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Expert Meeting on Modernizing Statistical Legislation 2022

Expert Meeting on Modernizing Statistical Legislation 2022

17 - 18 November 2022
Geneva Switzerland

The 3rd UNECE Expert Meeting on Modernizing Statistical Legislation took place on 17-18 November 2022 in Geneva. 

Improving the governance of statistical production and the legal framework is fundamental to producing high-quality statistics and a priority for many countries. The Conference of European Statisticians (CES) has been supporting its members in this area by developing and endorsing, together with the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and Eurostat, the Generic Law on Official Statistics (2016) and Guidance on Modernizing Statistical Legislation (2019).

The Expert Meeting provides a platform for national and international experts to share experience and best practices in the modernization of legal and institutional frameworks of official statistics and discuss emerging issues posing legal challenges to national statistical systems.

All documents related to the previous Expert Meetings can be found under the following links: 2020 Expert Meeting and 2021 Expert Meeting.

Group photo

 

Agenda, programme and report

33643 _ INF.2 - Annotated agenda _ 372317 _ English _ 773 _ 366421 _ pdf
33643 _ INF.3 - Provisional programme _ 372565 _ English _ 773 _ 368009 _ pdf
33643 _ ECE/CES/2023/14/Add.11 - Report of the Expert Meeting on Modernizing Statistical Legislation _ 386740 _ English _ 773 _ 402049 _ pdf

1. Access to privately held data

This session is built on the discussions in the previous Expert Meeting. In 2021, the Expert Meeting examined different experiences in accessing privately-held data, based on presentations by Australia (Working paper no. 1: “Access to privately-held data – Australia’s experience ”), Colombia, the Netherlands and private companies: Positium and Latvian Mobile Telephone (LMT). The session concluded that the existing national legal frameworks need to be developed further regarding several issues related to accessing privately-held data, and harmonizing of existing business models of access to privately-held data would be useful.

The 2022 session:

  • Discussed the outcomes of the CES in-depth review of collaboration with private data providers and the discussion on the same topic at the CES 2022 plenary session
  • Took note of recent developments regarding the revision of the framework legislation for European statistics and the recommendations of the expert group on facilitating the use of new data source for official statistics
  • Discussed further examples of successful (or unsuccessful) data access and identified what is needed in the legislative environment to enable sustainable data access
  • Initiated the discussion towards clarifying the concepts of privacy, personal data protection and confidentiality – how they differ, what their legal bases are and how they are understood by the involved communities in the context of private data access.
33645 _ Presentation - Collaboration with private sector data providers - Poland _ 373062 _ English _ 773 _ 368118 _ pdf

This session is built on the discussions in the previous Expert Meeting. In 2021, the Expert Meeting examined different experiences in accessing privately-held data, based on presentations by Australia (Working paper no. 1: “Access to privately-held data – Australia’s experience ”), Colombia, the Netherlands and private companies: Positium and Latvian Mobile Telephone (LMT). The session concluded that the existing national legal frameworks need to be developed further regarding several issues related to accessing privately-held data, and harmonizing of existing business models of access to privately-held data would be useful.

The 2022 session:

  • Discussed the outcomes of the CES in-depth review of collaboration with private data providers and the discussion on the same topic at the CES 2022 plenary session
  • Took note of recent developments regarding the revision of the framework legislation for European statistics and the recommendations of the expert group on facilitating the use of new data source for official statistics
  • Discussed further examples of successful (or unsuccessful) data access and identified what is needed in the legislative environment to enable sustainable data access
  • Initiated the discussion towards clarifying the concepts of privacy, personal data protection and confidentiality – how they differ, what their legal bases are and how they are understood by the involved communities in the context of private data access.
33645 _ Presentation - Revision of the Framework Regulation on European Statistics - Eurostat _ 372999 _ English _ 773 _ 367880 _ pdf

This session is built on the discussions in the previous Expert Meeting. In 2021, the Expert Meeting examined different experiences in accessing privately-held data, based on presentations by Australia (Working paper no. 1: “Access to privately-held data – Australia’s experience ”), Colombia, the Netherlands and private companies: Positium and Latvian Mobile Telephone (LMT). The session concluded that the existing national legal frameworks need to be developed further regarding several issues related to accessing privately-held data, and harmonizing of existing business models of access to privately-held data would be useful.

