republic of slovenia · "the statistical council of the republic of slovenia, at its 29th...

REPUBLIC OF SLOVENIA

NATIONAL STATISTICS in Slovenia

ANNUAL REPORT 2008

Ljubljana, April 2009

National Statistics in Slovenia 2008

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Authorised producers of national statistics, appointed in the Medium‐term Programme of Statistical Surveys 2008–2012, Uradni list RS (Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia) no. 119/2007, p. 17199, together with the Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia (SORS) are the following:

Agency of the Republic of Slovenia for Public Legal Records and Related Services (AJPES),

Bank of Slovenia (BS),

Institute of Public Health of the Republic of Slovenia (IVZ),

Ministry of Finance (MF),

Pension and Invalidity Insurance Institute of the Republic of Slovenia (ZPIZ), and

Employment Service of Slovenia (ZRSZ).

Issued and published by Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia (SORS), Ljubljana, Vožarski pot 12

Person responsible Irena Križman, MSc, Director‐General of SORS

Phone (01) 241 51 00

Fax (01) 241 53 44

Website www.stat.si/eng

Editors Nina Stražišar and Ana Novak

Authors SORS: Ana Božič, Frida Braunsberger, Andreja Hočevar, Karmen Hren, MSc, Bojana JemecZalar MSc, Zala Kalan, Irena Križman, MSc, Stane Marn, MSc, Ema Mišič, Dr Mojca NočRazinger, Ida Repovž Grabnar, Tomaž Smrekar, Nina Stražišar, Mojca Suvorov, AlenkaŠkafar Božič, Metka Zaletel, Tjaša Zrnec, Erika Žnidaršič, Jana Žužek and Heads of SORSinternal organisational units.

Authorised producers: Bank of Slovenia (BS): Janez Fabijan, MSc; Institute of Public Health of the Republic of Slovenia (IVZ): Jana Trdič; Agency of the Republic of Slovenia for Public Legal Records and Related Services (AJPES): Marjan Širaj, MSc; Pension and Invalidity Insurance Institute of the Republic of Slovenia (ZPIZ): Dr Ines Sarazin Lovrečič; Employment Service of Slovenia (ZRSZ): Sonja Pirher; Ministry of Finance (MF): Eva Križnik.

Language Editing: Secretariat‐General of the Government of the Republic of Slovenia – Translation andInterpretation Division; Boris Panič, SORS

ISSN 1854‐6587

Use and publication of this information is only permissible with reference to the source.


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The Statistical Council of the Republic of Slovenia

at its 29th regular session on 15 April 2009

discussed the Report on Implementation of the Annual Programme of Statistical Surveys 2008 and adopted the following

DECISION

"The Statistical Council of the Republic of Slovenia, at its 29th regular session on 15 April 2009, under item 4 of the agenda, took note of the Report on the Implementation of the Annual Programme of Statistical Surveys 2008 and addressed a motion to the Director‐General of the Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia that the Report be adopted."

Dr Anuška Ferligoj President of the Statistical Council

of the Republic of Slovenia


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Introduction

In 2008, Slovenian national statistics was marked by two strategicallyextremely important international events: the Slovenian EU CouncilPresidency and preparations for Slovenia’s membership of the OECD.

After three and a half years of EU membership and a year after introductionof the euro, the Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia successfully ranthe Presidency of the EU Council Working Party on Statistics and thusconstructively contributed to the formation of the most important legalact for operation of the European Statistical System. In 2008, theStatistical Office smoothly carried out its activities in the EuropeanStatistical System and in the international statistical environment. Inthis context, we would like to emphasize the efforts made for Slovenia’saccession to the OECD, giving us membership of another importantinternational organisation. At the end of October 2009, the OECDCouncil will take a decision on this membership in the statistical area onthe basis of a quality assessment and data availability for Slovenia andtheir comparability with data from other OECD member countries. Wellprepared in this area in the transitional period, we do not anticipatedifficulties in Slovenia's accession to the OECD.

Our strategy in providing statistical services seeks a balance betweenthe requirements for timely, adequate and high‐quality statistical dataon the one hand, and a reduction of administrative burdens and costs toreporting units on the other, which was also our objective during andafter the EU Council Presidency. The register orientation of nationalstatistics played a key role in this. Through administrative registers andrecords established in recent years the basic conditions have been metthat enable the Statistical Office to carry out the next population censuscompletely on a register basis, without collecting data in the field, whichwill contribute considerably to a reduction of administrative burdensand costs. The use of administrative sources is increasingly becoming aconstant in the monitoring of agricultural statistics and, in this context,carrying out the 2010 agricultural census should be mentioned, as wellas the future, methodologically demanding preparation of data on thesale and use of plant protection products required under a new EUregulation.

On the basis of decisions of the EU Commission, the Government of theRepublic of Slovenia in 2006 adopted a national programme forreduction of administrative burdens, which included several nationalinstitutions and keepers of data records and registers. Since a loss ofcertain administrative data from the records could pose a serious threatto the use of data for statistical purposes, as well as to the provision ofquality data to various users, in addition to maintenance of good inter‐institutional cooperation, there should be an improvement in thepartner relationship between the government, national statistics,research community and civil society.

If we thus seek to ensure data‐based management of the state, which iseven more important given the current efforts to overcome the financialcrisis, we should maintain continuous provision of the necessary dataand the continuity of their time series. Finally, with the loss of somedata from the records and registers, statistics would have to reintroduce


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collecting data in the field. To give an example: By using tax data tocalculate the index of turnover in trade and services, in 2008 the totalnumber of reporting units in the field was reduced from 5596 to 741.

Efforts to further reduce administrative burdens represent only one ofthe numerous tasks of national statistics in statistical data provision.The main achievements of the regular and development workperformed in 2008 by the Statistical Office and the authorised producersof statistical surveys, which are presented in detail in the report byindividual statistical fields, show that carrying out the AnnualProgramme of Statistical Surveys 2008 our activity was cost‐effectiveand efficient.

In joining the OECD and with the introduction of the European StatisticsCode of Practice, we are increasingly aware of the importance ofmodernisation and standardisation of the internal processes of theStatistical Office, since they significantly contribute to the qualityimprovement of statistical data and services to users, to reduction of thereporting burden and to an increase in the working efficiency of staff. Infuture years, a considerable contribution will be made to that by the ISISProject completed in 2008, intended for a system for metadatasupported collection and processing of business statistics. In accordancewith the Standard Cost Model, an internationally recognisedmethodology, we introduced temporal and, partially, financialmonitoring of the burdens on the reporting units included in statisticalsurveys. The findings of this monitoring will trigger further measures forreducing administrative burdens in statistical data collecting.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank all the institutions withwhich we are associated in order to provide cost‐efficient data collectionand, in particular, the following authorised producers of statisticalsurveys: the Agency of the Republic of Slovenia for Public Legal Recordsand Related Services, the Bank of Slovenia, the Institute of PublicHealth of the Republic of Slovenia, the Ministry of Finance, the Pensionand Invalidity Insurance Institute of the Republic of Slovenia, and theEmployment Service of the Republic of Slovenia; all individuals andenterprises that were included in individual statistical surveys; and themembers of the Statistical Council and Statistical Advisory Committeesfor their critical examination of our work.

We hope that this report proves helpful in the search for information onstatistical fields and, at the same time, also encourages you to become aregular visitor to our website www.stat.si. We wish Slovenian nationalstatistics to continue to be seen as trustworthy and user‐friendly.

Irena Križman, MSc Director‐General of SORS


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TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. DEMOGRAPHIC AND SOCIAL STATISTICS ......................................................................................... 7

1.1 POPULATION ............................................................................................................................................................... 7 1.2 LABOUR MARKET ....................................................................................................................................................... 10 1.3 EDUCATION AND TRAINING ...................................................................................................................................... 14 1.4 CULTURE.................................................................................................................................................................... 16 1.5 HEALTH AND CONSUMER PROTECTION ....................................................................................................................17 1.6 STANDARD OF LIVING and SOCIAL PROTECTION ..................................................................................................... 20 1.7 CRIME ......................................................................................................................................................................... 22 1.8 DISCRIMINATION ....................................................................................................................................................... 23 1.9 OTHER SOCIAL STATISTICS ....................................................................................................................................... 24

2. MACROECONOMIC STATISTICS ...................................................................................................... 25

2.1 NATIONAL ACCOUNTS .............................................................................................................................................. 25 2.2 PRICES........................................................................................................................................................................ 27 2.3 FOREIGN TRADE......................................................................................................................................................... 28 2.4 BALANCE OF PAYMENTS and other statistics on cross‐border economic relations ..................................................... 30 2.5 MONETARY AND FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS and MARKETS ..................................................................................... 31

3. BUSINESS STATISTICS ................................................................................................................... 32

3.1 Business SHORT‐TERM and ANNUAL Statistics........................................................................................................... 32 3.2 ENERGY and RAW MATERIALS................................................................................................................................... 35 3.3 TRANSPORT ............................................................................................................................................................... 36 3.4 TOURISM.....................................................................................................................................................................37 3.5 STATISTICAL BUSINESS REGISTER ............................................................................................................................ 38

4. AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND FISHERIES .................................................................................... 40

4.1 AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND FISHERIES............................................................................................................... 40

5. MULTI‐DOMAIN STATISTICS........................................................................................................... 45

5. 1 ENVIRONMENT and SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT................................................................................................. 45 5. 2 REGIONAL Statistics .................................................................................................................................................. 47 5. 3 SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY and INNOVATION .............................................................................................................. 48 5. 4 INFORMATION SOCIETY ........................................................................................................................................... 50 5. 5 BUSINESS TRENDS SURVEYS.................................................................................................................................... 51

6. STATISTICAL INFRASTRUCTURE .................................................................................................... 52

6.1 LEGAL FRAMEWORK FOR OPERATION ..................................................................................................................... 52 6.2 QUALITY .................................................................................................................................................................... 54 6.3 STATISTICAL PROCESSES.......................................................................................................................................... 56 6.4 REDUCTION OF ADMINISTRATIVE BARRIERS............................................................................................................ 59 6.5 CLASSIFICATIONS...................................................................................................................................................... 61 6.6 PROTECTION AND SECURITY OF DATA..................................................................................................................... 63 6.7 DISSEMINATION AND COMMUNICATION WITH USERS ............................................................................................64 6.8 INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION .............................................................................................................................. 72 6.9 ORGANISATION, HUMAN RESOURCES AND EDUCATION ........................................................................................ 75 6.10 FINANCIAL OPERATIONS......................................................................................................................................... 79


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1. DEMOGRAPHIC AND SOCIAL STATISTICS

1.1 POPULATION – population census, population statistics and migration and vital statistics and population projection

The Statistical Office has been carrying out intensive preparations for a population census to be carried out in 20111, which will be based entirely on data from administrative registers and existent statistical sources. Through supplementing the data of the Central Population Register (CRP) with the numbers of dwellings, the setting up of electronic records of households (e‐households) and the newly established Real Estate Register (RER), the basic conditions have been met for the Statistical Office to carry out the next census of population completely on a register basis, without collecting data in the field2. Such a method of implementation will be a significant contribution by national statistics to a reduction of administrative burdens and costs.

Data on international migration are also of exceptional importance, with an emphasis on international comparability and quality. In 2008, SORS started to prepare data in accordance with the new Regulation on Migration Statistics. On the basis of this regulation, in 2008 SORS created the methodology required to change the definition of population and to monitor migration statistics. The first data on the number and structure of the population as of 31 December 2008, complying with the new definition, will be published in the first half of 2009.

Eurostat population projections for Slovenia 2008–2060, published in June 2008, form the basis for calculation of public expenditure related to the ageing of the EU population and enable an insight into the scenario of future population development in individual EU Member States, taking into account social, economic and cultural differences, which are expected increasingly to disappear.

1.1.1 Preparations for a register‐based population census

Impact of newly adopted EU legislation

– adopted Regulation on censuses

In August 2008, Regulation (EC) no 763/2008 of the European Parliament andof the Council on population and housing censuses came into force. Thepopulation and housing censuses in 2011 were already included in theMedium‐term Programme of Statistical Surveys 2008–2012 (Uradni list RS(Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia), no. 119/2007).

The regulation is the first legally binding framework on the EU level forpopulation and housing data collection performed every ten years, which willprovide high‐quality data, comparable among the EU Member States. In thearea of statistics, SORS actively participated in the creation of the regulationand the implementing regulations, in particular during its EU CouncilPresidency.

The first reference year for carrying out the census under the new regulationwill be 2011.

Main activities in 2008

Below, we briefly present the preparation of SORS in 2008 to carry out thefirst register‐based population census in Slovenia:

• EU Project3 »Preparation for the 2010 population census«: SORS made

1 According to the international definition, a population census is an integral process of collecting, evaluating, analysing and disseminating demographic, economic, social and other data on population, families, households and housing units in the state and its lower territorial levels. The latest population census in Slovenia was performed in 2002 when SORS carried out this most extensive statistical survey as a traditional statistical survey, collecting data in the field. 2 More: Dolenc, D. (2008): Preparations of Statistical Council of the Republic of Slovenia to carry out the census of population, housing units and households in 2011, material for 28th session of the Statistical Council as of 28 November 2008, Statistical Office. Available only in Slovene at: http://www.stat.si/PrikaziDatotekoSvet.aspx?id=98 (26. 2. 2009). 3 Under the 2005 Multi‐beneficiary Transition Facility Programme on Statistical Integration.


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an analysis of advantages and disadvantages of register‐basedcensuses; recorded possible administrative and statistical datasources; examined and documented the contents of data sourcesand analysed their correspondence to the census contents defined inthe international recommendations for population and housingcensuses4, and also in the Regulation on population censusesreferred to above; and identified the census contents for which newstatistical monitoring methods should be developed, in particular inconnection with households and family statistics.

• Monitoring the demands of census data users: In relation to thecontents, previously collected through the traditional census on thebasis of a statement given by an individual and which cannot beprovided from another sources, SORS, in cooperation with the usersof those data, continued to seek possibilities of alternative datacollection. At an international statistical meeting in November 2008in Radenci, a special round table5 was held to discuss the eliminationof the problems related to those contents that can no longer becollected through a register‐based census. Agreements with users ofthose data will be continued in 2009.

1.1.2 Population statistics, migration statistics and vital statistics

Methodological innovations

– population statistics: preparation of methodological bases for data

collection in compliance with the new definition of population

Regulation on statistics on migration6 defined the usual residence and the keycategories of persons for monitoring the population statistics and migration,enabling national statistical offices to decide independently on the method ofdata collection. In 2008, SORS prepared a methodology to change thedefinition of population7

, to comply with the definitions in this regulation. In2008, after examining various methodological solutions and existing datasources, SORS decided to start collecting data on all the populationcategories in compliance with the new definition from the renewed CentralPopulation Register8, which has been integrated with its sources (Register ofDeaths, Births and Marriages, Register of Permanent Population, Register ofAliens) since 2007. Data on the number of population as of 31 December2008, complying with the new definition, will be published in the first half of2009.

►► According to the new definition of population – residents of Slovenia are those persons who (regardless of their citizenship) have registered their residence in Slovenia and who:

4 CES Recommendations for the 2010 Census of Population and Housing. Geneva, United Nations, 2006. Available at: http://www.unece.org/stats/publications/CES_2010_Census_Recommendations_English.pdf (10. 3. 2009). 5 See: Collecting, processing and dissemination of sensitive data of statistical surveys at 18th Statistical Days, Radenci 2008. Available at: http://www.statisticni‐dnevi.si/images/stories/Datoteke/Prispevki/om_popis.pdf (4. 2. 2009). 6 Regulation (EC) No 862/2007 of the European Parliament and of the Council on Community statistics on migration and international protection provides for effective implementation of migration policies and provision of uniform and quality statistical data at the EU level, i.e. for population statistics, international migration statistics, asylum and other forms of international protection among the EU Member States. 7 The basic characteristics of the new definition of the population are the following: (i) equal criteria for the citizens of the Republic of Slovenia and foreign nationals; (ii) to determine the usual residence, data on the registered, permanent or temporary residence shall be used; (iii) the same definition of the population that applies to the population at the level of Slovenia (state) also applies to the population at lower territorial levels. For more about the new definition of the population of Slovenia, see at: http://www.stat.si/eng/novica_prikazi.aspx?id=1608 (29. 1. 2009). 8 See Registers of Internal Administrative Affairs as a population statistics data source. Available only in Slovene at: http://www.statisticni‐dnevi.si/images/stories/Datoteke/Prispevki/trnovsek_pp.pdf ( 4. 2. 2009).


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• actually live in Slovenia, at least for one year (i.e. one year or more),

• intend to live in Slovenia for at least one year,

• on the date of monitoring, temporarily reside or intend temporary to reside outside Slovenia, but only if they live or will live outside Slovenia for less than one year.

– migration statistics: preparation of

methodology for monitoring migration statistics according the

new regulation

Simultaneously with preparation of a methodology to change the currentdefinition of population, in accordance with the regulation, preparation of achanged methodology for monitoring the migration statistics was alsoundertaken. Preparation of this methodology coincided with the change ofsource and thus with data collection8. The Central Population Register,namely, is integrated with its sources, whereby one of the sources is theRegister of Foreigners.

SORS will publish the migration data, collected according to the new methodology(for the reference year 2008) no later than September 2009 and submit them toEurostat by the end of 2009.

– vital statistics: use of data on registration of same‐sex partnerships

in the vital statistics

In 2008, SORS, for the first time, obtained data on registration of same‐sexpartnerships; they will be published in August 2009 (for the reference year2008) simultaneously with data on marriages and divorces.

Development of statistical infrastructure

– finalized project of electronic capture of the renewed Central

Population Register

In 2008, SORS successfully finalized the project of electronic obtainment ofdata from the renewed Central Population Register and records ofhouseholds. Until that year, SORS had obtained data and files from thecentral computer of the Ministry of Public Administration and which wereprepared for SORS at the Ministry of the Interior on the basis of processing ofthe Central Population Register and the Register of Foreigners.

Modern data collection from these administrative records marked significantprogress for SORS in the provision of data on population and their events andon households and their members, in particular in relation to timely andsecure data capture, related to the status of persons and their events. Thenew method of data obtainment will enable finalization of renewal of thedemographic survey within the demographic basis.

– establishment of demographic base for effective upgrading of statistical data processing of the demographic

survey

At the end of 2008, SORS prepared a proposal of a content structure of ademographic base, through which the renewal of infrastructure for carryingout demographic and other social surveys will be concluded, for updating thedatabases with demographic contents and for the needs of sampling.Establishment of a base and/or databases of persons, their status, residence,social and economic characteristics and their events will provide furtherdevelopment of a statistical register of persons. SORS plans to start usingthis base in the second half of 2010.

1.1.3 Population projections

New statistical data and services

– Eurostat population projections for Slovenia 2008–2060, EUROPOP

2008, convergence scenario

At the end of March 2008, Eurostat in accordance with the convergence scenario(EUROPOP 20089) prepared population projections (by sex) for the EU MemberStates, Norway and Switzerland, for the 2008–2060 period. Projections preparedon the proposal of ECOFIN10, form the basis for calculation of public expenditurerelated to the ageing of the EU population and enable an insight into the scenarioof future population development in individual EU Member States, taking intoaccount social, economic and cultural differences between EU Member States,

9 In EUROPOP 2008, a medium version of population development has been taken into consideration. 10 ECOFIN – Economic and Financial Affairs Council within the EU Council, composed of finance ministers from the EU Member States.


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which are expected increasingly to disappear.

Similar to other EU Member States, Slovenia cooperated with Eurostat inpreparing values of hypotheses of the birth rate, death rate and migration;the proposal of these was prepared by the Working Group for PopulationProjections within SORS.

In June 200811 SURS published the EUROPOP 2008 results (the basic/mediumversion) on its website and in the SI‐STAT database. On the proposal of datausers, SORS has also been preparing low and high versions of EUROPOP2008projections for publication, which SORS will also do on a regular basis in thefuture.

NEW Statistical Legislation: Regulation (EC) No 763/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 July 2008 on population and housing censuses.

1. 2 LABOUR MARKET – persons in employment, earnings and labour costs and Statistical Register of Employment (SRDAP)

In 2008, the Statistical Office, through the Labour Force Survey, carried out an ad hoc module “the labour market situation of migrants and their immediate descendants in Slovenia”. The results will be available to users in the first half of 2009. For data calculation on hours actually worked, SORS created an integral system through available sources for 2005. The calculation is based on the component method. Publication of quarterly data for 2005, 2006 in 2007, which are still under testing, is planned for April 2009.

In 2008, provisional data of the 2006 Structure of Earnings Survey (the survey is carried out every four years) became available to users. Internationally comparable data provide an insight into the earnings level and composition in terms of the demographic characteristics of person in paid employment and business entities. Preparations are taking place for carrying out the Labour Costs Survey for 2008 – it will be performed in 2009 in cooperation with AJPES, which will collect data via an electronic questionnaire and thus significantly relieve the burden on reporting units.

1.2.1 Employed population Impact of new EU legislation

in 2008 – Job Vacancy Statistics: two

implementing regulations adopted

In addition to Regulation (EC) No 453/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 April 2008 on quarterly statistics on Community job vacancies two implementing regulations were adopted, which bindSlovenia to carry out monitoring and reporting of data on job vacancies inaccordance with the laid down methodology. The first implementingRegulation (1062/2008) defines seasonal adjustment procedures12 andquality reports, and the second (19/2009) the definition of a job vacancy,the reference dates for data collection and the deadlines for datatransmission.

– Labour Force Survey : a new regulation, laying down mandatory reporting of the variable “Pay from

main job”

The Labour Force Survey Questionnaire for 2009 takes into considerationthe guidelines and recommendations of Eurostat as laid down in the newlyadopted Commission Regulation (EC) No 377/2008, under which optionalreporting of variable “pay from main job” was changed into mandatoryreporting. For 2009, SORS plans to link the Labour Force Survey data withthe Register of Taxable Persons, through which data for this variable can beobtained.

11 See Eurostat’s Population Projections for Slovenia, 2008–2060, EUROPOP2008, convergence scenario, 13 June 2008, First Release. Available at: http://www.stat.si/eng/novica_prikazi.aspx?id=1683 (4. 2. 2009). 12 Note: seasonal adjustment is a procedure whereby seasonal impacts are eliminated from the time series.


