Ongoing review of statistical units and business registers
(FRIBS)
EU WORKSHOP ON RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN
BUSINESS AND CONSUMER SURVEYS
Brussels, 13-14 November 2014
Directorate G: Global Business Statistics
Eurostat

Objectives of the Framework
Regulation Integrating Business
Statistics (FRIBS)
• Streamline and rationalise the reference framework, reducing unnecessary burden on respondents
• Define a new architecture
 for European Business Statistics
Eurostat

Scope of FRIBS
Business Pillar in the ESP 2013-2017
Common
Infrastructure:
• Statistical Units
• Business
Registers
Prod com
ITGS
SBS
FDI
R&D
CIS
STS
ITSS
FATS
ICT
ENTR
 to be integrated into one methodological and legal framework .
Eurostat

Integration means
 Increasing consistency by harmonisation of:
• Statistical Units definitions' application
• Definition of variables
• NACE coverage and breakdowns
• Reference Periods
 Integration of Business Registers with each other and with the EuroGroups Register
 Enable closer cooperation between NSI, e.g. data exchange in case of mirror statistics
Eurostat

Main elements
Infrastructural elements
• Statistical Units
• Business Registers
• Exchange of micro-data
• Quality issues
• Confidentiality
Technical provisions
• Data requirements
• Variable definitions
• EBS Manual
• Technical provision of exchange of micro-data
Eurostat
I
B
F
R
S
5

Data requirements and variables
• Integration of specific packages in a single set of data requirements, based on domainspecific package
• Recommendations for more consistent breakdowns and coverage: agreement reached on in the BSDG in June 2014
• Revision of definitions of 18 cross-cutting variables
Eurostat

Enterprise definition
• Organisational Unit
• Sufficient Degree of autonomy
• Market Access
 Not every legal unit is an enterprise,
 Several legal units together may form an enterprise
Eurostat

Example of an Enterprise Unit
Administration and
Management
Holding Administration and
Management
Staff
Staffing
Staffing
R&D
Sales
Machine production
Sales
R&D
Eurostat
Market

Organisation of Aldi-Süd :
Aldi Sued shops are organised in 37 legal units, in addition "backoffice" and "logistics" are organised in further legal units. Most of them as "limited liability". But
• prices
• assortment and
• appearance are everywhere the same.
More than 37 enterprises?
Eurostat

Enterprise operational rules for
• Delineation of enterprise groups into enterprises
• Treatment of ancillary activities
• Vertical Integration
• Shared services (e.g. staffing units) in order to promote a uniform implementation in the Member States
Eurostat

2014
J F M A M J J A S O N D
1. Infrastructure component a.
Impact assessment b.
Statistical units c.
Business registers d.
Framework legal text
2015
J F M A M J J A S O N D
2016
J F M A M J J
2. Data structure component a.
Definitions of variables b.
Data requirements c.
Common nomenclatures
3. Methodological component
4. SIMSTAT project
5. Governance and reporting

Time schedule of FRIBS
FRIBS is launched FRIBS implementation
Impact assessment
Discussion and consultation
MEETS starts MEETS ends Legislative process
2009
2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
2018
Eurostat

Eurostat