Southern European Neighbourhood Policy countries (ENP-South) (med)

Reference Metadata in Euro SDMX Metadata Structure (ESMS)

Compiling agency: Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union


Eurostat metadata
Reference metadata
1. Contact
2. Metadata update
3. Statistical presentation
4. Unit of measure
5. Reference Period
6. Institutional Mandate
7. Confidentiality
8. Release policy
9. Frequency of dissemination
10. Accessibility and clarity
11. Quality management
12. Relevance
13. Accuracy
14. Timeliness and punctuality
15. Coherence and comparability
16. Cost and Burden
17. Data revision
18. Statistical processing
19. Comment
Related Metadata
Annexes (including footnotes)



For any question on data and metadata, please contact: EUROPEAN STATISTICAL DATA SUPPORT

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1. Contact Top
1.1. Contact organisation

Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union

1.2. Contact organisation unit

B3. Enlargement, neighbourhood and development cooperation

1.5. Contact mail address

2920 Luxembourg LUXEMBOURG


2. Metadata update Top
2.1. Metadata last certified 13/01/2020
2.2. Metadata last posted 13/01/2020
2.3. Metadata last update 17/01/2020


3. Statistical presentation Top
3.1. Data description

The focus of this domain is on the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) countries on the southern and eastern shores of the Mediterranean (ENP-South), namely:

  • Algeria (DZ),
  • Egypt (EG),
  • Israel (IL),
  • Jordan (JO),
  • Lebanon (LB),
  • Libya (LY),
  • Morocco (MA),
  • Palestine (PS) (1),
  • Syria (SY) and
  • Tunisia (TN).

An extensive range of indicators is presented in this domain, including indicators from almost every theme covered by European statistics. Generally, only annual data are published in this domain.

The data and their denomination in no way constitute the expression of an opinion by the European Commission on the legal status of a country or territory or on the delimitation of its borders.

Data supplied by and under the responsibility of the national statistical authorities of each of the countries or territories.

 

(1) This designation shall not be construed as recognition of a State of Palestine and is without prejudice to the individual positions of the Member States on this issue.

3.2. Classification system

The vast majority of the indicators that have been collected for the ENP-South countries are ones that are also collected for EU Member States. As such, the definitions that countries have been asked to follow are based on international and EU standards, for example the SNA (or ESA) or the IMF manual on balance of payments.

3.3. Coverage - sector

This domain covers a wide range of subject areas, including:

  • Economy and finance
  • Population and social conditions
  • Industry, trade and services
  • Agriculture and fisheries
  • International trade
  • Transport
  • Environment and energy
  • Science, technology and digital society
3.4. Statistical concepts and definitions

Data are provided through an annual data collection exercise.

The definitions of the indicators that countries have been requested to follow can be found (in English) in annex Definitions used for the 2019 data collection exercise at the bottom of this page.

The definitions are presented using a similar structure to that used for the data in this domain. An alphabetical list of indicators is provided at the end of the document with the definitions.

3.5. Statistical unit

Where appropriate: see definitions and footnotes (at the bottom of the page) for each indicator.

3.6. Statistical population

Where appropriate: see definitions and footnotes (at the bottom of the page) for each indicator.

3.7. Reference area

The ENP countries on the southern and eastern shores of the Mediterranean:

  • Algeria (DZ),
  • Egypt (EG),
  • Israel (IL),
  • Jordan (JO),
  • Lebanon (LB),
  • Libya (LY),
  • Morocco (MA),
  • Palestine (PS) (1),
  • Syria (SY) and
  • Tunisia (TN).

The data and their denomination in no way constitute the expression of an opinion by the European Commission on the legal status of a country or territory or on the delimitation of its borders.

(1) This designation shall not be construed as recognition of a State of Palestine and is without prejudice to the individual positions of the Member States on this issue.

3.8. Coverage - Time

The time-series start from 2005. For some older datasets that are no longer updated the time series might start in 2000.

3.9. Base period

Where appropriate: see definitions and footnotes (at the bottom of the page) for each indicator.


4. Unit of measure Top

Where appropriate: see definitions and footnotes (at the bottom of the page) for each indicator.


5. Reference Period Top

All data are annual, referring either to the year as a period, or to a representative date in the year, typically the first or last day of the year.