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– Entry of young people into the labour market: new regulation on carrying out the ad hoc module in the Labour Force

Survey

On the basis of Commission Regulation (EC) No 207/2008, SORS will carry outan ad hoc module on the entry of young people into the labour market.

In accordance with the collected data, SORS will analyse the position ofyoung people who left schooling early; it will examine the impact ofvocational education, various pathways from education to the labourmarket, the employability of the young, unemployment, non‐permanentfirst‐time job, labour market policy, etc. The results are planned to bepublished in the first half of 2010.

Methodological innovations – procedure for calculating hours

actually worked

SORS has not completely harmonised the data on hours actually workedwith the regulation concerning short‐term statistics. Since 2006, it has beendeveloping a method for evaluation of these data from existing datasources. In 2008, an integral system for calculation of these data wascreated for the available sources for 2005.

The calculation is based on the component method – it was made for 2005,2006 and 2007 – and publication was planned for March 2009. The systemfor continuous quarterly calculation of hours actually worked has beenupgraded since 2008 and will be harmonised with the classification ofactivities 2008 (Nace Rev 2). For calculations prior to 2005, activities arefocused on searching the available sources.

– monitoring strike statistics In compliance with the Labour and Social Security Registers Act13 (Uradni listRS (Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia, No 40/2006) an employer,in whose premises a strike or labour dispute by arbitration has taken place,must submit data on prescribed SORS forms, within seven working daysafter the strike or labour dispute by arbitration has ended. This wascollected for the first time, for 2008, namely for the two waves of strikes inMarch and May 2008.

Although in accordance with the Act, employers in whose premises a strikeor a labour dispute by arbitration has taken place, are legally bound toreport, their response was low in spite of the fact that there were two wavesof strikes in the monitoring year 2008. SORS endeavoured to improve thesituation through cooperation with the Ministry of Labour, Family andSocial Affairs, the Association of Employers of Slovenia and Trade Unions.The Ministry of Labour, Family and Social Affairs proposed that, in thefuture, on strikes or labour disputes by arbitration taking place atemployers, the Ministry via a press release will remind employers of theirlegal obligation to report data on strikes or labour disputes to SORS.

Innovations in statistical data publication

– publication of data on aliens in the labour market, 2008 ad hoc module

In the first half of 2009, SORS will publish data on aliens in the labourmarket, collected according to the Labour Force Survey 2008 ad hocmodule. Commission Regulation (EC) No 102/2007 defined in detail the adhoc module on the labour market situation of migrants and their immediatedescendants.

– monthly monitoring of the labour force

In 2008, the monthly tables of the labour force data were adjusted andupdated and published in Rapid Reports14. SORS plans to publish thesedata in the SI‐STAT database.

– data on labour migration The SI‐STAT database was updated with the 2007 data series on labourmigrations and the revised methodological clarifications of this area15.

13 Labour and Social Security Registers Act (Uradni list RS (Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia), No 40/2006). 14 See Rapid Reports for the Labour Market. Available at: http://www.stat.si/eng/pub_statinf1.asp?podrocje=7 (27. 2. 2009). 15 See Labour Migrations, Slovenia, 2007 – provisional data, 18 September 2008, First Release. Available at: http://www.stat.si/eng/novica_prikazi.aspx?id=1872 (27. 2. 2009).


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1.2.2 Wages and labour costs


– change of data source for survey of wages paid by registered natural

persons

In 2008, SORS stopped collecting monthly data on wages paid byregistered natural persons through sample survey and started to collectdata from the Tax Administration of the Republic of Slovenia, i.e. from the“Report on data from payrolls for employees of private economic entities,required for the calculation as well as verification of the correctness of thededucted tax return”.

Following the introduction of the Rules on the contents and form for calculating tax deductions and on the method of presentation of forms to the tax authority16 natural persons17 performing an activity are also liable toreport to the Tax Administration of the Republic of Slovenia on a formentitled »Calculation of deducted tax from income from employment«(REK‐1 form).

At the end of 2008, the Tax Administration of the Republic of Sloveniaand SORS agreed on further cooperation (on the provision of data for themissing months, preparation and signing an Annex to the currentAgreement on Data Exchange). Since Tax Administration of the Republic ofSlovenia data do not include the number of hours paid, in the future SORSwill only be able to monitor data on persons, i.e. paid average monthlywages of employed persons with registered natural persons.

In 2009, data for 2008 and onwards will start to be published quarterly.

– data source change for annual structural Structure of earnings

statistics

Within the annual Structure of earnings statistics, SORS examinedpossibilities of using administrative sources to rank employed persons bygross and net wages.

The analysis results showed a high level of comparability with the data ofthe annual survey entitled Persons in paid employment by amount of grossearnings (ZAP‐STRU/L). SORS therefore decided to abandon the annualsurveys, since the use of administrative sources would significantly reducethe administrative burdens on and costs to the reporting units and theexpenses of the Office would also be reduced.

In view of the anticipated abolition of control data for personal income tax,in 2009 SORS will examine the possibility of using a new source – the TaxAdministration of the Republic of Slovenia (individual REK forms) – while itwill continue to strive to improve methodology and data quality.

– introduction of classification of activities 2008 (Nace Rev. 2) with

wages paid by legal entities and labour cost index

Within the framework of research into wages paid by legal entities,activities for adopting a classification of activities 2008 (Nace Rev. 2) werecontinued. Data under classification of activities 2008 (Nace Rev. 2) will bepublished in March 2009, i.e. data as of January. A recalculation of timeseries data back to 2000 will also be prepared.

In connection with the labour cost index, procedures for their calculationaccording to the classification of activities 2008 (Nace Rev. 2) will becontinued in 2009, simultaneously with the preparation of procedures forrecalculation of data back to 2000.

Statistical methodology development

– development of procedures for

In accordance with the Inter‐institutional Cooperation Agreement (2007),AJPES sends SORS on a monthly basis the data on pay for annual leave onan individual level. In 2008, SORS started to develop procedures for

16 Rules published in the Uradni list RS (Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia), No 37/08, adopted on the basis of the Personal Income Tax Act – Zdoh‐2 (Uradni list RS, No 117/06 and No 10/08) and the Tax Procedure Act (Uradni list RS No 117/06). 17 Prior to the mentioned, only legal entities reported data via REK‐forms.


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processing data on pay for annual leave

preparing the processing of this data and to examine the possibilities ofincluding this data in existing procedures (labour cost index). Thispreparation will be continued in 2009.

Inter‐institutional cooperation to rationalize statistical surveys

– preparation for carrying out the 2008 Labour Costs Survey

We accelerated preparations for carrying out the 2008 Labour CostsSurvey to be performed in 2009 in cooperation with AJPES; the latter willcollect data via an electronic questionnaire. Signing an agreement and atechnical protocol in this connection is planned for the beginning of theyear and the survey will be carried out in June 2009. Statistical processing ofdata will be performed by SORS, which is planning to publish the firstprovisional data in June 2010.

Care for quality

– efforts to improve the quality of the labour cost index

In order to improve the quality of the labour cost index, SORS attended aspecial Eurostat workshop dedicated to discussion on the stability of indicesby activities. The conclusion of the workshop was that more attentionshould be paid in the future to comparison made with comparableindicators from other areas, in particular with national accounts.

New statistical data and services – release of 2006 Structure of Earnings

Survey data

SORS released provisional data on the 2006 Structure of Earnings Surveyin June 200818. In accordance with the regulation19 a quality report wasprepared for Eurostat in December 2008. Elaboration and publication ofRapid Reports and publication of the standard quality report on the SORSwebsite is planned in 200920.

– monthly data on wages paid by legal persons whereby the possibility of

SORS publishing all data was examined

In 2008, the possibility was examined of publishing all data collectedthrough Monthly report on earnings paid by legal persons (Obrazec 1‐ZAP/M form), in particular, those collected by AJPES according to itsmethodology – for example, persons employed, calculated from the hoursworked. An analysis showed that such a method would cause a break in thetime series, whereby SORS should also statistically process those data. In2009, therefore, it will continue activities required for publishing all datafrom the questionnaire Obrazec 1‐ZAP/M.

– work incentive indicators, cooperation with the OECD

In 2008, SORS, as the national coordinator, prepared a document entitled»Tax – Benefit System in Slovenia« for 2007, on the basis of which theOECD prepares work incentive indicators. In accordance with the OECDmethodology, SORS prepared its own calculation of certain work incentiveindicators and published them in May 2008. In 2007 the tax burden was 0.3 percentage points lower than in 2006. Reduction in the tax burden of labour costs resulted primarily from lower rates of payroll tax 21.

1.2.3 Statistical Register of Employment (SRDAP)

Development of statistical infrastructure

– SRDAP – source of data for several statistical surveys

The Statistical Register of Employment (SRDAP), with its data onemployment characteristics of persons in employment, is one of the datasources for several statistical surveys: namely, the Survey on Income andLiving Conditions (SILC), Structure of Earnings Survey (SES), MonthlyLabour Force Statistics, Statistics on Job Vacancies and the PopulationCensus. The aforementioned Register has been updated regularly, on a

18 See Earnings (by Structure of earnings survey) Slovenia, 2006 – provisional data, 30 June 2008, First Release. Available at: http://www.stat.si/eng/novica_prikazi.aspx?id=1727 (27. 02. 2009). 19 Commission Regulation (EC) No 698/2006 of 5 May 2006 implementing Council Regulation (EC) No 530/1999 as regards quality evaluation of structural statistics on labour costs and earnings. 20 See: Standard Quality Reports. Available only in Slovene at: http://www.stat.si/eng/metodologija_porocila‐standardna.asp (27. 02. 2009). 21 See Work Incentive Indicators, Slovenia, 2007 – provisional data, 14 May 2008, First Release. Available at: http://www.stat.si/eng/novica_prikazi.aspx?id=1623 (27. 02. 2009).


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monthly basis, with data from M Forms (registering for mandatory socialinsurances, deregistering and changes in these insurances).

– transfer of processing data from the IBM central server to the SORS local

environment

In 2008, SORS provided users on a regular basis with monthly data onprocedures which are still performed on the IBM server managed by theMinistry of Public Administration. Some years ago, SORS started atechnical renovation project, the Statistical Register of Employment(SRDAP); this task will be carried out by regular SORS employees and aftera short pause, the work was accelerated in 2008. Data and the necessaryprocessing will be transferred to the SORS local environment. In order tocarry this out, the following tools will be used: Oracle, .NET, SAS. Theproject work will continue in 2009, when gradual transfer and operability ofthe basic functions of the Register are anticipated.

NEW Statistical Legislation: (i) Commission Regulation (EC) No 377/2008 of 25 April 2008 implementing Council Regulation (EC) No 577/98 on the organisation of a labour force sample survey in the Community as regards the codification to be used for data transmission from 2009 onwards, the use of a sub‐sample for the collection of data on structural variables and the definition of the reference quarters; (ii) Regulation (EC) No 453/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 April 2008 on quarterly statistics on Community job vacancies and the implementing regulations: Commission Regulation (EC) No 1062/2008 of 28 October 2008 implementing Regulation (EC) No 453/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council on quarterly statistics on Community job vacancies, as regards seasonal adjustment procedures and quality reports and Commission Regulation (EC) No 19/2009 of 13 January 2009 implementing Regulation (EC) No 453/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council on quarterly statistics on Community job vacancies, as regards the definition of a job vacancy, the reference dates for data collection, data transmission specifications and feasibility studies; (iii) Commission Regulation (EC) No 207/2008 of 5 March 2008 adopting the specifications of the 2009 ad hoc module on the entry of young people into the labour market provided for by Council Regulation (EC) No 577/98 .

1.3 EDUCATION AND TRAINING

The EU Regulation on education and lifelong learning adopted in 2008 will provide significant support in harmonizing the collection and reporting those data at the EU level. In the first half of 2009, the Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia will publish data from the internationally harmonized Adult Education Survey, which will be carried out every five years from 2007.

Within the framework of rationalization of education data in 2008, preparations for establishing a uniform scholarship system and a renewal of the statistical survey of scholarships and grants provided to upper‐secondary and tertiary students for 2008 were most important; SORS has been cooperating in this with AJPES and the Ministry of Labour, Family and Social Affairs. It was also important that cooperation began between SORS and the Ministry of Higher Education in establishing uniform records on participants, graduates and human resources in the higher education area. , Reporting data has been facilitated for educational institutions in Slovenia since questionnaires for graduates have been aligned to the contents of existing records on educational institutions.

In introducing the KLASIUS system in statistical surveys, SORS is independent only in statistical surveys regarding persons and households, carried out on the basis of surveys. In other areas, SORS depends on preliminary introduction of the KLASIUS system in various official and administrative records, which are direct or indirect sources of data for education statistics (for data on graduates and persons included in education).

Impact of adopted EU legislation in 2008

– adopted regulation on education and training and preparation of

implementing acts

In February 2008, Regulation (EC) No 452/2008 on education and lifelong learning was adopted, providing a legal basis for the future collecting and reporting of data on the UOE‐questionnaire22 and via the Adult Education Survey.

In 2008, SORS, together with other EU Member States, participated indrafting the implementing act, specifying in detail the liabilities of EUMember States regarding reporting of data on the UOE‐questionnaire. Thestart of preparation for drafting the implementing act for the AdultEducation Survey is planned for 2009.

22 UOE is a joint questionnaire of three international organizations – UNESCO, OECD and Eurostat.


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Rationalisation of statistical data collection

– revised questionnaires for graduates

Questionnaires for graduates (graduates and postgraduates) were unifiedand integrated into a joint questionnaire in 2008 and, at the same time,they were aligned to the contents of the existing records on educationalinstitutions. This will significantly simplify e‐reporting by institutions.

– preparations for establishing central records of participants in education

On the basis of successful co‐operation with the Ministry of Education andSport and the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology SORSobtains administrative data on educational institutions.

A considerable rationalisation in education data monitoring will be ensuredby the planned establishment of central records of participants ineducation, which is also one of the government measures for eliminatingadministrative barriers in 2008 and 2009. After the contents of the recordshave been defined and regulation of legal bases completed, SORS will alsocooperate with the Ministry of Education and Sport and the Ministry ofHigher Education, Science and Technology. To that aim, in 2008 SORSstarted to form statistical standards that will be taken into consideration inpreparing the contents of records and other codifications/classifications,required for quality national statistical data and/or international datareporting.

At the end of 2008, the Ministry of Higher Education, Science andTechnology started preparations for unifying higher education records onstudents and graduates, as well as on persons employed in highereducation and invited SORS to participate in the preparations.

– preparations to establish a uniform scholarship and grant system and

renewal of the statistical survey on scholarships and grants to students in

2008

The Scholarship Act23, which entered into force on 1 September 2008,brought significant innovations into the scholarship and grant system inSlovenia, also including innovations in record keeping and data media. Inorder effectively to operate and monitor the planned policy in thescholarship and grant area and to comply with the adopted Programme ofMeasures to Reduce Administrative Burdens in 2007‐2009, a uniformscholarship and grant system should be established at a national level.

In 2008, AJPES and SORS, in cooperation with the Ministry of Labour,Family and Social Affairs24 and the Ministry of Public Administrationendeavoured to establish a uniform scholarship and grant system,covering all types of scholarships and grants and their recipients as well asall types of business entities and scholarship and grant providers.

In this connection, SORS renewed the data contents and structure of thestatistical survey of scholarships provided to students for 2008 in orderto adjust to various data sources. SORS will cooperate with AJPES incollecting data via a website questionnaire from scholarship recipients whoare not included in the information system of scholarship of the Ministry ofLabour, Family and Social Affairs, i.e. scholarship recipients, who receivenon‐cofinanced company scholarships. In 2009, SORS produced aquestionnaire, codifications and instructions for a survey to be carried outin February 2009.

Methodological innovations Within the framework of education and training statistics, in 2008emphasis was placed on activities connected with the introduction of the

23 Scholarship Act (Uradni list RS (Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia), Nos 59/07 and 63/07) 24 In accordance with the Scholarship Act (Zštip), the Ministry of Labour, Family and Social Affairs is responsible for uniform records keeping and/or establishment of an information system of scholarships and grants provision regarding certain types of scholarships and grants – Zois scholarships and co‐financed company scholarships. SORS cooperated with the Ministry in the formation of data contents (contents, code tables/classifications) and the mode and time limits for obtaining data from the information system on scholarships and grants provision.


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– introduction of classification KLASIUS system25 statistical surveys and Statistical Register ofEmployment (SRDAP).

New statistical data and services – international adult education survey

For the first time, SORS carried out an International Adult Education Survey,which was concluded in 2008. Survey data were published in April 200926.The next Survey, harmonised at the EU level, will be carried out in 2011.

– education and training of children with special needs, participation in an OECD

project

For the OECD, SORS, in cooperation with the Ministry of Education andSport, prepared data and metadata on education and training of childrenwith special needs and submitted them on a special questionnaire.

– education systems indicators (INES), participation in an OECD project

In addition to its regular data reporting, in 2008 SORS also transmittedoccasional questionnaire data intended for clarifications and/or furtherbreakdown of the existing indicators of educational systems. SORS, incooperation with Ministry of Education and Sport, checked the indicatorsfor Slovenia, calculated on the basis of the transmitted data, which wereafterwards published in the OECD publication Education at a Glance 200827.

NEW Statistical Legislation: (ii) Regulation (EC) No 452/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 April 2008 concerning the production and development of statistics on education and lifelong learning.

1.4 CULTURE

According to the culture statistics, majority of 2008 activities was focuses on improvement of availability and quality of data sources, which means also development of line statistics and/or upgrading of individual records that might be also interesting to the official statistics.

Impact of the need for data on the development of culture statistics at

the EU level

– integration with the EU culture programme and participation in the

ESSnet project

The EU Culture programme adopted in 200728 states the development ofstatistics and methodology of culture as the main goals in order to improveinternational comparability at the EU level.

In future years, development within the Eurostat framework (incooperation with OECD and UNESCO) will be carried out within the EUproject entitled Culture Statistics. The methodology/definitions of theexisting statistics will thus be improved and proposals for the possibleadditional collection of required but not yet available data will be prepared.SORS and the Ministry of Culture will participate in the project, inparticular by providing the available data and metadata and activitiesrelated to the development of the methodology for monitoringparticipation in culture activities, as well as the financing of culture. Theproject is planned to be concluded at the end of 2010.

Improvement in the availability and quality of data on cultural activities in

Slovenia

In order further to obtain quality data from various administrative recordskept on cultural activities in Slovenia, regulation of the legal basis andstrengthening of staff and financing of “intermediary” organizations

25 In accordance with the Decree on the introduction and use of the education and training classification system (Uradni list RS (Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia), No 46/06) and the adopted action plan for the introduction of the KLASIUS system in statistical surveys and administrative records. 26 See Adult Education Survey, Slovenia, 2007, 24 April 2009, First Release. Available at: http://www.stat.si/eng/novica_prikazi.aspx?id=2286 (08. 05. 2009). 27 More information on the OECD publication are available in Education at a Glance. Available at: http://www.oecd.org/document/30/0,3343,en_2649_39263238_39251550_1_1_1_1,00.html (30. 1. 2009). 28 Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the EuropeanEconomic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions on a European Agenda for Culture in a Globalizing World (COM(2007) 242 final).


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relevant for the collection of statistical data is needed. Cooperation isrequired between SORS and the Ministry of Culture in the preparation ofquestions and solution proposals regarding the development of linerecords as grounds to presentation of the mentioned issues as well as anagreement on possible measures with the Ministry of PublicAdministration.

Data on participation of the population in cultural activities will becollected through the Adult Education Survey, carried out in 2007. Thedata, which will also be comparable at the EU level, will contribute toimproving the quality and availability of data on culture in Slovenia. Inaddition, data from other internationally integrated surveys carried out bySORS will be significant: data from the Labour Force Survey and StatisticalRegister of Employment in Cultural Activities and Cultural Professions, theHousehold Expenditures on Culture Survey, data from surveys of thosetaking part in education/graduates regarding culture, the Time Use Survey(regarding free time spent on cultural activities), etc.

– successful inter‐institutional cooperation in the development of

records

In 2008, SORS obtained additional data on film production and distributionfrom the Film Fund of the Republic of Slovenia, which considerablydisburdened the questionnaire. Cooperation with the Ministry of Cultureand the Republic of Slovenia Public Fund for Cultural Activities is alsoimportant, which focused in 2009 on a continuation of harmonisation ofthe contents and structure of records with the statistical survey on culture.

– revised methodological instructions for providers of cultural activities

In order to improve the quality of data collected in individual surveys,SORS prepared detailed methodological instructions for providers ofdifferent cultural activities.

New statistical data and services There are innovations in the publication of statistical data on culture for2008/2009 in:

• survey carried out by area of cultural activity29: data were publishedin accordance with the renewed questionnaires on the activities ofproviders of cultural activities for 2007.

• publication of basic data on culture 2004–2007: In the first half of2009, Statistical information was published, containing basic databy area of cultural activities for the 2004–2007 period 30 .

1.5 HEALTH AND CONSUMER PROTECTION

At the end of 2008, an EU Regulation on public health and health and safety at work was adopted, laying down a common framework for statistical preparation of the Community's statistical data in this area. The regulation will be a great help in harmonizing the collection of these data and their reporting at the EU level. SORS and the Institute of Public Health of the Republic of Slovenia actively participated in its formation by formulating views and providing a suitable translation of the regulation into the Slovene language.

Impact of the new EU legislation in 2008

– EU Regulation on public health and

In November 2008, Regulation (EC) No 1338/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council on Community statistics on public health andhealth and safety at work, providing a legal basis for future collecting and

29 Detailed data on cultural statistics are available at SI‐STAT database: http://www.stat.si/pxweb/Database/Demographics/Demographics.asp (30. 1. 2009). 30 See Rapid Reports: General overview of data on culture, Slovenia, 2004–2007. Available at: http://www.stat.si/eng/pub_statinf1.asp?podrocje=10 (15. 5. 2009).


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health and safety at work

reporting of data on health status and health determinants, health care,causes of death, accidents at work and occupational illnesses and otherwork‐related health problems and illnesses. In cooperation with other EUMember States, in 2009 SORS will prepare an implementing act in detaildefining the liabilities of the EU Member States regarding collecting andreporting data in accordance with the regulation. SORS and Institute ofPublic Health of the Republic of Slovenia will cooperate in drafting theimplementing act and, when necessary, also consult other relevantinstitutions and services and inform the members of the Statistical HealthAdvisory Committee on development.


