Code of practice
The members of the European Statistical System strive for joint cooperation and continuous interaction with users according to the Principles of the European Statistics Code of Practice and general quality management principles including commitment of leadership, partnership, staff satisfaction and continuous improvement, in addition to integration and harmonization. The Code of Practice was adopted by the European Statistical System Committee on 28th September 2011.
The European Statistics Code of Practice is based on 15 Principles covering the institutional
environment, the statistical production processes and the output of statistics. A set of indicators of good practice for each of the Principles provides a reference for reviewing the implementation of the Code. The quality criteria for European Statistics are defined in European Statistical Law2.
Statistical authorities3, comprising the Commission (Eurostat), National Statistical Institutes and other national authorities responsible for the development, production and dissemination
of European Statistics4, together with governments, ministries and the European Council, commit themselves to adhere to the Code.
The Principles of the Code of Practice together with the general quality management principles represent a common quality framework in the European Statistical System.
1 Regulation (EC) 223/2009, Article 4
2 Regulation (EC) 223/2009, Article 12
3 Regulation (EC) 223/2009, Articles 4 and 5
4 Regulation (EC) 223/2009, Article 1.
In the Code of Practice, "other national authorities responsible for the development, production and dissemination of European Statistics" are referred to as "other statistical authorities".