relevance - User Needs
In general, The requirement to conduct consultations with users of statistical information is stipulated in the Act on State Statistics itself. Consultations during the preparation of state statistical surveys take place within the framework of the preparation of the Program of State Statistical Surveys (PSSZ). PSSZ is a generally binding legal regulation compiled by the Statistical Office of the SR in collaboration with ministries, other central authorities and state organizations and contains statistical surveys organized and carried out by the Statistical Office of the SR, ministries, other central authorities and state organizations. Statistical Office of the SR publishes the Program of state statistical surveys by decree in the Collection of Laws of the Slovak Republic. The Coordinating Council for State Statistics ensures the fulfilment of the tasks of the Statistical Office of the SR. The OFATS data are disseminated in line with the EBS requirements to Eurostat.
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
In general, since the 2009 Statistical Office of the SR carries out satisfaction surveys of customers with their products and services at two-year intervals. The goal of surveys is to determine customer satisfaction with the products and services of the Statistical Office of the SR, to obtain information about users, their interest and opinion on provision and quality of statistical products and services. The facts obtained are a valuable resource for the direction of other activities of the Statistical Office of the SR. One of the main goals defined in the Development Strategy. The office also monitors the fulfilment of the stated goal with the help of indicators of the credibility of the Statistical Office of the SR and the rate of use of the information provided by the public. Statistical Office of the SR conducts credibility surveys through an external independent organization once every 2 years, with the intention of ensuring the objectivity and indisputability of the results from public view.
Please see Table 12.3.1 in the Annex at the bottom.
13.1. Accuracy - overall
The overall accuracy of the results can be assessed as good. The OFATS data is compiled by combining information from the statistical survey and from the administrative data. As regards the statustical survey, the technical project of data processing is part of Integrated statistical information system (ISIS). This project includes a description of all logical data controls at the microdata level performed during electronic data collection. The electronic questionnaire and information system ISIS itself provides many arithmetic and logical checks between variables, which we distinguish between serious and informative. Data collection is provided by the office of the Statistical Office of the SR in regions. After the deadline for submission of the statistical questionnaire, the reporting units that did not respond are contacted again to fulfil their legal obligation. In case of serious errors in the form, this form is not accepted and with the help of experts from the regional office its correctness is ensured so that it can enter into the data processing. Automatic validation checks during data collection and informative checks are incorporated with the aim to follow logical checks, reducing the rate of partial item non-responses, anomalies and outliers. The purpose of this process is to minimize errors already in the data collection itself and subsequently during data processing. After the deadline for submission of the statistical questionnaire, the reporting units that did not respond are contacted again to fulfil their legal obligation. Most errors are directly consulted at regional offices with the reporting units. Therefore it is possible the overall accuracy to consider as good.
EGR-FATS quality indicators for the reference year 2023 comparing the completeness and accuracy of OFATS/EGR indicators:
CODE
DESCRIPTION
INDICATOR
OUTPUT.OFATS.1
Completeness of EGR UCIs = (B)/(B+C)
0,9433
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”)
Not relevant
13.1.3. Comments on the Extra EU-27 not allocated and on the Activity “not allocated”
Not relevant
13.1.4. UCI Approach applied to identify the relevant population of reporting units
UCI Approach is applied to identify the relevant population of enterprises using the information from statistical survey and EGR. The relevant UCI on the corporate concept are identified by the mean of an manual data validation and the information from the EGR.
13.1.5. Update date (or frequency of updates) of the information regarding the country of the UCI by the “source administration”
Data files for OFATS are compiled on the basis of Structural Business Statistics surveys data including a personalised specific module on OFATS organized by Statistical Office of the SR, publicly available data and EGR Final Frame data (since T+16 months). The relevant UCI are identified by the mean of a manual data validation.
13.2. Sampling error
Sampling errors are not relevant and are not calculated. For the sample data there is no grossing up procedure and administrative data are used for imputation.
13.2.1. Sampling error - indicators
Sampling errors are not relevant and are not calculated.
13.3. Non-sampling error
Overall non- sampling error is assumed to be small. Most important aspects of non-sampling errors are considered as very low. The bias associated with traditional survey sampling is significantly reduced cause of using of administrative sources. Methods to detect the non-correct variable´s values include all logical data controls, data editions and corrections at the microdata level during and/or after the data collection.
