Implementation of the European statistics code of practice in Lithuania

Reliable and credible statistical information is necessary for the implementation of tasks entrusted by the European Union (EU) in relation to making political and economic decisions. The key requirements for the preparation of statistical information to be provided to the EU are laid down in the Regulation on European statistics. Provisions of the Regulation with respect to development, production and dissemination of statistics are specified in detail in the European Statistics Code of Practice. In its Report for 2012, the European Court of Auditors pointed out lack of reliable information on the implementation of the Code in the Member States. Accordingly, the National Audit Office conducted an audit to assess the implementation of the principles of the Code by Lithuanian institutions producing official European statistics.

European statistical information is prepared by Statistics Lithuania and 23 other institutions. The audit was conducted at Statistics Lithuania, state enterprise Agricultural Information and Rural Business Centre, Institute of Hygiene, Migration Department under the Ministry of the Interior, Lithuanian Labour Exchange under the Ministry of Social Security and Labour, and State Forest Service under the Ministry of Environment, since together these institutions produce and provide about 80 per cent of all statistical information. The audit addressed the implementation of the following ten principles of the Code: commitment to quality, sound methodology, appropriate statistical procedures, non-excessive burden on respondents, cost effectiveness, relevance, accuracy and reliability, timeliness and punctuality, coherence and comparability, and accessibility and clarity .

“Statistics Lithuania basically complies with all ten principles applicable for the development, production and dissemination of European statistics, which were addressed during the audit. However, other institutions preparing statistics fail to meet all principles of the European Statistics Code of Practice. Consequently, the statistical information produced and provided by these institutions only partially complies with the requirements of the statistical process”, said Auditor Giedrė Švedienė summing up the results of the audit.

Auditors also found that the institutions preparing statistical information have different understandings of the implementation of the provisions of the Code. Although Statistics Lithuania is the coordinating authority, neither the Regulation nor the Law on Statistics  provide for a possibility to verify preparation of statistical information in other institutions, i.e. to ensure the implementation of the requirements of the Code, so the institutions independently decide whether and how to fulfil these requirements.

The National Audit Office made recommendations to the Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Social Security and Labour, Ministry of Health, Ministry of the Interior, Ministry of Agriculture, and Statistics Lithuania to facilitate preparation and provision of reliable and trustworthy information both to the EC Statistical Office (Eurostat) and to the public.