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  7. Peer review 2021-2023

Third round of Peer Review 2021-23 on the implementation of the European Statistics Code of Practice

The European Statistical System (ESS), composed of Eurostat, the National Statistical Institutes (NSIs) of the EU and the Other National Authorities (ONAs) of the Member States, which are responsible for the development, production and dissemination of European statistics, is strongly committed to adhering to the principles contained in the European Statistics Code of Practice.

The Code is the cornerstone of the Common Quality Framework for the European Statistical System. Adopted in 2005 and revised for the second time in 2017, the Code is a self-assessment tool based on 16 principles covering the institutional environment, statistical processes and statistical outputs. These principles set the standards for the development, production and dissemination of European statistics. The indicators developed for each principle, 84 in total, constitute the benchmarks for assessing the implementation of the Code.

The ESS periodically monitors the implementation of the Code’s principles through peer reviews to member countries, according to a methodology approved by the European Statistical System Committee (ESSC). Two rounds have already been conducted in 2006-2008 and 2013-2015 respectively, and the ESS has decided to carry out a third round in the period 2021-2023.

Istat and ONAs have been involved in this evaluation process, which includes the completion of a self-assessment questionnaire on the implementation of the Code and, subsequently, a visit to the National Statistical Institute by a team of independent international experts.

At the end of the visit, the team drew up a final report assessing the degree of compliance with the Code. The final report is published on Eurostat’s website together with the set of improvement actions to address any recommendations.

The visit of the international experts has take place at Istat from 28th November to 2nd December 2022.

On 15 October 2021 Istat organised the first online workshop dedicated to ONAs on the implementation of the European Statistics Code of Practice and the new round of peer review 2021-2023.

On 5 November 2021 Istat hosted a second online workshop dedicated to ONAs to address the Self-Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ), as well as the communication campaign and the Quality Assurance Framework.