– health indicators and health care development

Within the framework of the European Statistical System, the Institute ofPublic Health of the Republic of Slovenia participated in the developmentof indicators of health and health care in 2008. It examined the availabilityand possibility of data provision for the calculation of indicators.

– development of the European health survey system and creation of health

modules

In 2008, within the European Statistical System, the Institute of PublicHealth of the Republic of Slovenia participated in working and technicalgroups by preparing many opinions and views on the development of theEuropean health survey system and on the creation of health modules,forming a part of other surveys (for example, in relation to the EuropeanDisability & Social Integration Module (EDSIM), on carrying out Healthexamination survey and on the "Budapest initiative").

– development of the national health accounts

Development and preparation of the national health accounts for Sloveniacontinued in 2008. SORS cooperated in this with the Institute of PublicHealth of the Republic of Slovenia and the Health Insurance Institute ofSlovenia. At the international level, in 2008 efforts were focused primarilyon the revision of methodology of a system of health accounts (SHA),carried out under OECD‐Eurostat‐WHO. The revision work will continue in2009. An integral part of the revised version will be detailedmethodological recommendations for invoices of medical examinationexpenditures, depending on the patient's characteristics, for example sexand age and in accordance with the MKB‐10 chapters and related healthproblems for statistical purposes. In 2008, SORS, in cooperation with theInstitute of Public Health of the Republic of Slovenia, joined an OECDproject31, in which, together with another five states, it tested thefeasibility of implementation. This work included data analysis forestimating health treatment expenditures by a patient's characteristic andby disease, covering the majority of healthcare activities. Experiencegained from the project will form the basis for drafting the revised SHAmethodology.

– regulation of monitoring occupational diseases in Slovenia

In order to monitor and plan healthcare for workers and to keep up to datewith the regulation laying down mandatory reporting on occupationaldiseases under the European Statistical System, in 2008, a special workinggroup was formed within the Ministry of Health, coordinated by theInstitute of Public Health of the Republic of Slovenia and with SORS alsoparticipating in the group.

The group has been preparing a methodology for statistical survey ofoccupational diseases, which will enable harmonization with the EODS

31 Draft Guidelines for Estimating Expenditure by Disease, Age and Gender under the System of Health Accounts (SHA) Framework. 32 EODS – European Occupational Diseases Statistics. 33 Eurostat grants for 2008 – Theme 35 – Consolidation of methodologies for collection of the data on accidents at work and occupational diseases.


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methodology32. In 2008, the situation and legislation in Slovenia wereanalysed and methodological instructions, classification and many otherEU documents were translated. An implementation project has beencarried out under a grant33.


– morbidity data provision By inventorying the existing databases that could be a future source ofdata on morbidity to be used for an international comparison, in 2008 theInstitute of Public Health of the Republic of Slovenia successfullycompleted an EU project entitled »Morbidity statistics34« within theframework of a grant35. Available data, including the quality assessment,were communicated to Eurostat.

Care for quality

– improvement of data on causes of death

In 2008, the Institute of Public Health of the Republic of Slovenia continuedits measures for improving the quality of data on causes of death andestablished a system for on‐going, systematic monitoring of quality incoding these causes. The project of electronic data capture will becontinued in 2009 with inter‐ministry harmonisation and preparation ofconditions for its implementation.

– improvement of data on accidents at work

In 2008, the Institute of Public Health of the Republic of Slovenia continuedto collect data on accidents at work in accordance with the ESAWmethodology36. To improve the quality of these data, some deficienciescaused by the introduction of the implementation project in 2007, wereeliminated in this year In 2008, data reporters were provided with variousinformation on changes in recording data on accidents at work.

– introduction of a uniform data processing method for all databases

In 2008, the Institute of Public Health of the Republic of Slovenia upgradeddata processing in accordance with personal data protection requirementsand, in relation to data provision, continued to introduce a uniform dataprocessing method for all databases. This resulted in increased efficiencyof the operation, improved data quality and improved response to theneeds of users. The more complete and timely publication of statisticalsurvey results on the websites decreased the number of special requestsfor data by various users.

Improvement of availability and quality of safe food data in Europe

‐ inter‐institutional cooperation with the Slovenian Health Inspectorate

In the area of Food Safety in 2008, SORS, in cooperation with theSlovenian Health Inspectorate submitted information to Eurostat forimprovement of data comparability in the newly produced websitedatabase on official monitoring (»Controls and monitoring activities«).

New statistical data and services – publication of data on national health

accounts for 2006 and the revised ones for the 2003‐2005 period

In 2008, activities relating to the national health accounts were focused, inparticular, on the production of national health accounts for 2006 and onrevision for the 2003–2005 period 37.

– a new publication entitled Health and Health Care in Slovenia

In 2008, SORS and the Institute of Public Health of the Republic ofSlovenia prepared a joint publication entitled Health and Health Care inSlovenia, which, in addition to some findings from the Health and HealthCare Survey 2007 includes a brief overview of some basic, internationallycomparable indicators of health and health care in the EU. The publicationwas released at the end of March 2009 and was published on the websites

34 Morbidity statistics. 35 Transition Facility Multi‐Beneficiary Programme for Statistical Integration in 2005. 36 ESAW – European Statistics on Accidents at Work. 37 See Health expenditures and sources of funding, Slovenia, 2003–2006, 23 October 2008, First Release. Available at: http://www.stat.si/eng/novica_prikazi.aspx?id=1955 (3. 3. 2009).


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of the two above mentioned institutions38.

– publication of data from the Health and Health Care Survey (EHIS)

In accordance with the plan and recommendations of parallel projects, in2008 the Health and Health Care Survey (EHIS39) was concluded on asurvey sample of 3400 people. Data and reports on conducting the surveywere submitted to Eurostat while the final variant of the microdata will beprepared in the first half of 2009. First analyses of the collected data werereleased to the public at the end of 200840.

NEW Legislation: Regulation (EC) No 1338/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2008 on Community statistics on public health and health and safety at work

1.6 LEVEL OF LIVING and SOCIAL PROTECTION

In 2008, statistical work on the level of living was focused on the preparation and carrying out of the third Living Conditions Survey and on publication of the survey results for 2007. The Survey on Income and Living Conditions (SILC) is also foreseen as a priority in the Medium‐term Programme of Statistical Surveys 2008–2012; enabling SORS to work towards the integration of survey and administrative sources since, in carrying out the SILC, we use all available administrative sources.

Data from social protection surveys according to the ESSPROS methodology and pilot projects on net expenditure of social protection are based entirely on administrative data sources. At the Statistical Days 2008, the ESSPROS methodology and the results concerned were presented in detail within the framework of the Social Protection System in Slovenia from 1996 to 2006.

1.6.1 LEVEL OF LIVING – household consumption, income, poverty and social inclusion


– publication of provisional SILC data for 2007 and final data for 2006

indicators of income and poverty 2005‐2007

In 2008, an annual Survey on Income and Living Conditions (SILC) wascarried out for third time in a row. Data collected through the survey,supplemented with data from registers and administrative sources, formthe basis for calculation of indicators of social cohesion and a source ofdata on living conditions of the population.

In 2008, SURS increased the supply of results originating from the SILC,and published them in the SI‐STAT database. In addition to the series ofdata on social cohesion indicators, since 2005–2007 data explaining theliving conditions of the population of Slovenia have also become availableto users41. At the end of 2008, the social cohesion indicators for 200742

were published, together with the results of an ad hoc module on housingconditions and availability of services; SORS immediately started topublish data for the same reference years as Eurostat.

38 See Health and Health Care in Slovenia, 31 March 2009, special publication. Available at: http://www.stat.si/doc/pub/IVZ‐angl.pdf (16. 04. 2009). 39 EHIS – European Health Interview Survey. 40 First analysis of data collected through the 2007 Health Interview Survey is available at: http://www.ivz.si/index.php?akcija=novica&n=1662 (3. 3. 2009). 41 The already released data have been completed with a detailed breakdown of data and two new indicators have been published, calculated on the basis of the SILC statistical survey, namely the indicator "replacement ratio" and the indicator "median income ratio". See Income and Poverty Indicators (SILC), Slovenia, 2005 – provisional data, 30 December 2008, E‐Release. Available at: http://www.stat.si/eng/novica_prikazi.aspx?id=2100 (14. 02. 2009). 42 See Survey on Living Conditions, Slovenia, 2007 – provisional data, 19. December, First Release. Available at: http://www.stat.si/eng/novica_prikazi.aspx?id=2077 (14. 02. 2009).


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According to provisional data from the survey for 2007, there were 6% of households not able to afford a passenger car, 13% of households not able to afford a meat meal every second day and 32% of households not able to afford a one‐week holiday .43

– regular First Releases of Consumer Opinion Surveys

On the initiative of monthly Consumer Opinion Survey data users, SORS in2008 expanded the scope of data in the SI‐STAT database and started topublish monthly results of surveys also in the form of a First Release.

►►Perception of inflation according to the Consumer Opinion Survey

A comparison between current and the prices development over the last 12 months is one of the indicators calculated on the basis of data collected in the Consumer Opinion Survey. A detailed analysis of price growth perception by the observed population of different age groups in Slovenia showed that price growth was perceived variously until the beginning of 2007 and/or until the introduction of the euro, while after that time there were no differences in the perception of price growth. The results of the analysis were presented in detail in a contribution entitled Perception of Inflation according to the Consumer Opinion Survey, submitted at the 18th Statistical Days44.

– release of data from the Household Budget Survey (APG) for 2006

In 2008, data from the Household Budget Survey (APG) for 200645 werepublished. SORS submitted a Quality Report for AGP, as well as someother AGP data in connection with the consumption of food.

1.6.2 Social protection – social protection, pension and disability insurance

Statistical methodology development – development task entitled "European System of Integrated Social Protection

Statistics"

A project aiming to examine the possibility of providing on a regular basisdata on net social protection benefits was carried out in all EU MemberStates in 2008. If the synthesised results of the project prove constructive,they will be used as a basis for the preparation of a joint methodology anda proposal for a new regulation regarding net social protection benefits.


– Pension and Invalidity Insurance Institute of the Republic of Slovenia amended the concept of monitoring

beneficiaries

The Pension and Invalidity Insurance Institute of the Republic of Slovenia,responsible for pension statistics within the national statistical system, in2008 formed a concept to supplement methodological changes formonitoring beneficiaries46.


– publication of provisional data on expenditures and receipts of financing social protection schemes (ESSPROS)

for 2006

In its regular surveys on expenditures and sources of financing socialprotection programmes in accordance with the ESSPROS methodology,SORS published the results for 2006. Within the framework of the SocialProtection System in Slovenia from 1996 to 200647, the ESSPROSmethodology and results were presented in detail at the Statistical Days 2008.

43 See Survey on Living Conditions, Slovenia, 2007 – provisional data, 19. December, First Release. Available at: http://www.stat.si/eng/novica_prikazi.aspx?id=2077 (14. 02. 2009). 44 See Remec, M., Stare, M., Inglič, R.T., (2008): Detection of Inflation according to the Consumer Opinion Survey, a contribution submitted at the 18th Statistical Days, Radenci, 10–12 November 2008. Available at: http://www.statisticni‐dnevi.si/images/stories/remec.pdf (14. 02. 2009). 45 See Household Budget Survey, Slovenia, 2006, 10 July 2008, First Release. Available at: http://www.stat.si/eng/novica_prikazi.aspx?id=1704 (14. 02. 2009). 46 These include counting all the beneficiaries of family and widower's pensions according to Article 10 of the Act Regulating the Register of Insured Persons and those Entitled to Pension and Invalidity Benefits (ZMEPIZ), regardless of the number of payments; counting right‐holders; inclusion of extraordinary payment beneficiaries among the beneficiaries of rights and the amounts of their entitlements; counting beneficiaries and right holders in the case of two different pension (P) numbers and benefits of the same type; inclusion of widow's pension beneficiaries; inclusion of beneficiaries of part of the widow's pension beneficiaries; inclusion of pension beneficiaries according to the former Old‐Age Insurance for Farmers Act (SZK). 47 See Jacović, A. (2008): Social Protection System in Slovenia from 1996 to 2006. A contribution submitted at the 18th Statistical Days, Radenci, 10–12 November 2008. Available at: http://www.statisticni‐dnevi.si/images/stories/jacovic_referat.pdf (16. 02. 2009).


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Within the ESSPROS framework, a detailed analysis of the number ofpension beneficiaries by type of pension was successfully completed. Thefirst data will be published in the SI‐STAT database in the first quarter of2009.

– preparation of data to be published in 2009, within the Labour Market Policy

project

In 2008, SORS continued its work on the Labour Market Policy project(LMP), through which it obtains quality information and quantitative dataon participants and expenditures for each individual LMP measure48. Datafor the 2005–2007 period will be prepared by SORS in cooperation with theEmployment Service of the Republic of Slovenia, in September 2009.

1.7 CRIME

Bearing in mind policy guidelines and objectives at the EU and national levels, the importance of crime statistics has been increasing and therefore the expectations of the implementation of a pilot and afterwards a main survey on crime victims have been significant. In 2008 SORS prepared all the necessary methodology to carry out a pilot survey in 2009. The need for comparability of data at the EU level is also expressed in criminal justice statistics; in 2008, therefore, SORS devoted a considerable amount of time to cooperation in preparing a new EU classification of criminal acts. In accordance with the new Penal Code, SORS efforts in relation to criminal justice statistics at a national level were focused on the renewal of the criminal acts code tables and adjustment of statistical questionnaires.

Statistical methodology development – preparation for carrying out a pilot

Crime Victims Survey in 2009

Initially, SORS planned to carry out a pilot Crime Victims Survey, the EUmodule on victimization, on a small sample (approximately 2000 people),however, it was postponed for a year due to difficulties in connection withco‐financing from EU Commission funds.

On the basis of the findings of the pilot survey (2009), a final questionnaireand joint methodological guidelines will be prepared to carry out the mainquestionnaire on crime victims according to the new EU system of socialsurveys planned for 2013.

Methodological innovations – revision of the criminal acts code

tables and participation in drafting a new criminal acts classification

In accordance with the new Penal Code, SORS performed an extensiverevision of its criminal acts code tables in which data from judicial statisticsare monitored and classified; and it also adjusted all the statisticalquestionnaires of this field.

On the basis of the introduced changes, among other things, separatemonitoring and presentation of data in connection with a family violencewill be provided in the judicial statistics, since the new Penal Code definesfamily violence as a specific criminal act within the category of criminalacts against matrimony, family and children. Questions concerning thevictim's experience of violence (psychological, physical, sexual), includingthe relation between the victim and the perpetrator, are included in thepilot Crime Victims Survey, carried out by SORS in 2009.

In 2008, SORS, in cooperation with the Ministry of Justice, participated inan EU project to produce an EU criminal acts classification system andsubmitted quantity and quality data on its code tables of criminal acts andthe possibilities of their translation into the proposed internationalcategories.

48 Through the project, data on types and characteristics of measures in the labour market and their classification according to the European Labour Market Policy methodology, on type of expenditure for an individual measure, on number and structure of participants of an individual measure etc.


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Improvement of the availability and quality of data on crime in Slovenia

– participation in a national project for preparation of a uniform methodology

of crime recording

In 2007, a Resolution on the National Programme for Prevention andSuppression of Crime for the 2007‐2011 period was adopted49, which,among other measures, also envisages formulation of a uniformmethodology for recording crime from its detection to final judgement andto link registers of the police, courts and prisons . The Ministry of PublicAdministration, which is the project developer, postponed the carrying outof the project from 2008 to 2009; SORS is participating in the projecttogether with several other institutions.


In 2008, in relation to the area of crime, SORS:

• submitted to Eurostat data from the Police (Ministry of theInterior) on detected crime, data from the Prison Administrationof the Republic of Slovenia (Ministry of Justice) on the prisonpopulation for 2007; the data will be published by the Eurostat in2009 in a publication entitled Statistics in Focus; and alsosubmitted data from the Office for the Prevention of MoneyLaundering (Ministry of the Interior), which will be used byEurostat for analysis of the accessibility of sources andcomparability in the area of money laundering for EU MemberStates.

• Under the coordination of the Faculty of Criminal Justice andSecurity, SORS participated in filling in an extensive internationalquestionnaire European Sourcebook50.

NEW Legislation: Penal Code (KZ‐1), Uradni list RS (Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia), No 55/2008

1.8 DISCRIMINATION

When carrying out discrimination monitoring in 2008, SORS complied with the international methodology, updated statistical data, mainly for the UNECE Gender Database51, attended meetings in Slovenia and abroad, which were intended to discuss the elimination of discrimination of individual population groups, especially minority groups, and to monitor data on violence against women and children. In gender statistics, it cooperated with ministries and other institutions, in particular with the Office of the Government of the Republic of Slovenia for Equal Opportunities.

New statistical data and services – women and men in Slovenia; social

status of women and families

In 2008, SORS, on special days, i.e. International Day of Women, Father’sDay52 and Family Day53, prepared many special statistical publications topresent differences between the genders in Slovenia.

49 See the Resolution on National Plan on the Prevention and Combating of Crime for the period 2007‐2011 (ReNPPZK0711). Available on: http://zakonodaja.gov.si/rpsi/r08/predpis_NACP58.html (11. 3. 2009). 50 More on the European Sourcebook of Crime and Criminal Justice Statistics at: http://www.europeansourcebook.org/ (30. 01. 2009). 51 SURS has been included in methodological work on the improvement of data between states from the area concerned, within the framework of participation in »Gender Statistics Focal Points« within the UNECE. More at: http://www.unece.org/stats/gender/database.htm (30. 1. 2009). 52 See Fathers in Slovenia, 13 June 2008, Special Release. Available at: http://www.stat.si/novica_prikazi.aspx?id=1687 (30. 1. 2009). 53 See International Day of Families, 9 May 2008, Special Release. Available at: http://www.stat.si/novica_prikazi.aspx?id=1617 (30. 1. 2009).


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1.9 OTHER SOCIAL STATISTICS

The establishment of a Real Estate Register is important for SORS for rational performance of housing statistics and, in particular, to prepare and carry out the population and housing census in 2011. Since the Real Estate Register has only just been established – in autumn 2008, SORS for the first time obtained register data from the Surveying and Mapping Authority of the Republic of Slovenia – we are aware that we might encounter some difficulties connected with this. We will eliminate them by using appropriate statistical methods.

In 2008, the Statistical Office continued its activities for improving the availability and quality of data on gender statistics and disabled persons statistics. Within the context of the 18th Statistical Days, called Intergenerational Solidarity– a Challenge for Moderns Society, SORS brought out a special publication entitled The Population of Slovenia Is Ageing – New Solidarity Relations between Generations are Needed54.

1.9.1 HOUSING statistics

Development of statistical methodology to carry out the Census 2011

– capture and analysis of data from the Real Estate Register to prepare for the

2011 Census

Preparations for the 2011 Census continued also in housing statistics. Inaddition to examining the data and possibility of their provision from theadministrative level, the EU project on examining the possibility of carryingout a register census of population and housing, entitled »Preparation forthe 2010 Population Census«55 was also successfully finalized.

In autumn 2008, SORS for the first time, as a test of operation, receiveddata from the Real Estate Register (RER), from the Surveying andmapping Authority in order to analyse their quality and usefulness in aregister census. In that connection a special contract on cooperationbetween the two institutions was also signed. Cooperation between SORSand the Ministry of the Interior, which in addition to data transfer from theCentral Population Register (CRP) also includes regular monitoring of dataregarding the entry of the dwelling number into the CPR, was successful,too. This is one of necessary basic conditions for carrying out the registercensus 2011. See also Preparations for Carrying Out the Census of Population, presented at the beginning of the chapter entitled Demographic and Social Statistics.

1.9.2 Statistics of DISABLED PERSONS

Improving the availability of data on disabled persons

In 2008 SORS continued its cooperation with the Directorate for theDisabled within the Ministry of Labour, Family and Social Affairs and withvarious health institutions and social assistance and social welfareinstitutions. An important objective of this cooperation was to establishand supplement the existing data sources that can be used to obtain dataand supplement the methodology for this area.

New statistical data and services – data on disabled persons in Slovenia

In a special statistical publication, SORS, on the occasion of theInternational Day of Disabled Persons, informed the public that disabledpeople are the most numerous minority in the world since, according toUN data, there are more than 650 million disabled persons, i.e.approximately 10% of the world's population and that among Slovenia'spopulation there are approximately 170,000 disabled persons and 230,000patients with long‐term illnesses.

54 See Slovenia’s Population is Ageing – New Solidarity Relations between Generations are Needed, 7 November 2008, Special Release. Available at: http://www.stat.si/eng/novica_prikazi.aspx?id=1982 (26. 2. 2009). 55 Under the 2005 Multi‐beneficiary Transition Facility Programme on Statistical Integration. See also the chapter, Population.


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1.9.3 ELECTION statistics

New statistical data and services – data on national assembly elections

In 2008, national assembly elections were held. SORS published on itswebsite the data of the National Election Commission on electedcandidates and election turnout56.

2. MACROECONOMIC STATISTICS

2.1 NATIONAL ACCOUNTS

In 2008, SORS published data of the main revision of gross domestic product (GDP), which is important for improving the estimation method for individual aggregates of national accounts. Further efforts will be focused on ensuring the harmonisation of GDP and gross national income with the European System of Accounts 1995. Through development of regional accounts, household accounts became available to the users (for the 2000‐2006 period) and the gross fixed capital formation by region for the 1999–2006 period.

Methodological improvements

– main GDP revision

In September 200857 SORS published the results of the main 2008revision. Data on GDP, the main national accounts aggregates andemployment since 2000 were revised, while data for the 1995–1999period58 were released in November 2008. The main objective of the revision was to improve the estimation methodsof individual aggregates of national accounts, which were not incompliance with the 1995 European System of Accounts, and which werehighlighted in the report given by the representatives of the GrossNational Income Committee in January 2008. Data for 2004, 2005 and2006 were additionally revised under the regular revision. The most important revision points were the following: (i) the formervaluation by direct costs was corrected to basic prices relating to the own‐account construction of dwellings by households and relating to the own‐account production (in particular the fixed assets) of corporations. (ii) inthe estimate of the value of household production in agriculture andforestry, new data, obtained through the introduction of forestry accountswere taken into account. (iii) from the value of non‐market output of thegeneral government and non‐profit institutions serving households, thevalue of own‐account software production was excluded, since it was inconflict with requirements relating to valuation of output by costs; (iv) theestimate of output of dwelling activities of households was changed,including the estimate of imputed rentals; (v) a new estimate ofadjustment for misreporting of unincorporated enterprises was made.

