Eurostat

Code of Practice: Upholding independence and cooperation

Published

10 months ago

August 12, 2025

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the European Statistics Code of Practice, Eurostat is publishing a series of articles highlighting the 16 principles of the Code, their importance and role.

Among the principles of the Code of Practice, which sets the standards for developing, producing, and disseminating European statistics, principles 1 and 1bis are foundational. They establish the trust and credibility essential for a functioning statistical system.

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Principle 1: Professional independence

Professional independence ensures that statistical authorities are free from external interference when deciding on statistical methods as well as content and timing of statistical releases. This independence is vital for maintaining the objectivity, integrity, and reliability of statistics. Without it, there is a risk that data could be manipulated to serve political or private interests, undermining public trust. Professional independence reassures users that statistics are a reflection of reality, not influenced by any political or private agenda.

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Principle 1bis: Co-ordination and cooperation

Introduced to strengthen the European Statistical System (ESS), principle 1bis emphasises coordination and cooperation among statistical authorities. This principle ensures that national and European statistical authorities work together efficiently and consistently, promoting the production of coherent and comparable statistics across Europe. It also highlights the importance of collaboration between statistics and other partners, like central banks and academic institutions to develop statistical activities.

Together, principles 1 and 1bis form the backbone of the ESS. Professional independence protects the credibility of statistics, while coordination and cooperation ensure their efficient production. Upholding these principles is essential for trustworthy statistics, in view of informed policymaking, democratic accountability, and public confidence in institutions.