The European Statistical System (ESS) is a network of partners which aims to develop, produce, and disseminate European statistics. Partners in this system are:
- Eurostat, which heads this network the national statistical offices of the EU and EFTA Member States
- Other bodies of the EU, the EU and EFTA Member States which develop, produce and disseminate European statistics.
The ESS's tasks are: To continually improve statistical comparability between members
- To take new information needs into account by creating new European statistics and where necessary by repealing existing statistics
- To ensure the international comparability of European statistics by cooperating with international organisations such as the OECD, UN, IMF, World Bank, etc.
The Regulation (EC) 223/2009 of 11 March 2009 determines the overall ESS framework and contains the fundamental principles for the development, production and dissemination of European statistics (cf. EU Code of Practice).