6. Institutional Mandate Top
6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements

The European Neighbourhood Policy, abbreviated as ENP, was developed in 2004, with the objective of avoiding the emergence of new dividing lines between the enlarged European Union and its neighbours to the South and East. Through the ENP, the EU offers its neighbours a privileged relationship, building upon a mutual commitment to common values (democracy and human rights, rule of law, good governance, market economy principles and sustainable development). The central element of the European Neighbourhood Policy is the bilateral ENP Action Plans agreed between the EU and each partner. These plans set out an agenda of political and economic reforms with short and medium-term priorities. For information about the EU’s statistical cooperation with ENP-South countries please consult the relevant article on Statistics Explained.

6.2. Institutional Mandate - data sharing

None.


7. Confidentiality Top
7.1. Confidentiality - policy

Regulation (EC) No 223/2009 on European statistics (recital 24 and Article 20(4)) of 11 March 2009 (OJ L 87, p. 164), stipulates the need to establish common principles and guidelines ensuring the confidentiality of data used for the production of European statistics and the access to those confidential data with due account for technical developments and the requirements of users in a democratic society.

7.2. Confidentiality - data treatment

Countries only provide non-confidential data.


8. Release policy Top
8.1. Release calendar

No formal calendar: data are disseminated on Eurobase once a year. Previously this was around October/November. After a major change in the data collection in 2017, dissemination is now in December of the collection year or the following January: for example in January 2020 for data collected in Autumn 2019.

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 Eurostat disseminates European statistics on Eurostat's website (see item 10 — 'Accessibility and clarity') respecting professional independence and in an objective, professional and transparent manner in which all users are treated equitably. The detailed arrangements are governed by the Eurostat protocol on impartial access to Eurostat data for users.


9. Frequency of dissemination Top

The frequency of dissemination is annual.


10. Accessibility and clarity Top
10.1. Dissemination format - News release

None.

10.2. Dissemination format - Publications

Data collected during the MEDSTAT programmes were published in various statistical books. The last edition was in 2015.

The current policy is to publish data for the ENP countries (both those in eastern Europe and those on the southern and eastern shores of the Mediterranean) in a biennial book, with the 2015 edition the first under this policy. In 2020 it is planned to release a book with data for the ENP-South countries. ENP data are also published in one or more leaflets each year.

10.3. Dissemination format - online database

Please consult the free on-line database or refer to contact details.

10.4. Dissemination format - microdata access

Not applicable — no micro data.

10.5. Dissemination format - other

Data are published on Eurostat’s Statistics Explained website in a set of articles titled European Neighbourhood Policy countries — statistical overview.

10.6. Documentation on methodology

Data are provided at Eurostat’s request directly by the national statistical authorities of the ENP-South countries and under their responsability.
A standard set of definitions is provided to the countries.
In some cases countries note divergences from the standard definitions or classifications requested and these are available as footnotes file at the bottom of this page.

10.7. Quality management - documentation

Data are provided at Eurostat’s request directly by the national statistical authorities of the ENP-South countries and under their responsability.

A standard set of definitions is provided to the countries.

In some cases countries note divergences from the standard definitions or classifications requested and these are available as footnotes file at the bottom of this page.


11. Quality management Top
11.1. Quality assurance

Data are provided at Eurostat’s request directly by the national statistical authorities of the ENP-South countries and under their responsibility. Some of the ENP-South countries respect the European Quality Assurance Framework and conducted a sectorial review. More information can be found here.

Eurostat follows an encompassing quality management approach based on the Code of Practice covering all the statistical domains.

11.2. Quality management - assessment

After receipt, data are validated using a set of automatic validation procedures. In case the validation procedure discovers data exceeding the conditions/thresholds set in the validation program, countries are contacted in order to correct, confirm or explain the values in question. If necessary data are revised. These revised data are then integrated in the final dataset. Metadata are also checked.


12. Relevance Top
12.1. Relevance - User Needs

Please see MEDSTAT External evaluation reports on MEDSTAT homepage section Programme/Management

http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php/MEDSTAT_programme

12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction

Please see MEDSTAT External evaluation reports on MEDSTAT homepage section Programme/Management

http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php/MEDSTAT_programme

12.3. Completeness

Please see the Sector reports on the MEDSTAT homepage. The sector pages show an overview of the main conclusions drawn from the orientation phase which was carried out in 2006 in each sector. In addition, the main priority areas and the objectives of the sector work programme are presented.

http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php/MEDSTAT_programme


13. Accuracy Top
13.1. Accuracy - overall

All the ENP-South countries use - as far as possible - EU and international standards.

The Forum of Euro-Mediterranean Statisticians approved the Code of Practice for the ENP-south countries based on the European Code of Practice in April 2016.