►► The GDP value, through a revision by year (1995–1999), was increased by between 1.3% and 1.6%. An exception was 2006, which was a year when GDP, due to additional corrections within the regular revision, was higher by 1.8%. The revision did not essentially change the estimates of economic growth rates, since the newly calculated growth rates differ from those formerly published by 0.1 or, at most, by 0.2 percentage points. Exceptions are 2001 and 2002, in which this difference amounts to 0.3 percentage points.

56 See Election of the members of the National Assembly, Slovenia, 21 September 2008, First Release. Available at: http://www.stat.si/eng/novica_prikazi.aspx?id=1947 (30. 01. 2009). 57 See Gross Domestic Product, the Main National Accounts Aggregates and Employment, Slovenia, 2000‐2007, 10 September 2008, First Release. Available at: http://www.stat.si/eng/novica_prikazi.aspx?id=1851 (17. 2. 2009). 58 See Gross Domestic Product, the Main National Accounts Aggregates and Employment, Slovenia, 1995‐1999, 25 November 2008, First Release. Available at: http://www.stat.si/eng/novica_prikazi.aspx?id=2014 (17. 2. 2009).


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– changes in financial data reporting

In 2008 the Bank of Slovenia continued its regular compilation of quarterlyand annual financial accounts of Slovenia for the quarterly MonetaryUnion Financial Accounts (MUFAs), Quarterly Financial Accounts for theGeneral Government (QFAGG) and Annual Financial Accounts (ANFA) ofEurostat and the ECB59. In the regular compilation of quarterly andannual financial accounts, for which the Bank of Slovenia is responsiblewithin the national statistical system, the main changes relate to datareporting. In reporting for the financial accounts statistics, carried outthrough AJPES, a reporting threshold was introduced for the financialcompanies sector (S.12), amount of reporting threshold for other sectorswas estimated and the time limit for reporting on the final annual quarterwas extended.

Harmonisation of financial accounts data with EDP tables data wascontinued, carried out in cooperation with the representatives of theStatistical Office and Ministry of Finance.

Within the ESCB the importance of consistent sectoral non‐financial andfinancial accounts of the euro area, progressively developing under ECBmanagement and in cooperation with Eurostat, has been increasing.

– household accounts, gross fixed capital formation by region and

compensation of employees by region

Dividing Slovenia into two cohesion regions (NUTS 2) has resulted in aconsiderable increase in requirements for data in the area of regionalaccounts. Methodological development started in 2007 and successfullyconcluded in 2008 with the publication of regional household accounts forthe 2000–2006 period 60, gross fixed capital formation by region61 andcompensation of employees by region for the 1999–2006 period 62.

– description of sources and methods for estimating gross national income – a publication in the English language

A description of sources and methods used by Slovenia to estimate grossnational income, has been prepared over a period of some years. In July2007 it was published in the Slovenian language and in November 2008 atranslation into English was published. A detailed methodologicaldescription is thus available to users and other interested public on thecalculation of the two most important macroeconomic aggregates, i.e.gross domestic product and gross national income63.

59 Monetary Union Financial Accounts (MUFA), Quarterly Financial Accounts for General Government (QFAGG) in Annual Financial Accounts (ANFA). 60 See Household Accounts by Region, Slovenia, 2000‐2006, 5 December 2008, First Release. Available at: http://www.stat.si/eng/novica_prikazi.aspx?id=2330 (17. 2. 2009). 61 Gross Fixed Capital Formation by Region, Slovenia, 1999‐2006, 5 December 2008, First Release. Available at: http://www.stat.si/eng/novica_prikazi.aspx?id=1944 (17. 2. 2009). 62 Gross Fixed Capital Formation by Region, Slovenia, 1999‐2006, 5 December 2008, First Release. Available at: http://www.stat.si/eng/novica_prikazi.aspx?id=1944 (17. 2. 2009). 63 See Gross National Income Inventory. Available at: http://www.stat.si/eng/tema_ekonomsko_nacionalni_bnd.asp (17. 2. 2009).


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2.2 PRICES

Regarding housing price indices, which are still being developed, in 2008 the first price indices of existing residential housing units and land were calculated, while data on new dwellings started to be collected through special questionnaires. In relation to services producer price indices, SORS has introduced monitoring of those prices in the business sector. The first publication of data on price indices for selected service activities is planned for the second half of 2009.


– regular annual audits of price indices and transition to NACE Rev.2

At the turn of 2008, regular annual audits were made for consumer priceindices and producers; activities for improving their quality took place, inparticular the examination of new sources for weightings and new pricecorrection methods due to changes in the quality of products.

In accordance with the introduction of NACE Rev.2, procedures fortransition to the new classification of activities were under way, namely inrelation to the import prices index and output price index.


– development of housing price indices (EU project)

So far, within the EU project of housing price indices64, SORS hasobtained data on transactions from existing dwellings and houses andcalculated quarterly indices for the 2004–2008 period for the whole stateand also separately for Ljubljana and other parts of Slovenia65. In 2008, thefirst price indices for land were calculated; and data on new dwellingsstarted to be collected through special questionnaires. In obtaining thesedata, SORS successfully cooperates with the Surveying and MappingAuthority of the Republic of Slovenia.


– consumer price index: new index with constant tax rates

Within the framework of consumer price indices, an index with constanttax rates was published in 2008 for the first time. The index, designed onthe same methodological basis as the harmonised consumer price index(HCPI) differs from the latter in maintaining constant tax rates over aspecific time period. It shows the impact of changes in tax rate and exciseduty on the movement of prices.

The first data for the 2003–2007 period were published at the beginning ofJune 200866 .

– preparation for calculation and publication of price indices for selected

service activities

In accordance with the EU regulation concerning short‐term statistics(Annex D), SORS must establish a methodology for the provision ofproducer prices for services with respect to numerous and variousservice activities no later than 2010. Within the framework of servicesproducer price indices, SORS has started to collect service prices in thebusiness sector67. The first publication of data on price indices for selectedservice activities is planned for the second half of 2009.

– new data on purchasing power parity and gross domestic product expressed in purchasing power standards, 2005‐2007

Purchasing power parity (PPP) and gross domestic product in purchasingpower parities (GDP in PPP) result from an international statisticalsurvey of price comparison of statistical offices of the participatingstates68 with Eurostat managing and coordinating the project. Among

64 Pilot Study on Owner‐Occupied Housing (OOH) in the Framework of the Harmonized Index of Consumer Prices‐Stage 3 65 See Housing Price Indices, Slovenia. Available at: http://www.stat.si/eng/tema_ekonomsko_cene.asp (17. 2. 2009). 66 See Harmonised Consumer Price Index with Constant Tax Rates, Slovenia, May 2008, 2 June 2008, First Release. Available at: http://www.stat.si/eng/novica_prikazi.aspx?id=1666 (17. 2. 2009). 67 Currently, service prices are already included in consumer price indices, but only services purchased by households. 68 Currently, the survey, in addition to Slovenia, includes another 36 countries, which are obliged to provide annually: the prices of more than one thousand types of products and services, selected for a basket of total GDP consumption (products


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other things, data are used as a criterion for establishing eligibility to befinanced from EU structural funds.

Introduction of new computer programmes and databases at differentphases of work in the area of purchasing power parity was one of the mostcomprehensive activities in 2008. In addition, an audit of survey processimplementation in the PPP area was carried out in a special pilot group,managed by Eurostat and with the participation of SORS.

Data for the 2005–2007 period were released at the end of 200869.

Participation in technical assistance programmes in statistics

– PPP Project for the Western Balkan countries

In the form of a special project, SORS also performs the tasks of WesternBalkan countries' manager70. The project, organized within Eurostat andfinanced by the EU Commission, aims to include the above mentionedcountries in the European Comparison Programme of GDP and pricescomparison among countries (ECP71). This four‐year project is scheduledto be completed in 2009. SORS will prepare a final report onimplementation of the project.

On the basis of the quality of its work so far, SORS was invited toparticipate further; however it declined the invitation due to the reducednumber of its employees.

2.3 FOREIGN TRADE

Preparations for adapting Intrastat and Extrastat to changes resulting from the corresponding revised regulations adopted in 2009 had a significant impact on work in the foreign trade area in 2008. The adopted Decision on a Programme for the Modernisation of European Enterprise and Trade Statistics (MEETS) will have an impact on SORS performance of its activities. In order to further improve the quality of foreign trade data, SORS participated in another two Eurostat projects.


– the revised basic regulations for Intrastat and Extrastat

In 2008, under the EU legislative procedures at the EU Council and theEuropean Parliament, the revised basic regulations for Intrastat and Extrastat were adopted. Both regulations will be published in the OfficialJournal of the European Union in 2009.

• In relation to Intrastat, the basic objectives of the revisedregulation are the following: reduction of business entities liableto report the arrivals of goods; a more detailed definition ofrequirements regarding the quality of data on the exchange ofgoods between Member States; improved response to users'needs for foreign trade monitoring, broken down bycharacteristics of enterprises.

• the revised Extrastat regulation will introduce changes incustoms procedures, laid down by the Modernised Customs Codein accordance with Regulation (EC) No 450/2008, in particularcentralised customs clearance of goods and simplified reportingand/or the possibility of non‐completion of customs declarationsfor companies, which should obtain special licence from the

and services of consumer goods, investment products, government services), GDP indicated in national currency and some other data (e.g. on population, temporal and spatial price indices etc.) 69 See Purchasing Power Parities and Gross Domestic Product in Purchasing Power Standards, 2005–2007, 15 December 2008, First Release. Available at: http://www.stat.si/eng/novica_prikazi.aspx?id=2063 (17. 2. 2009). 70 I.e. Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Montenegro. 71 European Comparison Programme – ECP.


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Customs Administration. No later than by 2013, when theimplementation of the EU Customs Code should be finished,Extrastat, as a source of data, will use in addition to customsdeclarations, data from administrative records of companies thatare not liable to complete customs declarations. In addition to theaforementioned, the new regulation defines in detail the qualitycriteria applicable to foreign trade statistics and introducesmonitoring of these statistics by characteristics of enterprises(their activity, size).

– Programme for the Modernisation of European Enterprise and Trade

Statistics (MEETS)

The European programme entitled MEETS72 is of major importance for theharmonisation and further development of foreign trade and businessstatistics.

The Decision on a Programme for the Modernisation of European Enterprise and Trade Statistics (MEETS)73 will provide financial, organisational andprofessional assistance to Eurostat and Member States in achievingobjectives regarding: simplification and further harmonisation of foreigntrade and business statistics (legislation and methodology), the definitionof a target‐oriented set of new indicators (e.g. globalisation indicators,entrepreneurship indicators) and further simplification of Intrastat (e.g.analysis of feasibility of statistical monitoring of exchange of goods by asingle flow of goods) and alignment of Extrastat with new customslegislation. SORS has produced its own programme taking into accountactivities and funds provided by the MEETS Programme (participation insome working groups, carrying out some projects with EU funds).

Care for quality

– participation in EU projects

In 2008, in order to improve the quality of data on foreign trade, SORSparticipated in two EU projects:

• Eurostat project, Transition Facility 2005, entitled "QualityAnalysis of Foreign Trade Statistics Data" with the main objectiveof assessing and improving the quality of foreign trade statisticsdata;

• A project within the framework of the Eurostat programme XT‐NET74, through which improved checking of data quality onforeign trade statistics and estimation of statistical value inIntrastat will be implemented and some data processing will beadditionally automated.

Preparations for OECD membership

In preparations for OECD membership, foreign trade statistics is a priorityarea. Slovenia will start data reporting in 2009. By the end of March 2009,time series of monthly value data and value indices for the 1996–2008period by sections of the Standard International Trade Classification of theUnited Nations (SITC) and by partner countries, and detailed annual dataaccording to the Harmonised System (HS) classification will be sent to theOECD75. No later than by October 2009 a time series of monthly unit valueindices by SITC section will be reported for the 2001‐2008 period,calculated on the average of the base year 2000.

72 Modernisation of the European Enterprise and Trade Statistics – MEETS. 73 Decision No 1297/2008/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2008 on a Programme for the Modernisation of European Enterprise and Trade Statistics (MEETS). 74 Eurostat grants for 2008 – XT‐NET implementation – XT‐net project is a continuation of activities, formerly covered by the EDICOM programme, i.e. development and upgrading of tools for the collection, processing and dissemination of data on foreign trade and, resulting from the mentioned, data quality improvement. The grant will be implemented in 2009. 75 Harmonised Commodity Description and Coding System (HS).


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Functionality upgrade of the foreign trade statistics data information

system – automation and optimisation of

foreign trade statistics data processing

In 2008, SORS continued automation and optimisation of foreign tradestatistics data processing76 in order to achieve an effective and dynamicinformation system enabling adaptation to further changes in Europeanlegislation, Intrastat simplifications and, in particular, to changes inExtrastat resulting from the Modernised Customs Code adopted in 2008(Regulation (EC) No 450/2008).

NEW Statistical Legislation: (i) Regulation (EC) No 450/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 April 2008 laying down the Community Customs Code (Modernised Customs Code), (ii) European Parliament legislative resolution of 21 October on Draft Regulation (EC) No 638/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 31 March 2004 on Community statistics relating to the trading of goods between Member States (KOM(2008)0058 – C6‐0059/2008 – 2008/0026(COD)), (iii) Decision No 1297/2008/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2008 on a Programme for the Modernisation of European Enterprise and Trade Statistics (MEETS)

2.4 BALANCE OF PAYMENTS and other statistics oncross‐border economic relations

At the end of 2008, the Bank of Slovenia adopted a changed Decision on Compulsory Reporting on Cross‐Border Transactions, via which, since the beginning of 2008, in line with the positions of the European Central Bank and CMFB77 the reporting threshold for indirect balance of payments statistics under Regulation 2560/200178 was increased from EUR 12,500 to EUR 50,000. The Bank of Slovenia also abolished the reporting of data on neutral transactions. Through the aforementioned decision, it monitors changes and the balance of commercial receivables and payables to non‐residents, credit and deposit operations with non‐residents and securities transactions, indirect investments of residents with non‐residents, and other receivables or obligations influencing balance of payments items and the international investment position of Slovenia79.


– changes in monthly reporting on capital investments of residents and

non‐residents

In relation to statistics of cross‐border economic relations, in 2008 theBank of Slovenia continued a gradual transition of data sources fromindirect data collection via business banks to direct data collection fromeconomic entities performing transactions with non‐residents. In thisconnection, a monthly reporting on capital investments of residents’ andnon‐residents’ – transactions (SN‐T) was introduced.

– new Decision on Compulsory Reporting on Cross‐Border Transactions

In November 2008, a new Decision on Compulsory Reporting on Cross‐Border Transactions was published, based on the Bank of Slovenia Actand no longer on the Foreign Exchange Act. Complete instructions forimplementation of the above mentioned decision were also published. Inthem, the Bank of Slovenia, on the basis of Regulation No 2560/2001 oncross‐border payments made in EUR, starting with 2009, increased thethreshold of abolished reporting of statistical data on cross‐bordertransactions from the existing EUR 12,500 to EUR 50,000 and entirelyabolished the requirement for reporting of data on neutral transactions.

76 Within the framework of the “Development and Strengthening of the National Intrastat System” project (PHARE 2003 National Programme), concluded in 2007. 77 The Committee for Monetary, Financial and Balance of Payments statistics – CMFB. 78 Regulation (EC) No 2560/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 December 2001 on cross‐border payments in euros was issued as a supplement to Directive 97/5/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 January 1997 on cross‐border credit transfers. More information available at: http://www.bsi.si/placilni‐sistemi.asp?MapaId=156#1141 (19. 2. 2009). 79 See the publication »January Reports to the Bank of Slovenia to be made according to new rules«, published 26.1.2009 on portal FinD‐INFO. Available at: http://www.findinfo.si/DnevneVsebine/Aktualno.aspx?id=6788 (19. 2. 2009).


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International participation of the Bank of Slovenia in the area of statistics80

–participation in CMFB81/ESCB

In addition to plenary sessions of the Committee on Monetary, Financialand Balance of Payment Statistics (CMFB), which is the main body forharmonisation of strategic issues regarding European financial statistics,at the end of 2008 the Bank of Slovenia for the first time attended ameeting of the CMFB executive board.

2.5 MONETARY AND FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS and MARKETS – financial accounts, money and finance

The statistical work of the Bank of Slovenia in 2008 will be significantly influenced by legislation of the European Central Bank, upgraded by the end of the year, on monitoring the balance sheet (Regulation ECB/2008/32) and interest rates of the monetary financial institutions sector, including the Guideline amending Guideline ECB/2007/9 on monetary statistics, statistics of financial institutions and financial markets statistics (Recast) (ECB/2008/31). In addition, the ECB Council adopted a Regulation on statistics of non‐monetary financial corporations‐ financial vehicle corporations engaged in securitisation transactions (ECB/2008/30). In cooperation with banks, the Bank of Slovenia had already drafted a proposal in 2008, to amend the integrated reporting of monetary financial institutions (MFI) for statistical needs and the control of credit institutions, coming into force in 2010.

Impact of the new regulations of the European Central Bank in 2008

– methodological restructuring of existing Regulations ECB/2001 and

ECB/2001/18

Within the European System of Central Banks (ESCB), in which statistical datafor performing monetary analyses and financial market policy monitoringare collected, in autumn 2008 the process of "merits and costs"assessment was finalized. This enabled a methodological update ofexisting Regulations ECB/2001 and ECB/2001/18, which provide the basisfor the regular collection and processing of data on balance sheets and interestrates of monetary financial institutions (MFI) by the Bank of Slovenia. Theadaptation to the changes has to be accomplished in 2010.

– the two updated ECB regulations concerning balance sheets of the sector of financial institutions and statistics of

corporations engaged in transfer of financial assets

In addition to the updated regulation of the MFI balance sheet(ECB/2008/32), in December 2008 the ECB Council adopted a regulationconcerning the statistics of financial vehicle corporations engaged insecuritisation transactions (ECB/2008/30). In 2008, the Bank of Slovenia, incooperation with other banks drafted a proposal to amend the integratedreporting of monetary financial institutions (MFI) for the needs ofstatistics and supervision of credit institutions, entering into force in 2010.

– updated guidelines on monetary statistics, statistics of financial

institutions and statistics of financial markets

In addition to the regular collection and transfer of data on non‐monetaryfinancial vehicles and securities to the ECB in accordance with GuidelineECB/2003/2 and/or its recast ECB/2007/9, in 2008 important cooperationwith the Securities Market Agency took place. Appropriate implementingacts for reporting of investment funds data through the Securities MarketAgency were produced and adopted in January 2009. Multipurposereporting requirements of Securities Market Agency and Bank of Sloveniaon investment funds data, include the Bank of Slovenia requirements oninvestment funds statistics (ECB/2007/8), balance sheet statistics ofmonetary market funds as MFI’s (ECB/2001/13) and financial accountsstatistics were integrated in the Report.

80 Representatives of the Bank of Slovenia participate at meetings of the Statistical Committee and its working groups for government finance, monetary and financial statistics, external statistics, general economic statistics, euro area accounts and statistical information system, as well as at meetings of provisional task forces. They cooperate with Eurostat in working groups for financial accounts and for quarterly sectoral accounts (under joint supervision of Eurostat and the ECB) and in the Committee on Balance of Payments Statistics. 81 Committee on Monetary, Financial and Balance of Payments Statistics – CMFB.


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Statistical methodology development – International Monetary Fund GFS methodology implementation and impact on the Public Finance Act

In addition to its regular tasks82 the Ministry of Finance was engaged inimplementation of the Monetary Fund's Manual on GovernmentFinance Statistics (GFS)83. This is a demanding and time‐consumingprocess, including a series of methodological changes and adjustments,particularly in the field of capturing general government transactions andsetting up records that will make possible the drawing up of balancesheets for the general government sector. The Ministry of Finance tookinto consideration the changes in methodology when drafting the newPublic Finance Act, which will enter into force in 2010, while the newbalance schemes will come into force in 2011.

NEW Statistical Legislation: (i) Regulation (EC) No 25/2009 of the European Central Bank of 19 December 2008 concerning the balance sheet of the monetary financial institutions sector (Recast) (ECB/2008/32); (ii) On 19 December 2008 the ECB Council adopted Regulation (ECB/2008/30) concerning statistics and liabilities of corporations engaged in transfer of financial assets and securitization.

3. BUSINESS STATISTICS

3.1 Business SHORT‐TERM and ANNUAL Statistics

In 2008, in addition to preparing data in accordance with the new classification of activities, SKD 2008, which was in compliance with the European Classification NACE Rev 2 introduced in 2008, the reduction in the reporting burden was important. The use of tax data84 for the calculation of the turnover index in retail trade and service activities had an especially positive impact on reducing the reporting burden and/or field data collection. In this connection, SORS in practice used a special study which showed that those data are appropriate for monitoring the monthly changes of turnover of the observed activities. Use of administrative source actually reduces the burden on reporting units, since the total field number, according to monthly statistical research, was reduced from 5596 to 741 units following this introduction in 2008.

The new European Regulation on Structural Business Statistics, adopted in 2008, will change the performance of surveys in this area, which are currently to a large extent based on administrative sources (e.g. increased use of data from statistical questionnaires). The first data on the impact of globalisation on flows of goods and services between affiliated and non‐affiliated enterprises compiled by SORS in a 2008 test project will be released in the first half of 2009.

3.1.1 Business short‐term and annual statistics


– introduction of new classification of activities in statistical surveys

In relation to surveys in industry, construction, retail trade and otherservices, in 2008 the most important task was a preparation of historictypes of data in accordance with the new classification of activities SKD2008.