13.3.1. Coverage error
The Coverage error is mainly manifested by the imperfection of the Business Register. The coverage error is very small. The completeness of the Business Register is considered to be satisfying and high. Since the Business Register is regularly updated and supplemented, the coverage error is kept at a not very small level.
13.3.1.1. Over-coverage - rate
Not applicable
13.3.1.2. Common units - proportion
Most of the survey units are also available in administrative sources.
13.3.1.3. Misclassification errors
Misclassification errors of statistical units in the Business Register are regularly updated for correct size classes and economic activities.
13.3.1.4. Under- and over-coverage problems
Coverage errors are very small because the completeness of the Business Register is considered to be very good.
13.3.2. Measurement error
Measurement errors are searched by formal and logical checks.
13.3.3. Non response error
The rate of non-response is displayed in the Table 13.3.3 in the Annex at the bottom.
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
For the item – no response See Table 13.3.3 in the Annex at the bottom.
13.3.4. Processing error
Errors during data processing are insignificant. Prior to data use in the statistical processing they must be verified by the procedures detecting and correcting the errors,and are subjected to the logical and formal checks and corrections. So these errors are minimalized already in this data collection in order to be correct. Therefore the count of responses with the potential erroneous values is negligible.
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+4-8 months after the end of the reference period.
Data transmission to Eurostat takes place at t+20 months.
14.1.1. Time lag - first result
Not relevant
14.1.2. Time lag - final result
Data transmission to Eurostat takes place at T+20 months.
14.2. Punctuality
The data collection in statistical questionnaires and validation deadline of the SBS variables is T+8 months.
14.2.1. Punctuality - delivery and publication
Restricted from publication
15.1. Comparability - geographical
Not applicable
15.1.1. Asymmetry for mirror flow statistics - coefficient
Not applicable
15.2. Comparability - over time
please consult concept 3.8
15.2.1. Length of comparable time series
The length of time series is 2004 -2023.
Length of comparable time series:
2004 - 2006
2007 - 2023
15.2.2. Reasons and differences in concepts and measurement methods for breaks in time series
Up to 2006, the OFATS data included only information on enterprises with 20 and more employees and contained only information about required non-EU countries. Since 2006 we included as well as voluntary data on EU Member states. Since 2007 reference year data on small enterprises (less than 20 employees) are included as well.
15.3. Coherence - cross domain
not applicable
15.3.1. Coherence - sub annual and annual statistics
Not applicable
15.3.2. Coherence - National Accounts
Not applicable
15.3.3. Coherence – Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)
Not available
15.3.4. Coherence – EuroGroups Register (EGR)
EGR is considered as an additional administrative source for the allocation of UCI and the focus is laid on manual data treatment in terms of economic variables imputations.
15.4. Coherence - internal
All OFATS aggregates are consistent with their main sub-aggregates.
Statistical Office of the SR regularly monitors the cost and burden of reporting units. As part of the optimization of statistical surveys, it takes measures aimed at reducing their burden e.g. by personalised pre-filling of selected variables in statistical questionnaires and using administrative data resources if they are available in the required quality and at the specified time.
The cost and burden measurement at the level of European Statistical Products is in competence of the Resources Directors Group within Eurostat.
17.1. Data revision - policy
The Revision policy regulates the general rules and procedures applied in revisions at the Statistical Office of the SR. The same revision policy applies to national and international users. In accordance with the Revision policy, the reason of the revision is always indicated. The Revisions policy as well as the Revisions calendar is available to users on the web portal of the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic.
Statistical Office of the SR distinguishes the following revisions:
From the content point of view:
incorporation of better quality data based on a more complete source, including replacing imputations with collected data;
correction of data as a result of updating seasonal factors and changing the base period.
Data modification based on more accurate methodology (in concepts, definitions and classifications) and changes in statistical methods performing corrections in source data and calculations.
In terms of time, Statistical Office of the SR divides the revisions into:
ordinary revisions are revisions without significant modifications of the methodologies. These are usually more significant data corrections, including large values obtained from new sources. They are carried out periodically on precisely set up dates, to update data, until the next publication of the data;
annual revisions are revisions that are made when all monthly and quarterly data are available and more detailed results from annual surveys are already available;
extraordinary and major revisions are revisions of definitive data due to significant methodological changes resulting from revision of methodologies, changes in procedures and statistical-mathematical calculation methods or data corrections. An extraordinary revision may result (e.g. by changing the definition) in break in time series data comparability.
