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European Statistics Code of Practice: Maintaining trust

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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. Today, we focus on principles 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, which specifically address the institutional environment necessary for maintaining trust in European statistics, as each principle plays a key role in safeguarding their quality and credibility.

Principle 2: Mandate for data collection

A clear legal mandate for data collection empowers statistical authorities to access the information needed to produce statistics, while respecting privacy and data protection laws. Without a strong mandate, statistical offices may struggle to obtain complete and/or timely data, thereby undermining the quality and relevance of the statistics produced.

Principle 3:Adequacy of resources

Producing high-quality statistics requires sufficient resources — human, financial, and technical. Principle 3 emphasises that statistical authorities must be properly funded and staffed to fulfil their tasks effectively. Inadequate resources can compromise the accuracy, timeliness, and breadth of statistics, ultimately weakening public trust and the ability of policymakers to make informed decisions.

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Principle 4: Commitment to quality

Commitment to quality is at the heart of statistical work. This principle requires that statistical authorities systematically monitor and improve the quality of their outputs, following internationally recognised standards. This helps ensure that users can rely on the statistics produced by these authorities for critical analysis, planning, and decision-making.

Principle 5: Statistical confidentiality and data protection

Statistical confidentiality is fundamental to maintaining the trust of data providers — whether individuals, businesses, or institutions. Principle 5 guarantees that the data collected for statistical purposes will not be misused or disclosed improperly. Respecting confidentiality not only fulfils legal and ethical obligations but also encourages respondents to provide accurate information, thereby enhancing data quality.

Principle 6: Impartiality and objectivity

Statistics must be developed, produced, and disseminated in a way that is impartial and objective. Principle 6 ensures that statistics are presented without bias and free from external interference. This principle is critical for maintaining credibility, as users must have confidence that statistics are not distorted to favour particular interests. It also supports democratic accountability by providing citizens with neutral, factual information.

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These principles establish the institutional environment necessary for producing reliable and trustworthy European statistics. A strong legal mandate, sufficient resources, a rigorous commitment to quality, respect for confidentiality, and a steadfast focus on impartiality and objectivity together form part of the foundation for a statistical system that supports transparency, good governance, and evidence-based decision-making across Europe.

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