The 2022 session:

  • Discussed the outcomes of the CES in-depth review of collaboration with private data providers and the discussion on the same topic at the CES 2022 plenary session
  • Took note of recent developments regarding the revision of the framework legislation for European statistics and the recommendations of the expert group on facilitating the use of new data source for official statistics
  • Discussed further examples of successful (or unsuccessful) data access and identified what is needed in the legislative environment to enable sustainable data access
  • Initiated the discussion towards clarifying the concepts of privacy, personal data protection and confidentiality – how they differ, what their legal bases are and how they are understood by the involved communities in the context of private data access.
33645 _ Presentation - Access to privately held data - Panel Discussion - Spain _ 373042 _ English _ 773 _ 368036 _ pdf

2. Data stewardship and governance

In 2021, the Expert Meeting initiated the discussion on data governance and stewardship from a regulatory perspective. The session was based on Working paper no. 2: “The role of Australian Bureau of Statistics in data governance and stewardship” by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, Working paper no. 3: “Government Integrated Database Project” by the National Statistics Office of Mongolia and also included presentations by New Zealand and the UNECE Task Force on data stewardship. The session concluded that the circumstances and scope of data stewardship roles assumed by NSOs in countries vary greatly, but there is a big potential for sharing experiences and mutual learning. Ensuring the existence of agile and adaptive legislative framework, defining the basic principles and protecting basic rights is an important step towards assuming responsibilities related to data stewardship and governance.

The 2022 session on data stewardship and governance aimed to:

  • Discuss further the legal aspects and implications of data governance and stewardship
  • Take note of the progress by the UNECE Task Force on Data Stewardship in defining key terms and functions associated with data stewardship as well as any other developments in relevant international work
  • Discuss different models followed in countries where NSOs are stepping into the role of data stewards and identify what constitutes an enabling legislative environment.
33644 _ Presentation - Data Stewardship: State of the work in Switzerland _ 373043 _ English _ 773 _ 368037 _ pdf

In 2021, the Expert Meeting initiated the discussion on data governance and stewardship from a regulatory perspective. The session was based on Working paper no. 2: “The role of Australian Bureau of Statistics in data governance and stewardship” by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, Working paper no. 3: “Government Integrated Database Project” by the National Statistics Office of Mongolia and also included presentations by New Zealand and the UNECE Task Force on data stewardship. The session concluded that the circumstances and scope of data stewardship roles assumed by NSOs in countries vary greatly, but there is a big potential for sharing experiences and mutual learning. Ensuring the existence of agile and adaptive legislative framework, defining the basic principles and protecting basic rights is an important step towards assuming responsibilities related to data stewardship and governance.

The 2022 session on data stewardship and governance aimed to:

  • Discuss further the legal aspects and implications of data governance and stewardship
  • Take note of the progress by the UNECE Task Force on Data Stewardship in defining key terms and functions associated with data stewardship as well as any other developments in relevant international work
  • Discuss different models followed in countries where NSOs are stepping into the role of data stewards and identify what constitutes an enabling legislative environment.

In 2021, the Expert Meeting initiated the discussion on data governance and stewardship from a regulatory perspective. The session was based on Working paper no. 2: “The role of Australian Bureau of Statistics in data governance and stewardship” by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, Working paper no. 3: “Government Integrated Database Project” by the National Statistics Office of Mongolia and also included presentations by New Zealand and the UNECE Task Force on data stewardship. The session concluded that the circumstances and scope of data stewardship roles assumed by NSOs in countries vary greatly, but there is a big potential for sharing experiences and mutual learning. Ensuring the existence of agile and adaptive legislative framework, defining the basic principles and protecting basic rights is an important step towards assuming responsibilities related to data stewardship and governance.

The 2022 session on data stewardship and governance aimed to:

  • Discuss further the legal aspects and implications of data governance and stewardship
  • Take note of the progress by the UNECE Task Force on Data Stewardship in defining key terms and functions associated with data stewardship as well as any other developments in relevant international work
  • Discuss different models followed in countries where NSOs are stepping into the role of data stewards and identify what constitutes an enabling legislative environment.

In 2021, the Expert Meeting initiated the discussion on data governance and stewardship from a regulatory perspective. The session was based on Working paper no. 2: “The role of Australian Bureau of Statistics in data governance and stewardship” by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, Working paper no. 3: “Government Integrated Database Project” by the National Statistics Office of Mongolia and also included presentations by New Zealand and the UNECE Task Force on data stewardship. The session concluded that the circumstances and scope of data stewardship roles assumed by NSOs in countries vary greatly, but there is a big potential for sharing experiences and mutual learning. Ensuring the existence of agile and adaptive legislative framework, defining the basic principles and protecting basic rights is an important step towards assuming responsibilities related to data stewardship and governance.