17.2. Data revision - practice
The main source of information for routine revisions are new or revised data from reporting units.
17.2.1. Data revision - average size
please see the annex 17.2
18.1. Source data
Combination of exhaustive survey and sample survey combined with information from administrative data sources
Exhaustive annual survey of large enterprises - Questionnaire Roc 1-01:
legal units with 20 and more employees registered in the Statistical Business Register
legal units with less than 20 employees registered in the Statistical Business Register:
which were statistically important (the decision about including them into survey of large enterprises was done by expert of particular branch statistics, e.g. responsible for branch statistics etc.)
or of which turnover exceeds 5 million €
Annual survey of small enterprises (sample) - Questionnaire Roc 2-01
legal units with less than 20 employees registered in the Statistical Business Register that the turnover of which does not exceed 5 million €
The relevant UCI identified by the mean of an manual data validation and the information from the EGR Final Frame and from the administrative data sources publicly available.
18.1.1. Methodological approach
Combination of exhaustive survey and sample survey combined with information from administrative data sources.
Please consult concept 18.1
18.1.2. Use of cut-off thresholds
No cut-off thresholds.
18.2. Frequency of data collection
Annual
18.3. Data collection
Source to define the population:
79,2 % Structural Business Statistics (SBS)
20,8 % EuroGroups Register (EGR)
Economic data obtained using:
47% census survey
27% sample survey
26% Publicly available sources
18.4. Data validation
The data entry, data completeness and statistical control are organised by specialised regional offices of the Statistical Office of the SR. Data validation is done during the data collection, processing and validation of relevant data by the Statistical Office of the SR experts. A data comparison is done with previous periods.
Statistical Office of the SR distinguishes between two levels of data checks during the electronic data collection:
Formal checks, which are realised in the process of data entry automatically; (compatible with Validation level 0 and 1)
Informal checks aim of which is to control the complexity and relations among the variables (compatible with Validation level from 2 to 5)
According to the importance there are classified 2 basic types of checks:
I – Informative checks- this check gives the additional information, which is important for the following process of corrections. It informs also about some inconsistencies in the state of fulfilment of the questionnaire, about item non-response, exceeding stated limits etc.
Z – Check of great importance - it is mostly check indicating the exact error and it must be always corrected or explained. Most of the errors are directly consulted with the reporting units by our regional offices via telephone contacts, emails etc.
18.5. Data compilation
Data files for outward FATS were compiled on the base of statistical surveys organized by Statistical Office of the SR. The special module for OFATS purposes is included into annual structural business statistics surveys since 2007.
Data on enterprises with 20 and more employees are surveyed in SBS exhaustively. Sample survey is organized in case of small enterprises with less than 20 employees. Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic indicates to the experts in the regional offices responsible for the data collection and validation all relevant reporting units in order to ensure a response of the required variables regarding their affiliates abroad.
Since the reference year 2020, the specific OFATS module is prefilled by Statistical Office of the SR with the information on the foreign affilites NACE identification characteristis and NACE codes from the information sources of EGR and publicly available data sources (companies’ annual reports, media information and mainly from the personal contact with the reporting units) and the T-1 information for the relevant reporting units. The inactive units in EGR are not used for the pre-fill (personalization) of the OFATS module. The prefilled information is validated or edited by the reporting units concerning the information on the characteristics of the OFATS and reported are all the required statistical variables for the reference year. EGR is based purely on the property principle of majority ownership or voting rights, but the OFATS on UCI. Therefore for the purposes of the OFATS compilation it is necessary to apply corrections manually on UCI with information from administrative data sources where we look for the information on ownership shares, information about agreements between the relevant units in groups, about management and execution of management (management companies, trusts etc.). In case of unit and item non-response, imputation of data from the publicly available data sources (free of charge) e.g. NACE from NSI website, Economic data from the financial statements id carried out.
18.5.1. Imputation - rate
The overall imputation rate is presented in the concept 18.5.3 out of which mainly the Number of perons employed and the Turnover data have been imputed.
18.5.2. Use of a method to deal with non-response (both unit and item non-response)
Incase of item non-response the imputation is realised from the EGR, publicly available data sources and the financial statements of the reporting units.
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
30 October 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): SPE are not identified in the enterprise population.
Treatment of equally shared control: Statistical Office of the SR tries to eliminate those cases by the manual data validation in line with the European business statistics compilers’ manual for Foreign Affiliate Statistics.