13.2. Sampling error

All the ENP-South countries use - as far as possible - EU and international standards.

The Forum of Euro-Mediterranean Statisticians approved the Code of Practice for the ENP-south countries based on the European Code of Practice in April 2016.

13.3. Non-sampling error

All the ENP-South countries use - as far as possible - EU and international standards.

The Forum of Euro-Mediterranean Statisticians approved the Code of Practice for the ENP-south countries based on the European Code of Practice in April 2016.


14. Timeliness and punctuality Top
14.1. Timeliness

A request for updated data is sent to countries once a year. The data collection exercise is normally completed around December. The freshness of the data varies somewhat between countries and between indicators, as the data comes from a wide range of sources. Generally data are relatively complete for the calendar year two before the year of data collection. For example, data collected in 2019 will have relatively complete data for 2017, with 2018 data available for a more limited number of indicators.

14.2. Punctuality

Data are delivered to Eurostat under the responsibility of the ENP-South countries as soon as they are available depending on the release calendar of each country.


15. Coherence and comparability Top
15.1. Comparability - geographical

ENP-South programmes have in general brought standardisation of definitions, concepts and methodologies in line with international standards.

When countries have indicated divergences from the definitions requested these are indicated in a list of the footnotes for this domain which can be found at the bottom of this page.

15.2. Comparability - over time

When countries have indicated breaks in series these are indicated with the ‘b’ flag in the database.

15.3. Coherence - cross domain

The large number of indicators collected allows many cross checks within the data set. Care should however be taken, for example when analysing per head ratios where a different employment or population measure may have been used to compile the ratio than the employment and population figures given in this data set.

15.4. Coherence - internal

Generally only a few indicators are collected for each statistical subject area. However in some cases the internal coherence can be verified when data for detailed indicators should sum to the data value for more aggregated indicators. Checks of such internal coherence are also included in the validation procedures that are performed.


16. Cost and Burden Top

No information available.


17. Data revision Top
17.1. Data revision - policy

All values from the beginning of the time series are potentially subject to revision.

17.2. Data revision - practice

For the national data collection the countries covered by this domain are asked to update the data set for their country. Several countries identify data that has been forecasted and in these cases this is indicated in the database.

From the 2012 round of data collection, once a year the time series from 2000 (sometimes 2005) onwards were updated.

From the 2017 round of data collection, data from 2005 onwards have been updated.


18. Statistical processing Top
18.1. Source data

Most of the data are provided by the national statistical authorities of the ENP-South countries using a set of tailor-made questionnaires. The data come from a wide range of sources.

18.2. Frequency of data collection

Once a year.

18.3. Data collection

Data are collected using a set of tailor-made Excel questionnaires. Questionnaires are sent to the national statistical authorities of the ENP-South countries to be filled in and returned for validation and publication.

18.4. Data validation

The data received from countries are validated. Various types of validation tests are performed.

1. Respect of the data format: are missing data correctly coded, is the distinction between data that has a value of '0' and data that is not available or confidential clear, have all footnote references got a corresponding footnote text?

2. Respect of the units and listed scales: are the data provided in the unit and scale requested?

3. Cross-check of basic data: do the basic data agree with other sources and with data published on web sites of the national statistical offices?

4. Time series: check of growth rates between reference periods for particularly high and low values — this is done in absolute terms and in percentage terms.

5. Order of magnitude: does the data seem credible in terms of scale? This can be checked by comparison to an expected range of values directly, or after dividing by another indicator (such as population or GDP).

6. Coherence between totals and components: when an aggregate is requested, as well as its elements these are checked; when an exhaustive list of elements is available in percentage terms, the total is checked to be 100%.

7. Between derived indicators and their components: a number of indicators can be compiled from other indicators in the data set, and it is reasonable to assume that they should be coherent. In fact they may not be coherent for a number of reasons, for example the derived indicators may have been compiled using data from different sources.

8. Between indices and base year: does the value for the base year equal 100? Small divergences may be possible due, for example, to working day adjustment.

18.5. Data compilation

No geographical aggregates are compiled.

A very small number of indicators are derived from the collected data as most indicators to be published are collected directly: the derived indicators concern population data.

Most data in national currencies are converted to euro before publishing.

18.6. Adjustment

Apart from data validation (which may lead to corrections of errors), derivation of a selection of indicators and currency conversion, no adjustments are made to the data.


19. Comment Top

None.


Related metadata Top


Annexes Top
Definitions used for the 2019 data collection exercise
Footnotes related to the 2019 data collection exercise