The 2022 session on data stewardship and governance aimed to:

  • Discuss further the legal aspects and implications of data governance and stewardship
  • Take note of the progress by the UNECE Task Force on Data Stewardship in defining key terms and functions associated with data stewardship as well as any other developments in relevant international work
  • Discuss different models followed in countries where NSOs are stepping into the role of data stewards and identify what constitutes an enabling legislative environment.
33644 _ Presentation - Developments in data stewardship - UNECE Task Force on Data Stewardship _ 373047 _ English _ 773 _ 368050 _ pdf

3. Process of revising and enforcing statistical legislation

Improving the governance of statistical production and the legal framework is fundamental to producing high-quality statistics and a priority for many countries. The Conference of European Statisticians has been supporting its members in this area by developing and endorsing, together with the United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD), the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and Eurostat, the Generic Law on Official Statistics (2016) and the Guidance on Modernizing Statistical Legislation (2019). These documents have proven to be very useful tools and, to date, have been used by more than 20 countries worldwide. The experiences have shown that the process of revising and enforcing new legislation includes much more than drafting the new bill. This session provided the opportunity for experts to share practical experiences of revising and enforcing statistical legislation and discuss the following questions:

  • What is required before, during and after adopting a new statistical law?
  • What other laws are most relevant for official statistics and should be taken into account?
  • What approaches have proven successful in building awareness, advocating and mobilizing support for certain changes and explaining them to the stakeholders after they are introduced?
  • How have countries approached defining “official statistics”? What was the rationale behind their approach, and what has been the impact?
  • What were the challenges in enforcing the law after its adoption, and what could be done to facilitate this?

 

33646 _ Presentation - Process of revising and enforcing statistical legislation - UNECE and Co-organizers _ 373090 _ English _ 773 _ 368180 _ pdf

Improving the governance of statistical production and the legal framework is fundamental to producing high-quality statistics and a priority for many countries. The Conference of European Statisticians has been supporting its members in this area by developing and endorsing, together with the United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD), the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and Eurostat, the Generic Law on Official Statistics (2016) and the Guidance on Modernizing Statistical Legislation (2019). These documents have proven to be very useful tools and, to date, have been used by more than 20 countries worldwide. The experiences have shown that the process of revising and enforcing new legislation includes much more than drafting the new bill. This session provided the opportunity for experts to share practical experiences of revising and enforcing statistical legislation and discuss the following questions:

  • What is required before, during and after adopting a new statistical law?
  • What other laws are most relevant for official statistics and should be taken into account?
  • What approaches have proven successful in building awareness, advocating and mobilizing support for certain changes and explaining them to the stakeholders after they are introduced?
  • How have countries approached defining “official statistics”? What was the rationale behind their approach, and what has been the impact?
  • What were the challenges in enforcing the law after its adoption, and what could be done to facilitate this?

 

33646 _ Presentation - Legislative issues in the statistical system of Latvia _ 377956 _ English _ 773 _ 379489 _ pdf

Improving the governance of statistical production and the legal framework is fundamental to producing high-quality statistics and a priority for many countries. The Conference of European Statisticians has been supporting its members in this area by developing and endorsing, together with the United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD), the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and Eurostat, the Generic Law on Official Statistics (2016) and the Guidance on Modernizing Statistical Legislation (2019). These documents have proven to be very useful tools and, to date, have been used by more than 20 countries worldwide. The experiences have shown that the process of revising and enforcing new legislation includes much more than drafting the new bill. This session provided the opportunity for experts to share practical experiences of revising and enforcing statistical legislation and discuss the following questions:

  • What is required before, during and after adopting a new statistical law?
  • What other laws are most relevant for official statistics and should be taken into account?
  • What approaches have proven successful in building awareness, advocating and mobilizing support for certain changes and explaining them to the stakeholders after they are introduced?
  • How have countries approached defining “official statistics”? What was the rationale behind their approach, and what has been the impact?
  • What were the challenges in enforcing the law after its adoption, and what could be done to facilitate this?

 

33646 _ Presentation - Statistical laws navigator - PARIS21 _ 372998 _ English _ 773 _ 367879 _ pdf