The time series since 2000 will be mainly published in the first half of 2009on the SI‐STAT data portal, i.e. at the same time as data according to thenew classification and simultaneously with the transition to the new baseyear 2005 (currently 2000). In autumn 2008, new weightings for theEuropean aggregate calculation were sent to Eurostat and, at the end ofthe year, final preparations for automatic data processing according to the

82 I.e. own budgetary resources, preparation of the Report on Government Debt and Deficit, maintaining and updating the Economic Classification of General Government Expenditure and Revenue, lending and repayments, borrowing and amortization of debt and the Programme Classification of State Budget and Local Government Budgets Expenditures. 83 In 2001, the International Monetary Fund published the Manual on Government Finance Statistics 2001, which was harmonized with SNA93 and ESA95. Available at: http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/gfs/manual/pdf/all.pdf (19. 2. 2009). 84 i.e. data on value added tax.


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new requirements were carried out.

►►The Statistical Office is well prepared for new data reporting in accordance with SKD 2008.

To establish the level of readiness of EU Member States for reporting in accordance with the new requirements, Eurostat introduced quarterly reporting on their readiness in terms of planning and carrying out individual actions by monitored indices. The reports have shown that, for the most part, SORS is well prepared for the changes and will be able to provide users with the newly calculated data in due time.

– adaptation of Nomenclature of Industrial Products (NIP)85

In 2008, SORS started to prepare a new Nomenclature of IndustrialProducts (NIP), adapted to the new international Prodcom nomenclature.In accordance with the new Classification of Activities SKD 2008, its usewill start in 2009 through the annual survey of industry. Upgrading of thesurvey was therefore postponed to 2009.

– preparations for content‐related and technical upgrading of annual surveys

on trade

In 2008, preparations for content‐related and technical upgrading ofannual surveys on trade were carried out. In relation to content‐relatedupgrading, participation of the members of the Statistical Trade AdvisoryCommittee86, in particular, the Slovenian Chamber of Commerce, andcertain internal users of SORS data, was of special importance. The mainmethodological change will be a more detailed separation of turnover bycommodity groups.

Survey upgrading includes setting up a new sampling technology. Fromnow on, surveys will also include trade activities that were formerlyexcluded from surveys for the sake of uniform monitoring of results.

Reduction of administrative burden imposed on business entities – use of VAT data in monthly

surveys for retail trade

At the end of 2007, SORS finalized an extensive technical and content‐related upgrading of monthly statistical surveys for retail trade (TRG/M).The main objective of the upgrading was to reduce the reporting burdenimposed on reporting units and, resulting from this, also a reduction inSORS expenses via the introduction of the use of an administrative source– data on value added tax (VAT) of Tax Administration of the Republic ofSlovenia.

Calculation of monthly indices of turnover is thus a combination of fieldcollected data and administrative data, i.e. VAT data. In accordance withthe aforementioned method, SORS now calculates monthly indices inthree short‐term surveys, namely in wholesale trade (TRG‐D/M), retailtrade (TRG/M) and service activities (STOR/M).

Due to the changed methodology in the short‐term survey for retail trade,in 2008 SORS changed the method of publishing monthly indices of retailtrade turnover: preliminary data on the retail trade turnover indices formore important activity groups are published no later than within 30 daysafter the reference month, and detailed provisional data within 60 days.

– analysis of possibilities of reducing burdens imposed on small units in

industry and construction

In 2008, in order to reduce reporting burdens on small enterprises inindustry and construction, SORS finalized the analysis of monthly surveyson construction and industry, whereby it established the impact of thereduction in the number of reporting units on the quality of calculation ofthe result. Analysis showed that, despite the reduction in the number ofenterprises included, there will be no break in the data series. In 2009,there will be a reduction in both areas in the number of enterprises

85 See the Nomenclature of Industrial Products 2008. Available at: http://www.stat.si/eng/klasje.asp (5. 3. 2009). 86 See 6th Meeting of the Domestic Trade and Services Statistics Advisory Committee of 13 November 2008. Available only in Slovene at: http://www.stat.si/drz_stat_sosveti_seznam1.asp?id=207 (19. 2. 2009).


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reporting their data monthly; in relation to monthly surveys of industry,there will be at least 18 fewer reporting enterprises and in construction,approximately 180 fewer enterprises.


– a study of the use of the Real Property Register (RPR) in construction statistics

In 2008, a development task started on the possibilities of using the RealProperty Register (RPR) in construction statistics, in particular regardingthe annual estimate of non‐residential buildings, i.e. their location andsize, number of floors and installations provided. For more information on the Register, see in Chapter Demographic and Social Statistics.

Statistical data quality – examination of quality of the principal

European economic indicators (PEEI)

Through a several‐year long action of examining the quality of theprincipal European economic indicators, known as »PEEIs in focus«, adetailed examination of the monthly indicator entitled »index ofproduction in construction«87 was carried out among EU Member States in2008. SORS completed the prescribed questionnaire, fulfilling itsobligation.


–situation assessment on the basis of short term indicators and service

production index

In its efforts to obtain OECD membership, in 2008 SORS attended ameeting of the group for short term economic statistics (STES), at whichthe situation of Slovenia's short term indicators was assessed as good. In2008, the OECD prepared a compilation manual for the index of serviceproduction88. As a result of the increasingly important role of services, thiswill be a development task that Eurostat and SORS plan to deal with after2010.

3.1.2 Structural business statistics

Impact of new EU legislation

– adoption of a new regulation concerning structural business statistics

In 2008, the new Regulation (EC) No 295/2008 concerning structuralbusiness statistics was adopted.

In Slovenia, structural business statistics is for the main part based on datafrom existing administrative sources (AJPES, Tax Administration and Bankof Slovenia data). However, in accordance with the new regulation, certainadministrative sources need to be supplemented with more detailed data(structural questionnaire of the Business Register of Slovenia) and/or therequired data obtained in another way (e.g. through statisticalquestionnaires).

A new obligation stipulated by the regulation is the regional presentationof data, including parts of business entities. The basic condition for thequality regional presentation of data is organised and quality data of thestatistical business register.

Methodological innovations Data on business services at the European level are still only provisional. Dataare collected in accordance with the Classification of Products by Activity(CPA). In compliance with Eurostat guidelines, a transition to CPA 2008 hasbeen gradual and has already been partially carried out with 2005 and 2006data, while 2007 data were fully collected in accordance with the new CPAclassification (CPA 2008).

New statistical data ‐ impact of globalisation on flows of

goods and services between affiliated and non‐affiliated enterprises/ EU pilot

Within the framework of a Eurostat pilot project intended for the collectionand analysis of data on the import and export of goods and services, andon the import and export of goods and services between foreign internalaffiliated enterprises, SORS examined the impact of globalisation on

87 See the final report entitled »PEEIs in focus ‐ A summary for the index of production in construction«, published by Eurostat on its website http://circa.europa.eu/Public/irc/dsis/ebt/library?l=/methodology/2008_a016_circa/_EN_1.0_&a=d (20. 2. 2009). 88 See OECD Compilation manual for an index of service production. Available on: http://www.oecd.org/LongAbstract/0,3425,en_2649_34233_37799075_119669_1_1_1,00.html (20. 2. 2009).


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project flows of goods and services between affiliated and non‐affiliatedenterprises. Within the economic contents, SORS established new contentson its website entitled »Economic Globalisation89«, in which statistical datadescribing phenomena and impact of this globalisation are published.

SORS will publish the results of the pilot project in the first half of 2009.

– foreign internal affiliated enterprise statistics, 200590

In Slovenia, the implementation of foreign internal affiliated enterprisestatistics is the responsibility of SORS, while the implementation offoreign external affiliated enterprise statistics is the responsibility of theBank of Slovenia. In the reference year 2007, on the basis of EU (EC)Regulation No 716/200791 reporting foreign internal affiliated enterprisestatistics became mandatory. The source of statistical data is existingadministrative sources. In 2007/2008, data for 2003, 2004 and 200592 werepublished. In the second half of 2009, there will be even more detaileddata available in the SI‐STAT database.


– special agreement on data exchange between OECD and Eurostat

In relation to the Structural Business Statistics, Eurostat and OECD agreedon the mutual exchange of data, so Member States are not obliged toreport separately to OECD.

NEW Statistical Legislation: Regulation (EC) No 295/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 March 2008 concerning structural business statistics (recast)

3.2 ENERGY and RAW MATERIALS

In 2008, the Statistical Office (SORS) provided monthly data and annual energy data on a regular basis to support efficient monitoring of energy policy at national and international levels and, simultaneously, also provided semi‐annual data on end‐user electric power and natural gas prices. Inter‐institutional cooperation, in particular with the Ministry of the Economy and the Environmental Agency of the Republic of Slovenia, was also focused on the production of a uniform recording methodology of renewable energy sources in Slovenia, which has a positive impact on reducing the burden of reporting units. In 2008, the adopted regulation on energy statistics will also have impact on the development of methodology.

Impact of new EU legislation – adoption of new regulation on energy

statistics

In November 2008, an adopted regulation on energy statistics, which willcome into force in 2009, will have an impact on the development ofstatistics on renewable sources of energy, household energy end‐use andnuclear statistics. On the basis of this regulation, SORS had alreadystarted to verify the methodology of these statistics and seekadministrative data sources in 2008. Work in this area will continue in2009.

International cooperation for improving the quality and

rationalisation of energy data

The Environmental Agency of the Republic of Slovenia (ARSO) uses dataprepared by SORS for calculating discharges into environment. For someyears, the two institutions have been successfully cooperating on the basis

89 See the contents of Economic Globalisation. Available at: http://www.stat.si/eng/tema_ekonomsko_globalizacija.asp (1. 4. 2009). 90 Foreign affiliated enterprise statistics are composed of foreign internal affiliated enterprise statistics (activities of foreign affiliated enterprises with registered office in the country preparing the statistics) and foreign external affiliated enterprises (activities of foreign affiliated enterprises, controlled by institutional units with registered office in the country preparing the statistics). 91 Regulation (EC) No 716/2007 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 June 2007 on Community statistics on the structure and activity of foreign affiliates 92 See Inward Statistics on Foreign Affiliates, Slovenia, 2005, 29 December 2008, First Release. Available at: http://www.stat.si/eng/novica_prikazi.aspx?id=2091 (26. 2. 2009).


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collection

– inter‐institutional cooperation with the Environmental Agency of the Republic

of Slovenia

of agreement on rationalisation and unification of data in the area ofenvironment statistics, signed in 2007. In 2008, SORS, in cooperation withARSO, drafted a proposed Annex to the Agreement intended for thetransfer of data on liquid fuels, biofuels and other renewable fuels forpropulsion of motor vehicles in road traffic, in order to make collection ofthese data as rational as possible. Harmonisation of the proposal and itsconfirmation will continue in 2009.

– inter‐institutional cooperation with the Ministry of the Economy

SORS, in co‐operation with the Energy Directorate within the Ministry ofEconomy, has been establishing a common database to facilitate theunification of statistical data on energy in Slovenia, which will alsocontribute to a reduction of the burden on reporting units.

NEW Statistical Legislation: Regulation (EC) No 1099/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 November 2008 on energy statistics.

3.3 TRANSPORT

Transport statistics have recently been increasingly focused on monitoring the ever greater impact on regional development, the environment and safety. This has improved the quality of the existing statistics (coverage, timeliness, adequacy, punctuality) and developed new indicators in order to formulate suitable policies in establishing the proportion between individual types of transport. Recently an increasingly expressed need has arisen to measure the scope of traffic on the road network ‐ monitoring the kilometres driven ‐ which is also one of SORS' long‐term development priorities.

New needs for statistical data at the EU level

– measuring the kilometres driven on national territories

In 2007, Member States of the European Economic Area (EEC Countries)via suitable regular and special EU working groups within UNECE, throughthe application of various methods, started accelerated preparations ofmethodological starting points for harmonised measuring the kilometresdriven on national territories. Since 2008, statistical offices, which untilnow have not been directly involved in this, (in Slovenia, monitoring this isthe responsibility of the Slovenian Roads Agency (DRSC)) and arecurrently not legally obliged to do so, have been annually reporting theavailable data to Eurostat.

Methodological innovations – introduction of new classification of

transported goods in transport statistics ‐ NST 2007 (2008 reference year)

In 2008 SORS in accordance with an EU regulation93 started to use a newclassification of transported goods in transport statistics (NST 2007)94.

The NST/R classification used to date has thus been replaced with aclassification that is much more useful that the former one, since it enableslinkage with CPA 2008 and NACE Rev. 2 and with CPC and ISIC, the twoclassifications at the United Nations level and also with the CN 2007combined nomenclature.

– innovations in road transport monitoring

In 2008, in connection with road transport monitoring, the regional codingof place of origin and destination data at the NUTS 3 level becamemandatory for all Community Members.

In addition, a project of extensive renewal of the complete programmepackage for managing the survey on road freight transport was finalized,

93 Commission Regulation (EC) No 1304/2007 of 7 November 2007 amending related primary EU legislation concerning transport statistics of the Council and the European Parliament (road freight transport, transport by inland waterway and maritime transport and railway freight and passenger transport). 94 More information on NST 2007 Classification available at: http://www.stat.si/eng/tema_ekonomsko_transport_klasifikacija_blaga.asp (20. 2. 2009).


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together with the establishment of a statistical register of motor vehicles(PHARE funds). Technical support to the road freight transport survey wasthus also improved.

– electronic reception of data on cross‐border freight and passenger

transport/cooperation with the Customs Administration (CARS)

On the basis of inter‐institutional cooperation in 2008, SORS will receiveelectronic data on cross‐border freight and passenger transport from theCustoms Administration (CARS) and the Police in 2009.

– e‐reporting on harbour transport/ cooperation with the Slovenian

Maritime Administration

In 2008, SORS abolished reporting on harbour transport via statisticalquestionnaires, because the reporting unit, the Slovenian MaritimeAdministration, has been reporting the monthly data on vessel arrivals anddepartures in electronic form. The report data are one of modules forSORS of the new central database, prepared by the Slovenian MaritimeAdministration. In the second half of 2008, there was increasedcooperation between SORS and the Slovenian Maritime Administrationand/or its subcontractor and a cooperation agreement was alsoconcluded95.

3.4 TOURISM

The development of tourism statistics has primarily followed the requirements for harmonised data for the European Union, the need to place tourism within the overall economy of Slovenia and the importance of tourist journeys in the Balance of payments of the Republic of Slovenia. A new EU regulation on tourism statistics is under preparation, a regulation which will have an impact on expansion of monitoring data on journeys of the national population, in particular one‐day visitors.

Impact of the new EU legislation – drafting a proposal for a new regulation on tourism statistics

In 2008, the Tourism Statistics Working Group drafted a proposal for anew regulation on tourism statistics, which is planned to replace theapplicable Council Directive 95/57/EC96.

The new regulation will improve the timeliness and comparability of dataand bring some innovations regarding the contents, including moredetailed monitoring of data on one‐day visitors, monitoring the roomoccupancy rate for hotels and similar accommodation, etc.

In September 2008, the European Statistical System Committee rejectedthe proposal of the new regulation since, in its opinion, the proposalimposed too many additional burdens on statistical offices and reportingunits. For this reason, the Tourism Statistics Working Group will prepare anew regulation proposal in 2009. Due to delays in the adoption of a newregulation on tourism statistics some activities planned for 2008 werepostponed to future years. In the area of accommodation statistics, SORSplanned changes in the method of data publishing and introduction of adata capture threshold regarding the obligation to report on a monthlybasis. The innovation is that facilities with fewer than ten beds will reportthe arrival and overnight stays only once a year. In relation to surveys onjourneys of the domestic population in future years, collection of data onone‐day travels in Slovenia, is also planned.

Methodological innovations In 2008, within the framework of accommodation statistics, SORS willstart to collect data on the number of rooms occupied in hotels and

95 On 22 December 2008 SORS concluded an Agreement on co‐operation in providing data on harbour transport (reporting arrival/departure of a vessel in a harbour) with the Slovenian Maritime Administration, Ministry of Transport. 96 Council Directive 95/57/EC of 23 November 1995 on the collection of statistical information in the field of tourism.


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– occupancy rate of hotel and similar accommodation

similar accommodation. Because of a high level of non‐response onvariable data, 2008 data are not suitable for publication. Due to the non‐availability of records, especially small facilities had difficulties incalculating these data.

– use of SORS administrative and other statistical data on statistics of visits to tourist sights, museums and galleries,

swimming facilities, casinos and gaming salons

Throughout 2008, SORS examined available sources relating to themonitoring of visits to selected tourist sights, museums and galleries,swimming facilities, casinos and gaming salons (TU/ČL), through the useof other statistical, administrative and other sources. Data has so far beencollected via statistical questionnaires. Through abolition of the latter in2009, the burden on reporting units will be reduced and, at the same time,methodological difficulties in allocating reporting units to surveying and inindividual publications of particular natural features and culturalmonuments will be resolved.


– release of 2007 Foreign Travellers Survey data

In 2008, data from the 2007 Foreign Travellers Survey97, carried out in April2007, July‐August 2007 and February 2008 were published. The surveyprovides an insight into the structure of foreign travellers leaving Sloveniavia road border crossings. The survey mainly focuses on foreign travellerswho did not spend the night in Slovenia, but came in Slovenia only on theone‐day visit (one‐day visitors) or crossed Slovenia on their way to anothercountry (transit travellers).

The survey was carried out in cooperation with the Bank of Slovenia, sincethe data are an important source for calculation of the Balance ofpayments98.

– preparation to carry out a three‐year survey on foreign tourists

In the second half of 2008, preparations started to carry out a three‐yearsurvey on foreign tourists. The three‐year survey will be carried out in2009, in April, in the period from June to September and in December, inrandomly selected hotels and holiday camps.

NEW Statistical Legislation: Draft Regulation (EC) of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning tourism statistics

3.5 STATISTICAL BUSINESS REGISTER

In 2008, the Statistical Business Register analytical database, established in 2004 in accordance with EU statistical legislation concerning registers of this type, was still in operation. Within the framework of the ISIS infrastructural project, a new database, which has been updated and included in the SORS processes, is being set up for the Statistical Business Register. In terms of its contents and functionality, too, the new database is an upgrade of the existing Statistical Business Register.


– preparations for a test data exchange between Eurostat and groups of

Within the ISIS project, SORS completed a national register of groups ofenterprises, the foundations of which were set in 2007 by the Eurostatpilot project (TF 2004). In 2009, SORS will be included in a test data

97 Survey on foreign travellers at road border crossings, Slovenia, April, July‐August 2007, 29 October 2008, First Release. Available at: http://www.stat.si/eng/novica_prikazi.aspx?id=1962 (20. 2. 2009). 98 In the methodology of export and import of journeys (operator the Bank of Slovenia), since 2007, the main sources have been data from the SORS questionnaires and surveys, i.e. data from a three‐year questionnaire on foreign tourists during the summer season and a questionnaire on foreign travellers; the data on arrivals and overnight stays of foreign tourists per country (monthly information), the number of border crossings (until the Schengen enlargement; while after the Schengen enlargement the data will be estimated on the basis of data from the Slovene Roads Agency); the data from the quarterly questionnaire on journeys of the domestic population and data from mobile telephony providers on mobile roaming in foreign networks (provided by APEK).


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enterprises

exchange with Eurostat and groups of enterprises; specifically, betweenthe European Enterprise Group Register (EGR) and national registers ofgroups of enterprises. This data exchange will be completely establishedthrough the new EU implementing Regulation.

In cooperation with the working group within Eurostat engaged indevelopment of the European Enterprise Group Register, SORS willfurther upgrade identification of enterprise groups. EGR and nationalregisters of groups of enterprises of Member States will be the centralinfrastructural support to the development and implementation of theglobalisation of statistics, which is one of the statistical developmentpriorities of Eurostat The test project results showed that in 2006 in Slovenia, there were 1883 resident enterprise groups and 2171 multinational enterprise groups. The majority of business entities are connected in the processing industry, trade and business services.99

– development of Statistical Business Register (SPR) and ISIS project

Within the framework of the infrastructural ISIS project, a new StatisticalBusiness Register was established on the basis of national statistical needsin this area and EU requirements based on Regulation (EC) No. 177/2008establishing a common framework for business registers for statisticalpurposes. In this connection, a software application for transactionmanagement of the business population database, including historicalrecords management, was designed. The database was established on thebasis of a combination of available administrative and statistical sourcesand has been further upgraded.


– transition of Statistical Business Register (SPR) to Standard Classification

of Activities (SKD 2008)

On January 1, 2008, a transition from an administrative (Business Registerof Slovenia – PRS, the responsibility of AJPES) and statistical (StatisticalBusiness Register ‐ SPR, the responsibility of SORS) business register to anew Classification of Activities (SKD 2008) was enabled. Reclassificationsof PRS units were concluded at the end of 2007. In 2008, AJPES, incooperation with SORS, carried out reclassifications for enterprises ofpeople with disabilities and organisations of people with disabilities andhumanitarian organisations, in accordance with the SKD 2008 changes inFebruary 2008. In order to carry out statistical surveys, SORS will continueto classify business entities according to both ‐ the existing classificationand the new classification ‐ envisaged until the end of 2010, when atransition to NACE Rev.2 will be completed in the majority of statisticalareas.

‐ structural questionnaire for quality improvement of the Business Register of Slovenia and SORS–AJPES cooperation

In terms of the methodology, in connection with the improvement andquality maintenance of the PRS, which is the basic administrative sourceof data on business entities, AJPES and SURS prepared a special structuralquestionnaire through which AJPES, in accordance with the Decree onkeeping and maintaining the Register100 , will verify the data quality in theRegister, in particular those concerning the principal and secondaryactivities of business entities and data on local units (these are ofsignificant importance for accurate collection and statistical presentationof regional data). In 2008, on the basis of the questionnaire, a test surveyof Register units was carried out and a system of surveying was proposed.In order to carry out the structural survey, the institutions proposedregulation of the area by modification of the relevant primary legislation.

►►In 2008 AJPES carried out a pilot survey of small and medium‐sized

99 See Enterprise Groups, Slovenia, 2006 – provisional data, 5 November 2008, First Release. Available at: http://www.stat.si/eng/novica_prikazi.aspx?id=1953 (26. 02. 2009). 100 Uradni list RS (Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia), No. 121/2006 (24. 11. 2006).


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enterprises.