Treatment of multiple minority ownership: In exceptional cases where no partner has more than 50% of ownership or we have no information about the country of residence we allocate data to SK.
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.
Market producers of NACE Sections B to N and P to S (for the EBS Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1197 table 15) and market producers of NACE Sections B to N and P to S abroad (should cover the foreign affiliates of all ultimate controlling institutional units of the reporting country) (for the EBS Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1197 table 33).
Slovak Republic
2023
The overall accuracy of the results can be assessed as good. The OFATS data is compiled by combining information from the statistical survey and from the administrative data. As regards the statustical survey, the technical project of data processing is part of Integrated statistical information system (ISIS). This project includes a description of all logical data controls at the microdata level performed during electronic data collection. The electronic questionnaire and information system ISIS itself provides many arithmetic and logical checks between variables, which we distinguish between serious and informative. Data collection is provided by the office of the Statistical Office of the SR in regions. After the deadline for submission of the statistical questionnaire, the reporting units that did not respond are contacted again to fulfil their legal obligation. In case of serious errors in the form, this form is not accepted and with the help of experts from the regional office its correctness is ensured so that it can enter into the data processing. Automatic validation checks during data collection and informative checks are incorporated with the aim to follow logical checks, reducing the rate of partial item non-responses, anomalies and outliers. The purpose of this process is to minimize errors already in the data collection itself and subsequently during data processing. After the deadline for submission of the statistical questionnaire, the reporting units that did not respond are contacted again to fulfil their legal obligation. Most errors are directly consulted at regional offices with the reporting units. Therefore it is possible the overall accuracy to consider as good.
EGR-FATS quality indicators for the reference year 2023 comparing the completeness and accuracy of OFATS/EGR indicators:
CODE
DESCRIPTION
INDICATOR
OUTPUT.OFATS.1
Completeness of EGR UCIs = (B)/(B+C)
0,9433
Number of enterprises and employment variables are recorded in absolute figures.
Monetary data of enterprises are recorded in thousands Euro currency.
Data files for outward FATS were compiled on the base of statistical surveys organized by Statistical Office of the SR. The special module for OFATS purposes is included into annual structural business statistics surveys since 2007.
Data on enterprises with 20 and more employees are surveyed in SBS exhaustively. Sample survey is organized in case of small enterprises with less than 20 employees. Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic indicates to the experts in the regional offices responsible for the data collection and validation all relevant reporting units in order to ensure a response of the required variables regarding their affiliates abroad.
Since the reference year 2020, the specific OFATS module is prefilled by Statistical Office of the SR with the information on the foreign affilites NACE identification characteristis and NACE codes from the information sources of EGR and publicly available data sources (companies’ annual reports, media information and mainly from the personal contact with the reporting units) and the T-1 information for the relevant reporting units. The inactive units in EGR are not used for the pre-fill (personalization) of the OFATS module. The prefilled information is validated or edited by the reporting units concerning the information on the characteristics of the OFATS and reported are all the required statistical variables for the reference year. EGR is based purely on the property principle of majority ownership or voting rights, but the OFATS on UCI. Therefore for the purposes of the OFATS compilation it is necessary to apply corrections manually on UCI with information from administrative data sources where we look for the information on ownership shares, information about agreements between the relevant units in groups, about management and execution of management (management companies, trusts etc.). In case of unit and item non-response, imputation of data from the publicly available data sources (free of charge) e.g. NACE from NSI website, Economic data from the financial statements id carried out.
Combination of exhaustive survey and sample survey combined with information from administrative data sources
Exhaustive annual survey of large enterprises - Questionnaire Roc 1-01:
legal units with 20 and more employees registered in the Statistical Business Register
legal units with less than 20 employees registered in the Statistical Business Register:
which were statistically important (the decision about including them into survey of large enterprises was done by expert of particular branch statistics, e.g. responsible for branch statistics etc.)
or of which turnover exceeds 5 million €
Annual survey of small enterprises (sample) - Questionnaire Roc 2-01
legal units with less than 20 employees registered in the Statistical Business Register that the turnover of which does not exceed 5 million €
The relevant UCI identified by the mean of an manual data validation and the information from the EGR Final Frame and from the administrative data sources publicly available.
Annual
OFATS statistics are calculated annually for reference year T.
Data collection takes place at T+4-8 months after the end of the reference period.
Data transmission to Eurostat takes place at t+20 months.