The results from the completed structural questionnaires of 48 enterprises showed that completing them is not difficult for business entities who, in their accounting records, keep data records separately by individual activity; more difficulties were encountered by small business entities carrying out several activities, for which separate accounts are not kept; business entities anticipate that, on the basis of their answers to the questionnaire, AJPES will carry out appropriate data modifications in the PRS, which, however, is mainly not possible, since those data are entered in the Court Register and the Court decides on modifications. It is not therefore reasonable to burden business entities with verification of all data but only those for which AJPES is responsible for entering into the PRS. The latter, prior to entering the change in the main activity of the economic enterprise in the PRS, must verify whether the concerned activity has been recorded in the articles of association or statutes and, if not, the business entity is obliged to supplement the basic act. The same applies to a definition of the main activities of the business or an organisational part of the business entity, since the activity must be one of the registered activities of the subordinate business entity.


– development of harmonised indicators of entrepreneurship101

Entrepreneurship is becoming an increasingly recognized driving force ofeconomic growth, productivity, innovation and employment. In 2006, theOECD started to implement the Entrepreneurship Indicators Programme(EIP)102 in order to establish comparable determinants in the mentionedarea. In 2007, Eurostat also joined the OECD indicators development.

Some OECD and EU Member States have already published the firstharmonised indicators, while some others, including Slovenia, are stilldeveloping them. SORS will also focus intense activities in this area in2009.

NEW Statistical Legislation: (i) Commission Regulation (EC) No 192/2009 of 11 March 2009 implementing Regulation (EC) No 177/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a common framework for business registers for statistical purposes, as regards the exchange of confidential data between the Commission (Eurostat) and Member States; (ii) Regulation (EC) No 177/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 February 2008 establishing a common framework for business registers for statistical purposes and repealing Council Regulation (EEC) No 2186/93

4. AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND FISHERIES

4.1 AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND FISHERIES – farm structure and typology, agricultural income and prices, etc.

In 2008, SORS published final data on Farm Structure Survey which covered approximately 17,000 agricultural holdings in Slovenia. The data form the basis for implementation of the EU Common Agricultural Policy. Two recently adopted Regulations ‐ concerning the farm structure surveys after 2010 and concerning the introduction of a new survey of agricultural production methods and definition of Community typology for agricultural holdings ‐provided an important basis for preparations for the Agricultural Census 2010. In this connection, participation in the EU pilot project on irrigation water consumption was also important.

In the second half of 2009, SORS will publish data on food balance sheets and economic accounts for forestry, i.e. a

101 See OECD website, Measuring entrepreneurship: a digest of indicators. Available at: http://www.oecd.org/document/31/0,3343,en_2649_33715_41663647_1_1_1_1,00.html (06. 03. 2009). 102 The OECD Entrepreneurship Indicators Programme (EIP), information available at: http://www.oecd.org/document/0/0,3343,en_2649_34233_39149504_1_1_1_1,00.html (26. 02. 2009).


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production account and an income account. In the area of economic accounts for agriculture, the introduction of methodology was a priority (EAA 97 Rev. 1.1) in view of changes to the law and data quality improvements through improved data sources.

The new requirements for data on sales and use of plant protection products in EU draft regulations concerning the sustainable use of the mentioned products concern the financially and technically most demanding national statistical tasks. Their successful implementation can only be ensured by an effective system established at the inter‐ministry level. For this purpose, SORS has already provided an initiative to conclude an agreement with the Phytosanitary Administration of the Republic of Slovenia.

4.1.1 Farm structure and typology and preparation to carry out the Agricultural Census 2010


– new regulation on farm structure surveys of agricultural holdings structure

In November 2008, a new EU Regulation on farm structure surveys after2010 and introducing a new survey on agricultural production methodswas adopted. The new Regulation (EC) No. 1166/2008 introduces certainnew contents in farm structure surveys (i.e. areas with geneticallymodified crops, areas intended for energy crops, equipment for theproduction of renewable energy, detailed monitoring of data on outdoorirrigation, detailed monitoring of organic farming, detailed monitoring ofdata on secondary activities on agricultural holdings).

The Statistical Advisory Committee on Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheriesprovided an initiative to establish special working groups that wouldexamine the changes in methodology and/or innovations in relation to thecontents of the new Regulation. The first meeting of working groups wasin March 2009. In the Agricultural Census 2010, SORS intends to use all theavailable administrative data sources that meet national statistics qualitystandards. These are administrative sources of the Ministry of Agriculture,Forestry and Food and of the Agency of the Republic of Slovenia forAgricultural Markets and Rural Development.

– changes in definition of typology for agricultural holdings

At the end of 2008, Commission Regulation (EC) No. 1242/2008 establishing a Community typology for agricultural holdings was adopted; theRegulation will be used for the definition of agricultural holdings typologyin their next structure survey, i.e. in the 2010 census.


– preparations for the Agricultural Census 2010 and participation in the EU

pilot project on the irrigation water consumption

Within the framework of preparations for the Agricultural Census, SORSexamined the quality and usefulness of the existing administrative sourcesof data and started to participate in an EU pilot project to prepare amethod for assessment of irrigation water consumption in agriculture,which is a new variable in the farm structure survey. The EU pilot projectwill be concluded at the end of 2009; the findings and recommendations willbe used in the Agricultural Census 2010.


– release of final data on the survey on the farm structure survey

In 2008, EU Member States provided basic data stemming from the FarmStructure Survey 2007, providing an indicative calculation of typologyaccording to the new methodology. In cooperation with the AgriculturalInstitute of Slovenia, which prepared a calculation of SO 2004 (standardoutput for the average of the 2003–2005 period), SORS provided thosedata to Eurostat. Detailed results of Farm Structure Survey as of 1 June2007103 were published in the SI‐STAT database.

103 See Farm Structure Survey, detailed data, Slovenia, 01. 06. 2007, 30 June 2008, E‐Release. Available at: http://www.stat.si/eng/novica_prikazi.aspx?id=1707 (24. 02. 2009).


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4.1.2 Agricultural income and prices, economic accounts for agriculture and economic accounts for forestry, animal and crop products supply balance sheets


– development of agricultural products weight scheme;

The agricultural products weighting scheme104, which has not beencompleted due to further changes in methodology, including a newconcept of seasonability in the calculation of price indices for seasonalagricultural products; in addition to the above mentioned, the calculationmethod of price indices for seasonal agricultural products at producers hasbeen modified as follows: in the future, seasonability should mean theapplication of a changing 'basket' of seasonal agricultural products andchanging quarterly weights during the year; it is intended to be mandatoryfor fresh fruit, vegetables and potatoes. SORS presented theaforementioned modifications at a meeting of the Advisory Committee onAgriculture, Forestry and Fisheries in 2008105.

Also in 2008, SORS prepared new weighting schemes, which involvedharmonisation of methods for calculating indices for the preceding periodand calculating the existing indices on the new base. The work will becompleted in the first half of 2009.

– development of other income approaches in agriculture

In addition to the establishment of income from agricultural activity in theeconomic accounts for agriculture, in connection with the establishmentof suitable living conditions of the agricultural population andimplementation of the common agricultural policy, it is also important toestablish the income of agricultural households, which includes allincomes of their members, not only incomes from agricultural activity.The basic category to be calculated is the net disposable income, whichallows comparison with other types of households and the determinationof ratios between incomes of various types of households. There is nolegal basis for establishing the income of agricultural holdings.

The third approach, a farm accountancy data network (FADN), is withinthe competence of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food. SORShas been included in the preparation of a sample of agricultural holdings,which is based on the typology and size of agricultural holdings.

‐ satellite accounts for forestry: definition of data sources for calculation of entrepreneurial account and capital

account

In connection with economic accounts for forestry, development effortswere focused on the definition of data sources for an entrepreneurialaccount and capital account, specifically, the calculation of interest andrents for forest land and the determination of fixed assets and grosscapital formation in forestry. The work will also be continued in 2009.

Changes in methodology

‐ economic accounts for agriculture: reduction of GVA in agriculture in 2007

resulted from methodology

In 2007, Slovenian agriculture was marked by an increase in prices of cropproducts and the introduction of a new agricultural policy. A changedsubsidy allocation system (the majority of subsidies were changed intodecoupled ones) had an impact on gross and net value added.

The gross value added in agriculture totalled EUR 415.8 million or 1.2% ofgross domestic product, which is a reduction of 0.3 percentage points

104 In 2007, SORS for the period of 2000–2005 calculated quarterly price indices in agriculture and prepared a new weighting scheme for calculation of producer price indices of agricultural products. The weighting scheme for seasonal agricultural products has not yet been finalized due to continued changes in methodology. 105 See 7th Session of the Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Statistics Advisory Committee available only in Slovene at: http://www.stat.si/drz_stat_sosveti_seznam1.asp?id=198 (24. 02. 2009).


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compared to the preceding year106. The main reason for the reduction isthe methodology, since the majority of subsidies that were entered in thebooks as subsidies on products, in 2007 began to be entered as othersubsidies on production, which resulted in a reduction of value added.


– production account and primary income account: financial intermediation

services indirectly measured

In 2008, as one of the categories of intermediate consumption in theproduction cycle, the financial intermediation services indirectly measured(PMSFP) were also included in the economic accounts for forestry,specifically in the production account. SORS intends to publish data at theend of September 2009.

‐ economic accounts for agriculture: other taxes on production

In 2008, the economic accounts for agriculture were supplemented withother taxes on production, harmonized with national accounts data107. Inaccordance with Regulation No. 138/2004 on economic accounts in theEU, final data for 2007 and an assessment of real agricultural income for2008 were regularly published.

– food balance sheets in cooperation with the Agricultural Institute of Slovenia:

production balance sheets for the 2000–2006 period

In 2008, in terms of methodology, SORS and the Agricultural Institute ofSlovenia108 cooperated in the preparation of production balance sheets ona regular basis. The cluster of balance sheets of production for the 2000–2006 period was prepared anew. Publication of the completed balancesheets of production is planned in the first half of 2009.

‐ food balance sheets for the Ministry of Defence: the majority of balance sheets for the 1995‐2005 period were prepared; balance sheet for fooder in preparation

In cooperation with the Ministry of Defence, the majority of balancesheets for the 1995‐2005 period were prepared, i.e. balance sheets forbaby food, fish, salt, fodder, bottled drinking water, coffee and tea. Thefooder balance sheet is still in preparation; since this is one of the mostdemanding balance sheets, and the cooperation of several institutions isenvisaged. The preparation of these balance sheets will therefore continuein 2009. It is planned to publish the prepared balance sheets in the firsthalf of 2009.

4.1.3 Agricultural crop and livestock production and fisheries


– new Regulation concerning crop production statistics in preparation

A new Regulation (COM (2008) 210) concerning obligations regardingstatistical reporting of data on total crop production is in process ofadoption and planned to be adopted in the first half of 2009. It willprovide harmonized definitions, used in monitoring crop statistics throughstatistics of farm structure surveys.

– new Regulation concerning plant protection products statistics in

preparation

Regulation (COM (2006) 778), stipulating new obligations concerningstatistical reporting on plant protection products in agriculture, is also inthe process of adoption. During the shaping of the Regulation in terms ofits contents (already in 2005), Eurostat financed the project in EU MemberStates, whereby SORS also participated. The latter109 published theconclusions of the project on consumption of plant protection products inwheat production on its website in September 2008.

Monitoring plant protection product consumption in agriculture is a

106 See Economic Accounts for Agriculture, Slovenia, 2007, 17 October 2008, First Release. Available at: http://www.stat.si/eng/novica_prikazi.aspx?id=1943 (24. 02. 2009). 107 See Real Income from Agriculture – Second Estimate, Slovenia 2008, 3 February 2009, First Release. Available at: http://www.stat.si/eng/novica_prikazi.aspx?id=2143 (10. 03. 2009). 108 In accordance with the Agreement on Co‐operation between the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food and SORS on the production of crop products and livestock production balance sheets, concluded in 2007, the Agricultural Institute of Slovenia is an official producer of food balance sheets. 109 See Use of plant protection products in wheat production, Slovenia, 2007, 29 September 2008, First Release. Available at: http://www.stat.si/eng/novica_prikazi.aspx?id=1865 (17. 03. 2009).


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demanding task in terms of its contents; successful implementation canonly be ensured through an established and effectively operating inter‐ministry system. To this aim, in 2009 SORS will continue its discussionwith the Phytosanitary Administration of the Republic of Sloveniaregarding the new Regulation and national needs for this data provision.

– new Regulation concerning livestock production and meat statistics adopted

In November 2008, a Regulation concerning livestock production andmeat statistics was adopted by merging three currently applicableDirectives into one, through which administrative data use was simplified.

– new Regulation concerning aquaculture adopted

In 2009, in accordance with the new Regulation concerning aquaculture(EC) No. 762/2008, SORS will start to obtain data from the Ministry ofAgriculture, Forestry and Food. Slovenia requested a three‐yeartransitional period for complete data collection alignment with theprovisions of the Regulation.


– agricultural crop production: data publication

In 2008 SORS published final data on Census of orchard plantations2007110, carried out every five years on the basis of the EU Regulation.

In 2008, in crop production statistics data were collected on areas andproduction of crops, vegetables, grass, fruit trees and vine, produced onthese lands during the year. Data will be regularly published until the endof March 2009.

– final products: publication of data on NUTS 2

In autumn 2008, SORS also published important data on crop production2007 by cohesion regions (NUTS 2).


– areas: new source of data Data on areas were obtained through a sample survey of areas sown andthe number of livestock. In 2008, the major part of survey data wasobtained from an administrative source (direct payments of the Agency ofthe Republic of Slovenia for Agricultural Markets and Rural Development(AAMRD)); other data were collected through a minor telephone survey.

– survey on livestock production and areas sown in autumn sowing:

administrative source use

The use of the Bovine Administrative Register, data from which theMinistry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food sends to SORS, resulted inreduced burdens on reporting units in connection with the KME‐DEC 08survey. The reduction in the reporting burden is reflected in a reducednumber of agricultural holdings included in surveys (a smaller sample) andin a reduced scope of questions on the number of bovine animals.

NEW Statistical Legislation: (i) Regulation (EC) No. 1166/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 November 2008 on farm structure surveys and the survey on agricultural production methods and repealing Council Regulation (EEC) No.571/88, (ii) Commission Regulation (EC) No. 1242/2008 of 8 December 2008 establishing a Community typology for agricultural holdings,(iii) (COM (2008) 210) Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning crop products statistics, (iv) COM (2006) 778 Proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning statistics on plant protection products, Regulation (EC) No. 1165/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 November 2008 concerning livestock and meat statistics and repealing Council Directives 93/23/EEC, 93/24/EEC and 93/25/EEC, (in) Regulation (EC) No. 762/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 July 2008 on the submission by Member States of statistical data on aquaculture and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No. 788/96

110 See Census of orchards plantations, Slovenia, 2007 ‐ final data, 29 September 2008, E‐Release. Available at: http://www.stat.si/eng/novica_prikazi.aspx?id=1895 (24. 02. 2009).


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5. MULTI‐DOMAIN STATISTICS

5.1 ENVIRONMENT and SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT – statistics of waste and recycling, water use and discharges into water, etc.

The Statistical Office, in carrying out regular surveys on environmental statistics, focuses methodological development in particular on analysis of increased use of administrative sources provided by various institutions in Slovenia. In order to achieve greater rationalisation in environmental data collection, cooperation with the Environmental Agency of the Republic of Slovenia and in performing surveys on public water‐distribution system and public sewage system, cooperation with the Ministry of the Environment and Spatial Planning as well as in obtaining records on damages resulting from natural disasters, cooperation with the Administration of the Republic of Slovenia for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief within the Ministry of Defence have been gaining an ever more important role.

An important part of the development achieved in the sector is environmental satellite accounts, in connection with which, two pilot projects for the preparation of indicators regarding material‐flow and air emissions accounts (NAMEA) were carried out in 2008. Also important is the study of environmental expenditures, in accordance with which SORS will establish procedures for regular collection of data aligned with the international methodology and which will be one of the important information sources on environmental protection expenditures according to environmental domains at a national level.

In 2008, SORS concluded with the Environmental Agency of the Republic of Slovenia (ARSO) two Annexes to the Agreement on Rationalisation of Data Collection and Harmonisation in Environmental Statistics, i.e. in water statistics, data from performance monitoring reports and environmental accounts statistics. A third Annex is under preparation, relating to collection of data on liquid fuels, biofuels and other renewable fuels for motor vehicles in road traffic.

5.1.1 Waste and Recycling Statistics

Development of statistical methodology

– use of administrative sources in waste import and export statistics

In 2008, SORS, on the basis of Eurostat recommendations, started toexamine the suitability of using data on waste import and exportobtained from foreign trade data. In 2009, on the basis of the results ofthese studies, the Waste Statistics Regulation will be amended and willregulate this method of obtaining data on waste import and exportaccording to new rules

New statistical data and services – waste from production and service

activities

In June 2008, in accordance with Regulation (EC) No. 2150/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 November 2002 on waste statistics SORS provided Eurostat with the required data on the amountsof produced waste, quantities and methods of waste handling and numberand capacity of waste recovery and disposal facilities111; data on facilitiesalso at the NUTS 2 level. In accordance with the afore mentionedRegulation, SORS also prepared a quality report.

5.1.2 Statistics on use of water and emissions into water

Care for quality

– higher quality data on waters resulting from the abolition of quantity limitations

in 2007

In 2008, SORS carried out four regular surveys on water statistics. Due tothe abolition of quantity limitations in 2007, the obtained data on use,purification and pumping of water in Slovenia were more realistic and ofconsiderably higher quality.

Statistical methodology development In 2008, SORS continued to examine possibilities of obtaining data from

111 See tables in SI‐STAT database, Environment and Natural Resources/Environment/Waste. Available at: http://www.stat.si/pxweb/Database/Environment/Environment.asp (12. 03. 2009).


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– use of administrative source data on public sewage system

administrative sources, in particular from the Ministry of the Environmentand Spatial Planning database on the public sewage system. At the endof 2008, it started to compare the data obtained from the Institute ofPublic Health of the Republic of Slovenia and from the Ministry of theEnvironment and Spatial Planning, which will also be continued in 2009,including examination of the possibility also of capturing data on thepublic sewage system from the Ministry of the Environment and SpatialPlanning in the future.

Rationalisation of data collection

– cooperation with the Ministry of the Environment and Spatial Planning

In 2008, SORS commenced discussions with the Ministry of theEnvironment and Spatial Planning on cooperation in carrying out surveyson the public water distribution system and public sewage system. It isplanned that the Ministry of the Environment and Spatial Planning shouldstart to collect those data independently and so the design of these formsfor data capture is important for SORS since the forms might be suitablefor both institutions.

5.1.3 Environmental Satellite Accounts and Environmental Protection Expenditure Statistics


– second pilot study on material‐flow accounts finalized

In 2008, SORS finalized the second pilot study on material‐flowaccounts, continuing the work of the first pilot study (produced in 2006)and supplemented the calculation of indicators at the so‐called »outputside«. SORS started to establish the database and prepared a specialreport for Eurostat.

– second pilot study on air emissions accounts, NAMEA finalized

In 2008, SORS finalized the second pilot study on air emissions accountsand submitted the data to Eurostat. In carrying out the project, it followedthe new amendments of the Draft Eurostat Methodological Guide (Manualfor Air Emissions Accounts, version 1.3.). SORS will publish the data in theSI‐STAT database in April 2009. Within the framework of the pilot study, areport was produced, which, in addition to aligned data and results, is thebase for development of a national methodology regarding air emissionsaccounts.

– preparation of a proposal for a pilot study on implementation of

environmental expenditures accounts

In 2008, SORS prepared a proposal for a pilot study on implementationof environmental expenditures accounts It was approved by Eurostat in2008 and its implementation will start in 2009.

– detailed data from households and other non‐industrial activities

In 2008, SORS continued with examination of the collection of detaileddata from households and other non‐industrial activities.

In relation to industrial activities, it continued improving the methodologyfor collecting data on taxes and subsidies in connection with theenvironment.

5.1.4 Natural Disaster Damage Statistics

Rationalisation of data collection

– cooperation with the Administration of the Republic of Slovenia for Civil

Protection and Disaster Relief

In 2008, SORS put a lot of efforts in cooperation with the Administrationof the Republic of Slovenia for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief, withinthe Ministry of Defence, in connection with capturing data on damageresulting from natural disasters. Discussions are underway and will becontinued in the coming year.

5.1.5 Sustainable development indicators

International co‐operation – Final Report of the Joint

UNECE/OECD/Eurostat Working Group on Statistics for Sustainable

Development

SORS is participating in a Joint UNECE/OECD/Eurostat Working Group onStatistics for Sustainable Development, responsible for preparing aconcept for measuring sustainable development. The group, whichconcluded its work in 2008, focused its efforts on the possibility of usingthe concept of capital in all its various forms, i.e. conventional, economic,


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natural, human resources capital and social capital. The central questionwas whether prosperity, in its widest sense, can be a criterion formonitoring sustainable development. The group compiled its findings in aFinal Report, published on the UNECE website112.

– participation in the EU project to form sustainable development indicators

In the Annual Programme of Statistical Surveys 2008, SORS planned thepreparation of indicators for monitoring sustainable development and aconcept for their publication on the website. Since Eurostat published in2008 an invitation to tender for obtaining grants to form sustainabledevelopment indicators, SORS had to include the implementation of thetask in the project. On the basis of the pilot project, it will organize twointernational workshops for launching a website and for preparation of apublication with sustainable development indicators.

5.2 REGIONAL Statistics

An important element of work in regional statistics is the provision and dissemination of data from different statistical areas at the most important regional levels, i.e. by statistical regions, administrative units and municipalities. In this connection, the Statistical Office has been striving to satisfy the needs of users, since it is aware that in planning and monitoring the various development policies, data from a national level alone are not enough; data from the lowest possible territorial levels are also needed.

New statistical data and services – regional data in publications and

databases

In 2008 SORS:

• published an updated version of the Catalogue of Regionalisationof Slovenia 2008113, in which it presented 24 functional andadministrative territorial divisions of Slovenia. The network ofmunicipalities formed the basis for all divisions (210 municipalities).A graphic presentation was prepared for each presented regionaldivision, together with a relevant unit code. The graphic presentationis supplemented by tables and brief explanations;

• issued a publication entitled Slovene Regions in Figures 2008114,intended for a wide circle of users. It includes various regionalindicators, showing differences and similarities among Slovenianregions, presented in the form of maps, graphs, tables and text;

• started preparation of a new publication entitled SloveneMunicipalities in Figures, based on the Slovene Regions inFigures model, to be published no later than May 2009. Thepublication will include a range of comparable data and indicatorsfor Slovenian municipalities, including 210 map presentations ofindicators from various areas;

• published regional data in the SI‐STAT database115 for thoseareas for which the presentation of such data may be published inaccordance with rules concerning data communication and

112 See Final Report of the Joint UNECE/OECD/Eurostat Working Group on Statistics for Sustainable Development on Measuring Sustainable Development (May, 2008). Available at: http://www.unece.org/stats/archive/03.03f.e.htm (12. 03. 2009). 113 See Catalogue of Regionalisation of Slovenia 2008, 30 October 2008, First Release. Available only in Slovene at: http://www.stat.si/novica_prikazi.aspx?ID=1964 (23. 02. 2009). 114 Slovene Regions in Figures 2008 (19. 05. 2008, special release). Available at: http://www.stat.si/eng/novica_prikazi.aspx?id=1631 (23. 02. 2009). 115 See SI‐STAT data portal on: http://www.stat.si/pxweb/dialog/statfile1.asp (23. 02. 2009).


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dissemination. In 2008, publication of such data was extended toinclude the NUTS 2 level – to the cohesion regions VzhodnaSlovenija and Zahodna Slovenija. For the first time, data bysettlements of the Republic of Slovenia were published;

• published data in the Places Database, from 2006 accessible onthe website116 enabling interactive searching and browsing forexisting settlements and streets in Slovenia. Data on areas wereupdated, as well as comments on territorial changes ofsettlements, and, in addition to census data on population,register data on population as of 31 December 2007, were alsoadded for the first time.

– Urban Audit project Data for the Urban Audit project, which includes three hundred towns ofEU Member States, were collected in 2007. SORS checked and assessedthose data in 2008 and Eurostat then published them on its website117.

At the beginning of 2009, certain data for Slovenian units were publishedin the SI‐STAT database, in which, for clarification reasons, detailedcomments are added to the tables.

– geocoded databases, cartographic presentation of data

In 2008, SORS made a series of thematic maps for external users andsimultaneously used this presentation of the data and indicators in itspublications. In 2009, it will supplement such publication with a specialwebsite application, providing users with access to various thematic maps,including tables for long time series.

SORS also disseminates the data in hierarchical networks (grid), incompliance with the rules concerning data dissemination andpresentation. Jointly with the Surveying and Mapping Authority of theRepublic of Slovenia and the Land Survey Institute of Slovenia, a nationalhierarchical network was prepared in accordance with the INSPIREDirective.

International co‐operation – participation in the European Forum

for Geostatistics

SORS actively participates in the European Forum for Geostatistics,linking experts from the EU statistical offices and surveying and mappingauthorities and representatives of Eurostat and other EU institutions.These are involved in spatial management polices for establishingharmonized geostatistics at the EU level, representing infrastructure forpresenting a high resolution spatial statistical data. The Forum is alsoimportant for exchanging experience from geostatistical data processing,provision and presentation. In October 2008, SORS organized one of themeetings of the Forum for Geostatistics 118 at Bled.

5.3 SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY and INNOVATION

At the end of 2008, the Statistical Office monitored for the first time data on national budget funds for research and development activities in accordance with the Statistical Classification of Socio‐economic Objectives (NABS Classification). Data on innovation activities in processing and selected service activities for the 2004‐2006 period

116 See Geographical Names on: http://www.stat.si/eng/KrajevnaImena (02. 03. 2009) 117 For Urban Audit, see the Eurostat website at: http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/portal/page?_pageid=1996,45323734&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL&screen=welcomeref&open=/&product=EU_MASTER_urban_audit&depth=2 (24. 02. 2009). 118 The European Forum for GeoStatistics, Bled 2008, 28 October 2008, Special Release. Available at: http://www.stat.si/eng/novica_prikazi.aspx?id=1961 (prevzeto 24. 2. 2009).


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were also published, together with data on organisational innovations, collected through pilot model. In addition toimplementation of a regular two‐year survey on innovation activity, in 2008 preparation was under way for carrying out a new Careers of Doctorate Holders (CDH) Survey, planned to be published in 2009 or at the beginning of 2010.


–preparation for carrying out a pilot Survey of Careers of Doctorate Holders

2009

In accordance with the survey methodology of Careers of Doctorate Holdersdeveloped by Eurostat, OECD and UNESCO, SORS examined in detail all theexisting statistical sources and possibilities of their use for the survey. In fact,with the exception of opinion data, these data will be obtained from existingsources, i.e. from the 2002 Census and Statistical Register of Employment. Itis planned to carry out the survey in 2009 or at the beginning of 2010.

New statistical data and services –release of data on innovation activities

for the 2004‐2006 period

In 2008, SORS published data on innovation activities in processing andselected service activities for the 2004‐2006 period. An optional testmodule of questions on organisational innovations was added to thesurvey carried out in the EU every two years 119.

– data on national budget funds for the first time collected according to the

revised NABS classification

The first data on research and development (R&D) by sector ofimplementation and sources of financing for 2007 were published at theend of 2008 and the final data in February 2009.

Data on national budget funds for research and development (R&D) for2007 (final budget) were released for the first time in accordance with therevised international Statistical Classification of Socio‐economicObjectives (The NABS Classification)120 and will be published in April 2009.In 2007, EU Quality Reports were produced for the first time for theaforementioned two surveys; for the survey on research and development(R&D) activities separately, by sector. Final data show that gross domestic expenditures in the area of research and development (R&D) in 2007 in Slovenia amounted to EUR 500.5 million, representing 1.45% of gross domestic product.121

– international data communication (OECD/Eurostat)

In addition to regular data communication on research and developmentand on innovation activity, data on research and development (R&D)activities, calculated to the NUTS 2 level for the time series from 2003,were communicated to Eurostat and the OECD. Certain detailed data oncompanies active in the area of research in biotechnology, werecommunicated to the OECD on a special questionnaire. SORS plans topublish these data in Statistical Information on Research andDevelopment Activity in June 2009.

In cooperation with the Ministry of Higher Education, Science andTechnology and the Slovenian Research Agency, within the project entitled'Women in Science’, the statistical data, presented on a specialquestionnaire, were communicated to the EU Commission. These data,together with other relevant data from existing data sources and/or Eurostatdatabases (for example surveys on research and development activities,labour force surveys) by country, will be published in a special publicationentitled She Figures, which is planned to be published in July 2009.

119 Research and Development Activities, Slovenia, 2007 ‐ provisional data, 11 December 2008, First Release. Available at: http://www.stat.si/eng/novica_prikazi.aspx?id=2046 (11. 03. 2009). 120 NABS Classification (The Nomenclature for the Analysis and Comparison of Science Programmes and Budgets) defines final objectives of research and development work in a general sense. In relation to data on national budget funds, it provides assistance in analysing public financing of research and development activities on the basis of 13 social and economic goals. 121 Research and Development Activities, Slovenia 2007 ‐ final data, 26 February 2009, First Release. Available at: http://www.stat.si/eng/novica_prikazi.aspx?id=2179 (26. 03. 2009).


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5.4 INFORMATION SOCIETY

Due to the rapid development in this area, information society statistics must continuously adapt to new data requirements; on the basis of statistical data, the European Commission has been preparing annual reports for EU Member States on EU development in the area of the information society. Since the validity of the Regulation concerning Community statistics on the information society122 (of 2004) will expire in 2009, Eurostat, in cooperation with EU Member States, started to prepare a proposal of a new Regulation, planning the updating of issues in accordance with new developments in this area.

A five‐year strategy entitled "i2010 ‐ European Information Society for Growth and Employment"123. will be finalized in 2010. As early as 2008, discussion began on the so‐called »benchmarking framework i2010124«, which will define topics and variables through which official statistics monitors the development of the information society in individual Member States and in the EU as a whole.


– innovations in electronic communication services monitoring

The rapid development of electronic communications required theupdating ‐ in terms of substance ‐ of statistical monitoring of the field,which has been based since 2007 on data from the Post and ElectronicCommunications Agency of the Republic of Slovenia125. The latter, incooperation with SORS, through adaptation of substance, has introducedelectronic data communication and established databases. The changesrequired more detailed or new methodological definitions, as well as thesolution of technical issues related to transmission and storing of data bySORS. A new method of statistical data publication was prepared. TheMinistry of the Economy and the Ministry of Higher Education, Scienceand Technology (via their membership in the Working Party on theInformation Society126) also cooperated in implementing activities.


– preparation of new, ad hoc modules in surveys on the use of ICT

By adding special modules each time, the possibility of monitoring theinformation society increases, while, at the same time, the number ofindictors monitored in an individual year does not increase. As a result ofthis, the reporting burden does not increase.

In surveys on the use of information and communication technologies(ICT) in enterprises in 2009, for which SORS prepared in 2008, the focuswill be placed on e‐commerce, while in connection with the use of ICT inhouseholds and by individuals, the focus will be on e‐commerce andtrust. In 2008, SORS was included in a special Eurostat task force workinggroup and thus actively participated in the preparation of a 2010questionnaire, which will be focused on safety and trust.

– analysis of the situation in the area of courier services and other postal

activities

On the basis of the available administrative sources, the Working Groupon Statistics of Postal Services produced a detailed analysis of thesituation in the area of courier services and other postal activities. This

122 Regulation (EC) No. 808/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 April 2004 concerning Community statistics on the information society. 123 See Commission Communication to the Council, the European Parliament, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions "i2010 ‐ European Information Society for Growth and Employment" (COM(2005) 229 final). 124 See information on strategy »i2010« at: http://www.stat.si/eng/tema_ekonomsko_infdruzba.asp (23. 02. 2009). 125 On September 17, 2008, SORS and the Post and Electronic Communications Agency of the Republic of Slovenia (APEK) concluded an Annex to the Agreement on co‐operation in providing data on the development of the electronic communications market. 126 See the Working Party on the Information Society at: http://www.stat.si/drz_stat_sosveti_seznam.asp?sosvet=23 (23. 02. 2009).


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material is intended for the Statistical Methodology Council127, from whichthe Working Group anticipates an opinion on the necessity and rationalityof development task implementation in current circumstances or on itspostponement until the postal services market is fully opened. Throughthe planned abolition of the national postal monopoly on universal postalservices, Slovenia will open the postal market on 31 December 2010.


– innovations in monitoring the development of information

statistics

Financed from EU funds, SORS performed regular surveys on the use ofinformation and communication technologies (ICT) in households and byindividuals, in enetrprises and in the finance sector. In surveys on the useof information and communication technologies (ICT) in households in2008, focus was placed on the question of use of advanced services128. Inconnection with enetrprises (including the finance sector), the emphasiswas on questions related to e‐business. In the first quarter of 2008, advanced services were used by 34% of persons aged 10 to 74.129

5.5 BUSINESS TRENDS SURVEYS

In 2008, business trends surveys were upgraded in terms of their contents and technical aspects, in order to reduce the reporting burden; standard quality reports were produced and a new classification of activity introduced.


– upgrading the contents and technical aspects of surveys

In order to reduce the reporting burden on reporting units and to increasetheir response, in 2008 SORS started to upgrade the contents andtechnical aspects of surveys . In addition to shortening the questionnaire inthe surveys on retail trade and construction, the threshold for small‐sizedcompanies for inclusion in the sample framework in the survey on retailtrade was increased. Technical improvements upgraded the completeprocess of data capture and processing.

– introduction of new classification of activities in business trends surveys

SORS also started its preparations130 for the introduction of the newStandard Classification of Activities (SKD 2008) (Nace Rev.2) in businesstrends surveys. It is planned to publish data in accordance with the newclassification in May 2010.

Care for quality

– Standard Quality Reports on PA‐TRG/M 2007 and PA‐STOR/M 2007

In accordance with the Comprehensive Quality Management Strategy, in2008 SORS produced a Standard Report for the Business Trends Survey inRetail Trade (PA‐TRG/M 2007) and a Standard Report for the BusinessTrends Survey in Services (PA‐STOR/M 2007). Since May 2009, thesereports have been available on the SORS website131. In July 2008, arepresentative of the European Commission visited SORS and made aspecial analysis of data on business trends in Slovenia. In cooperation with

127 The Methodology Council within SORS started to operate at the beginning of 2008. It is composed of recognized statistics experts and associates of the Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia, who verify methodologies for the introduction of new statistical surveys and examine proposals for the abolition of statistical surveys and possibilities of capturing data from other administrative sources. 128 I.e. use of the Internet to acquire/exchange audio and visual data files, communicate (e‐mail, SMS, MMS, VOIP, video calls, direct communication, forums, chat rooms, blogs), perform financial transactions, localize and direct (GPS) etc. 129 Use of the Internet in households and by individuals, Slovenia, first quarter 2008, 1 October 2008, First Release. Available at: http://www.stat.si/eng/novica_prikazi.aspx?id=1907 (23. 02. 2009). 130 In November 2008, SORS participated in a working group for surveys on business tendencies and customer opinion surveys, led by DG ECFIN. The main emphasis was placed on introduction of the recast classification NACE Rev. 2 and activities related to its introduction. 131 See Standard Quality Reports. Available only in Slovene at: http://www.stat.si/metodologija_porocila‐standardna.asp (23. 02. 2009).


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representatives of SORS, he examined the quality of the compiled data,the process of harmonisation of business trends surveys, etc.

New statistical data and services In 2008, the first publication was supplemented with detailed results frombusiness trends surveys on investments in industry. All business trendsdata thus became available to users from the SI‐STAT database.

6. STATISTICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

6.1 LEGAL FRAMEWORK FOR OPERATION

Following the peer review of the compliance of the Slovenian statistical system with the European Statistics Code of Practice, the legal basis for operation of the Slovenian statistical system was assessed as good practice. The modern legal basis provides wide opportunities for the further development of register‐oriented official statistics and clear authorisation for data collecting, and also supports independent communication with users and user‐friendly dissemination of statistical data.

Law and other legal basis

During the period covered by the Report, the underlying legal bases for providing the SORS service were the following:

• National Statistics Act132 (Uradni list RS (Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia, Nos. 45/1995 and 9/2001),

• Medium‐term Programme of Statistical Surveys 2008–2012 (Uradni list RS138 (Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia, No. 119/2007),

• Annual Programme of Statistical Surveys 2008 (Uradni list RS138 (Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia, No. 117/2007),

• Regular and development priorities of national statistics in 2008133 (discussed by the Statistical Council of the Republic of Slovenia at its 24th regular session held on 24 September 2007),

• Regulations concerning standard classifications1, SORS internal acts134, inter‐institutional cooperation agreements.

– preparation of the annual programme of statistical surveys

The Annual Programme of Statistical Surveys 2009 (Uradni list RS (OfficialGazette of the Republic of Slovenia, No. 114/2008) was adopted. TheStatistical Council of the Republic of Slovenia, at its 27th regular sessionheld on 29 October 2008, discussed the Priorities of National Statistics in2009.

– preparation of the Report on the Implementation of the Medium‐term

Programme of Statistical Surveys 2003–2007;

The Government of the Republic of Slovenia, at its 7th regular session heldon 7 January 2009, took note of the Report on the Implementation of theMedium‐term Programme of Statistical Surveys 2003‐2007.

Agreements on inter‐institutional co‐operation135

To date, SORS has concluded approximately 80 Agreements on inter‐institutional co‐operation and the signing of new ones is planned for 2009,

132 See Legal Framework of Slovenian National Statistics. Available at: http://www.stat.si/eng/drz_stat_zakonski.asp (24. 02. 2009). 133 See Priority regular and priority development tasks in the system of national statistics in 2008. Available at: http://www.stat.si/doc/drzstat/priorities2008.pdf (24. 02. 2009). 134 See SORS internal rules and regulations. Available at: http://www.stat.si/eng/stat_notranji.asp (24. 02. 2009). 135 Agreements on inter‐institutional cooperation regulate the issues of organisation, contents, legal protection and technical protocol for data transfer. Agreements are important, in particular in the light of efforts to reduce burdens imposed on reporting units, and in the introduction of the use of administrative sources. The agreements signed provide for protection of


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including with the Employment Service of Slovenia, the Ministry ofLabour, Family and Social Affairs and the Institute of Public Health of theRepublic of Slovenia.

In 2008, SORS concluded special agreements with the following institutions: March Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food ‐ an Agreement on co‐operation in preparing and collecting farm accountancy data was concluded on 25 March 2008. Tax Administration of the Republic of Slovenia within the Ministry of Finance ‐ an Agreement on data exchange was concluded on 27 March 2008. May Pošta Slovenije ‐ an Agreement on data exchange was concluded on 9 May 2008. Internal Administrative Affairs Directorate within the Ministry of the Interior ‐ an Agreement on co‐operation in providing data on registered motor vehicles and trailers was concluded on 13 May 2008. July Ministry of Labour, Family and Social Affairs and the Employment Service of Slovenia ‐ an Agreement on preparing and providing data on active employment policy (AEP) to the Eurostat LMP database for 2007 was concluded on 17 July 2008. Agency of the Republic of Slovenia for Public Legal Records and Related Services ‐ an Agreement on the provision and use of data from the Business Register of Slovenia was concluded on 17 July 2008. Central Securities Clearing Corporation (CSCC) ‐ an Agreement on the provision and use of data from the central register of securities in book‐entry form was concluded on 31 July 2008. September Post and Electronic Communications Agency of the Republic of Slovenia – an Agreement on co‐operation in providing data on development of the electronic communications market was concluded on 17 September 2008. Supreme Court of the Republic of Slovenia – an Agreement on the provision and use of data from the Central Court Register was concluded on 19 September 2008. November Agency of the Republic of Slovenia for Public Legal Records and Related Services ‐ an Agreement on co‐operation in carrying out a statistical survey entitled "ŠOL‐ŠTIP questionnaire on scholarships provided to students" was concluded on 27 November 2008. December Surveying and Mapping Authority of the Republic of Slovenia, within the Ministry of the Environment ‐ an Agreement on data exchange was concluded on 10 December 2008. Slovenian Maritime Administration within the Ministry of Transport – an Agreement on co‐operation in providing data on harbour transport (reporting arrival/departure of a vessel in a harbour) was concluded on 22 December 2008.

statistical data and its quality and, in particular, ensure SORS a continuous provision of the required data and the continuity of time series.


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6.2 QUALITY

6.2.1 Total quality management by introducing the European Statistics Code of Practice

Through a planned orientation towards high‐quality and user‐friendly national statistics, based on the European Statistics Code of Practice,136 (hereinafter referred to as the "Code of Practice"), SORS has been following the strategic objectives defined in the Medium‐term Programme of Statistical Surveys 2008–2012.

Introduction of the Code of Practice reached the third level in 2008: Reporting to Eurostat on progress made in implementing the plan for continued introduction of the Code of Practice137 in the work of SORS and an assessment of the situation regarding the work of authorised producers of national statistics.

SORS will be further included in ongoing quality development and revision of the Code of Practice in the EU through active membership in the newly founded strategic group for quality, headed by Norway.

Introduction of the Code of Practice and monitoring its implementation – preparation of a Progress Report for

Eurostat on introduction of the Code of Practice

In February and August 2008, Eurostat asked SORS to submit a report onapplying the plan of improvements relating to the introduction of theCode of Practice, created within the framework of a peer review of theOffice in 2007. SORS believes that there is still some work to be done infinalizing alignment with the Code of Practice; in this connection,considerable benefits are expected to be gained from implementation ofthe ISIS project on SORS processes, through which the standardisation ofstatistical data flow and processing will be significantly improved. On the basis of those reports and reports on peer reviews, Eurostatprepared a final report for the first period of introduction of the Code ofPractice in the work of statistical offices; this report was in the form of aCommission Communication submitted to the EU Council and theEuropean Parliament for consideration138.

– preparation of the Report on Compliance of the National Statistical

System with the Code of Practice

Authorised producers of national statistics were included in the process ofverifying compliance of the Slovenian statistical system with the Code ofPractice, in accordance with the current Medium‐term Programme ofStatistical Surveys 2008–2012: SORS organised meetings with therepresentatives of statistical units of the Agency of the Republic ofSlovenia for Public Legal Records and Related Services, the Institute ofPublic Health of the Republic of Slovenia, the Ministry of Finance and theEmployment Service of Slovenia139. The Bank of Slovenia was exemptfrom the verification since, in its operation, it is not required to follow theCode of Practice but the principles of statistical function of the EuropeanSystem of Central Banks (ESCB), which are basically harmonised withinthe European Statistical System. At the meetings, the situation in these institutions was reviewed in termsof complying with the principles of the Code of Practice and guidelines forfurther possibilities of their introduction were formed. Verification ofindividual institutions in terms of compliance with the principles of theCode of Practice was performed only by the activity of official statistics

136 See the European Statistics Code of Practice. Available at: http://www.stat.si/eng/drz_stat_kakovost_kodeks.asp (16. 03. 2009). 137 Improvement actions by principle of the Code. 138 See 2008 Report from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council on implementation of the Code of Practice. Available at: http://eur‐lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=COM:2008:0621:FIN:EN:PDF (16. 30. 2009). 139 Data on the Pension and Invalidity Insurance Institute of the Republic of Slovenia (ZPIZ), which also holds the status of an authorised producer in the programme of statistical surveys, were taken from the self‐assessment questionnaire on compliance with the Codex, completed by the ZPIZ in 2006.


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carried out by the institution. On the basis of its findings, SORS prepared aspecial report for Eurostat in which it presented the main characteristicsand work related issues of the authorised producers of national statistics. On the basis of this report, SORS established that the transfer ofknowledge within the system of Slovenian national statistics should beaccelerated and enhanced and presentations and training for the staff ofauthorised producers organised, and attention should be drawn to thestaff and financial deficit in certain statistical units of authorisedproducers.140

– participation in the EU project, Quality Coaching

Analysis of the report on compliance of statistical offices with theprinciples of the Code of Practice established141 that the majority ofdifficulties are connected with the fourth principle, i.e. the qualitycommitment. Eurostat thus encouraged the exchange of good practice inthe European Statistical System to promote faster and more effectiveimplementation of improvement plans undertaken by the states after thepeer reviews. In pairs, the participants will help one another with theirexperiences: the French Statistical Office will advise SORS on preparationof a document on quality guidelines, while SORS will provide help in themeasurement of quality to the Macedonian Statistical Office.

6.2.2 Measurement of quality of data in statistical surveys

In addition to further preparation of regular standard quality reports, an extensive set of annual quality reports, which will be updated annually, was prepared and published in 2008. Information on the quality of published statistical data will thus be regularly available to users. In preparing these reports, SORS followed the Eurostat recommendations for preparation of standard quality reports on statistical surveys, thus also providing international comparability of statistical data quality.

By introducing standard methods for measuring the quality of data at all levels of data collecting and processing, SORS is endeavouring to gain better control over quality, which is essential for introducing the measures required for its improvement.

Preparation of standard and annual quality reports

Standard quality reports include extensive and accurate documents on anindividual statistical survey and are, as a rule, prepared every five years.Since 2006, SORS has prepared standard reports for the 30 mostimportant statistical surveys. In 2008, standard quality reports were prepared for the following surveys:Household Budget Survey, Farm Structure Survey, EnvironmetalProtection Expenditure, Industrial Production Annual Survey, Survey ofSchool Libraries., Monthly Statistical Survey on Arrivals and OvernightStays of Tourists142.

– preparation of short annual quality reports in English

Annual quality reports143 provide the users with a quick overview of qualityindicators. In 2008 they also became available in the English language thus

140 See the 26th Meeting of the Statistical Council of the Republic of Slovenia, held on 24 April 2008, at which the Report on Compliance of the National Statistical System with the Code of Conduct of European Statistics was discussed. Available at: http://www.stat.si/PrikaziDatotekoSvet.aspx?id=86 (16. 03. 2009). 141 See Annex: Improvement actions by individual statistical authorities envisaged as of 2008 towards full compliance with the Code of Practice. Available at: http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/pls/portal/docs/page/pgp_ds_quality/pge_ds_quality_05/annex_en%20only_ias_egreffe_adopted.pdf (16. 03. 2009). 142 See Standard Quality Reports. Available only in Slovene at: http://www.stat.si/eng/metodologija_porocila‐standardna.asp (16. 03. 2009). 143 See Annual Quality Reports. Available at: http://www.stat.si/eng/metodologija_porocila‐kakovost.asp (16. 03. 2009).


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allowing SORS to present the quality of statistical surveys to a broader,international public.

– development of quality reporting for surveys carried out with administrative

data sources

In 2008, Eurostat updated the methodological handbook and standardsfor the preparation of quality reports144. In addition to updating currentrecommendations for sample surveys, the handbook containsrecommendations for the preparation of quality reports for surveys basedon administrative sources and/or based on several data sources – forcensuses, price indices and other statistical aggregates. Initially, SORS plans to supplement internal methodological instructionsfor the preparation of quality reports for surveys based on administrativesources, for which it will first prepare quality reports.

Preparation and development of quality indicators

– preparation of 'quality barometer'

SORS participates in a group of Eurostat experts who are developing anew tool for quality monitoring at the European and national levels. A newEurostat publication entitled Quality Barometer will be prepared on thebasis of the results. In parallel with the work of the expert group, SORS further developedquality indicators, which also form the basis of a quality barometer. Theywill be introduced in the statistical process within the framework ofimplementation of the ISIS project results.

6.3 STATISTICAL PROCESSES

6. 3. 1 Modernisation and standardisation of SORS internal processes and further development of statistical methodology

The ISIS project for upgrading processes of business statistics was finalized in 2008. The transition of statistical surveys carried out by SORS to the new system will be gradual for both enterprises and SORS and will also be continued in 2009. Within the framework of the project, an important role will be played by the introduction of e‐reporting of statistical data, which have been reported to date on the basis of printed questionnaires, as well as the introduction of a new method of communication with reporting units. By doing so, SORS has been pursuing the strategic objectives of better cooperation with the reporting units and reduction of their reporting burden, as set out in the Medium‐term Programme of Statistical Surveys 2008–2012.

Work in connection with time series was influenced in 2008 by the new SKD 2008. SORS estimates that there should be approximately three hundred time series prepared in accordance with the classification in 2009.

ISIS project for upgrading of business statistics processes

Implementation of the EU project, financed from EU funds, started in 2007and was finalized at the end of 2008. This is merely the completion ofdevelopment and testing of applications while, at the same time, also thebeginning of their introduction into SORS regular operations. The purposeof the project is to provide a solution that will connect severalinfrastructural tasks of SORS, in particular the following: preparation ofdirectories, setting up the e‐reporting infrastructure, standardisation ofstatistical surveys processing and their questionnaires and metadataregisters, etc. With such an extensive project, intensive cooperation withexternal contractors is very important.

– automation of certain SORS procedures in 2008

Automation of certain SORS operation procedures began in 2008 with theintroduction of e‐reporting, optical reading of the contents ofquestionnaires and the use of a new telephone switching station: (i) in

144 i.e. ESS Handbook for Quality Reports (EHQR) in ESS Standard for Quality Reports (ESQR).


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connection with e‐reporting, SORS checked solutions and alignedprocesses with the already established methods of such reporting used byother institutions; (ii) renovation of the telephone switching station for thesurvey studio at the end of 2008 will also enable expansion to otherstatistical areas; (iii) in order to provide faster internal data accessibility,SORS started the introduction of optical reading in its internal processes;(iv) a draft of internal rules on standardisation of the form and contents ofquestionnaires and letters for reporting units was prepared. The project introduced some new tasks into the SORS work process, whichhad not to date existed, and in the coming years will result in the need forpartial reorganisation of some departments and/or sectors.

Statistical process standardisation

– standardisation of statistical data processing

In 2008, within the ISIS project, the majority of resources were invested inthe standardisation of statistical data processing, in particular regardingweighting processes, data imputation, deflation and aggregation (foraggregates and indices). Development has been oriented towards acomplete metadata managed process, which will make a considerablecontribution to the rationalisation and/or more effective operation of anorganisation.

– standardisation of questionnaires and notification letters

In 2008, the standardisation of questionnaires continued withconsideration of standards for optical reading of questionnaires and e‐reporting; in this connection, the new databases of questions haveundergone a successful trial; these new databases provide automation ofthe formation of questionnaires used for various types of data collection inaccordance with the ISIS project.

– introduction of combined surveys in statistical process

Following successful trial in 2007, in 2008 so‐called combined surveys becamestandard, whereby part of a population is surveyed via the telephone (reasonsare lower costs and faster data collection), while the remaining part of thesurvey is carried out in person. This covers the population who either has nostationary telephone or do not wish to take part in a telephone survey. Thecosts are considerably lower than with other surveys.

Introduction of a modern method of communication with reporting units

– setting up of a single entry point for reporting units and administrative

(secondary) sources

In order to modernize technical and process communication with reportingunits, at the end of 2008 SORS started to set up a new contact centre forcooperation with reporting units, which, on the 'one‐stop‐shop' principle,will enable selection of the mode of communication with SORS. Greatemphasis here will be placed on training employees in order to improve themode of communication, as well as on drafting internal rules forcommunication with reporting units. The renewal of the process foracceptance of administrative and/or secondary data sources from variousinstitutions in Slovenia, in accordance with the same principle, has beenprogressing somewhat slower; however, SORS is planning that considerableprogress will be achieved in 2009.

– monitoring and taking into account the responses from reporting units

Within the context of efforts to standardize processes, in 2008 SORSstarted to monitor difficulties that reporting units encounter in completingstatistical questionnaires. At the end of the examination, survey managersand responsible persons will receive reports on detected difficulties, which theywill take into account in the further design of questionnaires. SORS alsostarted to monitor activities undertaken for better monitoring of reportingunits' obligations to other institutions.

– establishment of an in‐house committee to increase reporting by

enterprises

Non‐reporting of reporting units and a decrease in the response rate is alsobecoming a burning issue for SORS. Should it continue at this pace, thequality of official statistical data would be significantly at risk. The NationalStatistics Act provides in Article 54, as a measure of last resort, for the


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possibility of punishment of reporting units that are subject to reporting145

to national statistics, if they do not submit complete and correct data indue time. Attention to this issue was drawn also in the peer review of thecompliance with the principles of the European Statistics Code of Practice.The experts who carried out the review emphasized that SORS shouldencourage reporting units by means of additional feedback informationand the development of user‐friendly methods of e‐reporting. If even thishas no effect, it should consider possibilities provided by law. In order to examine the situation and systematically monitor the non‐response from key reporting units, in 2008 SORS passed a decision onsetting up a Committee for Increasing Reporting. The tasks of thiscommittee will be monitoring and examining the non‐reporting issue,proposing measures for increasing reporting and, as a measure of lastresort, a decision on possible punishment of a unit that does not providereports.

Storage and archiving of data and documents

In 2008, SORS continued a project that will considerably increaseaccessibility to website data, statistical data and documentary material inthe SORS local environment. In 2008, the first phase of the project wasfinalized, in which, in line with the principles of the new legislation onarchiving, we arranged storing of the website, carried out a call for tendersfor it, set up a process and started to store. In addition to theaforementioned, we prepared material for tender documents for storingstatistical documentary material and SPIS. We have made great progressin preparing in‐house rules, although they are not yet finalized, since thematerial is very extensive, related to areas, which are not all directlyconnected with material storage. In addition, we prepared technicaldocuments to be deposited in a location from which material will be sent tostorage, and we created an action plan defining the tasks of thoseresponsible for statistical surveys to prepare statistical material for handingover for storage. Through the solutions put in place, we will provide users with a betterservice than that provided by the existing system.


– preparation of time series in accordance with the new SKD 2008

Since 2002, in accordance with the Eurostat recommendations (EU projectDemetra), SORS has been successfully using a time series analysis method, i.e.seasonal adjustment, working day adjustment, smoothing and testing offorecasting. In 2008, work in this area was marked in particular by theintroduction of the SKD 2008 classification in statistical surveys. SORSprepared several backcasting historical time series, by which it considerablyincreased the quantity of the processed time series.

6.3.2 Information technology

Regular operations, maintenance and upgrading of hardware and system software and functional software at SORS are the basic tasks of the Information Infrastructure and Technology Sector and the main task in this area is developing software that will take into account changes in statistical processing of data as well as the continued development of information technology. The scope and complexity of information data processing have also been increased due to surveying and the introduction of administrative data sources, safe data transfer, integration ofdifferent sources, quality monitoring of procedures, additional control and statistical processing of non‐aligned data, which all require additional information solutions.

System and technical support to In addition to providing support to users, the Information Infrastructure

145 Reporting shall be mandatory for surveys stipulated by the law and for reporting from administrative sources and surveys on companies.


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working processes

and Technology Sector provides maintenance, management and supportto the software environment for the users of applications and other servers(datafile servers, SAS, Oracle servers, MS SQL servers, Lotus Domino,Share Point Portal, BizTalk, servers for secure data storage, etc.)

Regular maintenance ensures the operation of approximately 450 computers, 130 laptop computers, 40 network printers, 65 servers, 60 pieces of various other equipment (disc fields, secure storage equipment, network switches, SAN optical switches for connection with disc fields, etc.). Over 70 laptop computers were set up for the needs of interviewers.

– system and technical integration of infrastructure

The majority of small servers were virtualized (VMWare) in 2008. Atransition from 32‐byte architecture to 64‐byte architecture was alsocarried out. The complete active network equipment was renewed at onelocation. The survey studio was completely technically renovated,including the introduction of IP telephony.

Information infrastructure for project support

In 2008, on the basis of the information structure, SORS provided support to the following:

• transition to the new Standard Classification of Activities (SKD 2008);

• the Slovenian EU Council Presidency – a special website was set up, a document and press release management programme was developed and the necessary hardware and software provided;

• renewal of SORS intranet pages on the basis of the MS SharePoint Portal Server.

Support to other projects, which have not yet been completed, was provided in connection with the following: project of statistical data archiving and storage, introduction of new classifications in the education area (KLASIUS) and renewal of some statistical surveys (see individual contents area in the report).

Transfer of data processing from the IBM central server to the SORS local

environment

The transfer of all data processing from the main IBM‐server within theMinistry of Public Administration to the SORS local environment started in2004. The project was divided into several sub‐projects, which covered thetransfer of individual solutions and phases of the statistical process. In2008, in the LAN network, all data processing was transferred from thecentral computer, with the exception of two – the application for directoryformation and the Statistical Register of Employment. Both sub‐projectshave been continued into 2009.

6.4 REDUCTION OF ADMINISTRATIVE BARRIERS

6.4.1 Greater use of administrative sources and monitoring of statistical survey costs and burdens

In 2008, the Statistical Office performed a time and in part also a financial analysis of burdens on reporting units included in statistical surveys. In carrying out the Annual Programme of Statistical Surveys 2008, SORS followed the need to reduce administrative burdens and costs while complying with the principles of statistical quality, which means that it acted economically and effectively. At the EU level, it carried out an on‐going adoption of simplified statistical legislation for raising the monitoring threshold or periodicity of collection and/or publication of statistical data.

In 2008, methodological work continued to increase the use of administrative data sources in carrying out statistical surveys, by which the national statistics has been reducing burdens on reporting units – enterprises, farms and households and/or individuals – and in addition, administrative sources provide a constant and controlled data source. Since all national institutions are included in efforts to eliminate administrative burdens, smooth cooperation with the administrators of these records is also important, since the absence of specific administrative data may have a negative impact on their use for statistical purposes.


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Monitoring the costs and benefits of statistical surveys

– drafting an assessment of the burdens of statistical surveys included in annual

programmes of statistical surveys

In 2008, in accordance with the general methodology146 SORS performed atime and, in part, also a financial analysis of the statistical reporting burdenimposed on reporting units; these surveys were included in annualprogrammes of statistical surveys 2005–2007. The Methodology Councilwithin SORS examined the analysis in December 2008. Future tasks are set onthe basis of the results of the analysis.

►►Analysis of burden on reporting units – main findings

An increased burden on reporting units is mainly the result of new surveys and changes in monitored populations. Unlike surveys in which data are collected directly from reporting units, surveys that are based on administrative and secondary sources reduce the burden on reporting units and, over the long‐term, also result in lower consumption of SORS employees' working hours. In this connection, it should be emphasized that the use of administrative and secondary sources in itself also has an impact on changes in the statistical process, since the burdens from one part of the process – i.e. input and input data control – are transferred to the other part, – to statistical processing of data. The structure of SORS employees has also therefore been changed.

In general, it is considered that the actual burden on reporting units resulting from the needs of official statistics is low, representing approximately 1% of all administrative burdens. Analysis has established that the major burden of reporting to official statistics is reporting to the INTRASTAT system – totalling 62% of the time used by reporting units.

– reduction of obligations of statistical data collection for small enterprises in

2008–2009

In connection with Measure No. 28/07147, in 2008, in cooperation withauthorised producers of national statistics, SORS identified 80 statisticalsurveys in which the reporting units include small and medium‐sizedenterprises employing up to 10 staff: SORS is responsible for 67 statisticalsurveys (for some of these together with AJPES), while the Bank of Slovenia isresponsible for 13 statistical surveys. For 47 statistical surveys, the possibilitiesof reducing the reporting burden have already been established – mainly byadditional or complete reduction of their burdens, while the expert procedureis in progress for 21 surveys.

Monitoring the burdens of EU statistical legislation

Through its participation in various EU working groups and committees,SORS has been monitoring simplifications of EU statistical legislation andalso taking part in an interministerial working group for drafting betterrules and eliminating administrative barriers; the latter group wasappointed by the Government of the Republic of Slovenia within theframework of cooperation with the European Commission.

In 2008, Eurostat sent to national statistical offices a list of fifty legalregulations for individual statistical areas, together with a request to notenext to each regulation data on the time and costs used for complying withthe provisions of a specific regulation by reporting units and also byproducers of national statistics. The findings of Member States willpromote further decisions by the Commission for effectively carrying out

146 A common methodology for measuring administrative costs according to the international methodology SCM – Standard Cost Model: Measuring and Reducing Administrative Burdens for Businesses, SCM Network to reduce administrative burdens, OECD, October 2005 in The Standard Cost Model: A framework for defining and quantifying administrative burdens for businesses, August 2004 – developed by the International Working Group on Administrative Burdens within the European Commission. 147 Measure No 28/07 for reducing obligations of companies to collect statistical data from 2008–2009 is included in the framework of a national programme for reduction of administrative burdens (a decision of the Government of the Republic of Slovenia on the basis of decisions of the EU Commission and in connection with implementation of the Lisbon Strategy).


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the Community Statistical Programme 2008 to 2012. In 2007, the European Commission adopted the Action Programme for Reducing Administrative Burdens in the European Union, in order to reduce administrative burdens by 25% by 2012.

SORS submitted to Eurostat all data on surveys carried out on the basis ofregulations included in the analysis. For business statistics, Eurostatprepared a collective analysis of burdens for all participating EU MemberStates. Responses in relation to other statistical areas were too incompleteand their analysis was not therefore prepared. It is planned to discuss theinformation at one of the future meetings of the European StatisticalSystem Committee (ESSC), when Member States should pass decisions onfuture measures for monitoring costs/benefits for the reduction of burdens.

Methodology Council ‐ meetings held in 2008

The first meeting of the Methodology Council, composed of SORS expertsand external experts, was held in March 2008. In addition to proposals toabandon a survey (GRAD‐UD/M, GO/M) and to abandon a survey andintroduce an administrative data source (ZAP‐RFO/M), a proposal toapprove a methodology (life table) and to revise a statistical survey (TU‐ČAP) were discussed at the meeting. The Methodology Council agreed toabandon GO/M, GRAD‐UD/M and ZAP‐RFO/M surveys and to use theDURS administrative source; after discussion, it adopted a proposal bySORS to submit TU‐ČAP to an external expert review; it also adopted aproposal that Slovenia, in view of the small population and low mortality,will continue to prepare abbreviated annual tables (a two‐year average)while it would be reasonable to calculate complete life tables every fiveyears.

By means of the Methodology Council148, established in 2007, SORS willprovide transparency of the methodologies used, their control with the help ofexternal experts and regular reviews of statistical surveys. For 2009 it plans thenext major review of the Household Budget Survey, which will be presented tothe members of the Methodology Council.

6.5 CLASSIFICATIONS

6.5.1 Revision of the European and national classifications of activities – SKD 2008 (NACE Rev. 2)

The revised classification NACE Rev. 2 was applied on 1 January 2008, established by Regulation (EC) No 1893/2006, representing one of the fundamental European statistical standards for data collection and presentation of business and macroeconomic statistics. Detailed nomenclatures of products, goods and services are linked to it149. The aforementioned Regulation allows additional sub‐division of the European classification performed by Member States on the basis of their national needs. The national version of the European classification (SKD 2008), supplementing the European Regulation with national sub‐classes, was adopted in 2007. In line with the programme of statistical data publication according to SKD 2008150, SORS will start to publish the results of statistical surveys compiled according to SKD 2008 in 2009.

148 In 2007, the in‐house Instructions on the procedure of verification and approval of methodologies of statistical surveys and on the procedure of termination of statistical surveys were adopted. Available at: http://www.stat.si/doc/stat_urad/Q1b_Instructions%20on%20the%20Procedure%20of%20Verification_en.pdf (16. 03. 2009). 149 Project of the revision of the European Classification of Activities (the so‐called Operation 2007) also includes a revision of the European Classification of Products by Activity (CPA) and PRODCOM (Nomenclature of Industrial Products ‐ NIP). 150 See the Programme of statistical data publication according to SKD 2008. Available only in Slovene at: http://www.stat.si/doc/klasif/revizija/Načrt%20diseminacije%20statističnih%20podatkov%20po%20SKD%202008.pdf (06. 02. 2009).


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–Introducing NACE Rev. 2 and SKD 2008 into statistical surveys and the

administrative environment

Work connected to the introduction of SKD 2008 started at SORS at thebeginning of 2007, in particular by adopting a national version of the Europeanclassification NACE Rev. 2, the so‐called SKD 2008. Through cooperationbetween AJPES and SORS, a reclassification of the main activity of units of theBusiness Register of Slovenia was performed in a manner that burdened businessentities as little as possible and that did not cause additional costs (See alsoChapter 3.5, the Business Register of Slovenia). At the beginning of 2008, a minor amendment of the national regulationand a final version of the nationa classification151 were published, includingalso the new sub‐classes for enterprises employing disabled people and forhumanitarian organisations. SORS published the harmonised contents152 onits website153. Publishing of the SKD 2008 national publication is planned forthe second half of 2009. Introduction of SKD 2008 into statistical surveys was carried out in twophases: the first phase was intended for backcasting historical time seriesonto the new classification and the second phase for introduction of theclassification in the regular process of data compilation and datadissemination, in compliance with the national time schedule, aligned withthe time schedule for NACE Rev. 2 implementation in the European StatisticalSystem and in Member States' statistics under co‐ordination of Eurostat (Seealso individual chapters on statistics).

Classification of products by activity (CPA 2008).

– new classification adopted

The new European classification of products (a product meaning a physicalproduct or a service as a result of a specific activity) by activity CPA 2008was adopted only as late as the first half of 2008. In 2008, the drafting ofmaterial for the SKD 2008 national publication was in process at SORS,planned for the first half of 2009.

NEW Statistical Legislation: Regulation amending the Regulation on the standard classification of activities (Uradni list RS (Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia), No 17/2008)

6.5.2 Succesful introduction of the KLASIUS Classification System of Education and Training

In 2008, SORS participated in planning and implementing individual activities, which were carried out by responsible ministries and related educational and other institutions.

– introduction of KLASIUS in accreditation of programmes and catalogues and in databases and

statistical surveys

Introduction of KLASIUS was performed in accordance with the cooperationagreement by which SORS cooperates with the Ministry of Education andSport, the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Ministry of Labour,Family and Social Affairs. In setting up the infrastructure for the successfulintroduction of the system, the participation of the Slovenian Institute forAdult Education and the National Europass Centre also played an importantrole.

In introducing the KLASIUS system in statistical surveys, SORS isindependent only in statistical surveys in relation to persons andhouseholds, carried out on the basis of surveys. In other areas, SORSdepends on preliminary introduction of the KLASIUS system in variousofficial and administrative records that are direct or indirect sources of datafor education statistics (e.g. data on graduates and persons included in

151 Decree amending the Decree on standard classification of activities (Uradni list RS (Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia), No. 17/2008). 152 e.g. code‐books of abbreviations of the SKD descriptions in Slovenian and English languages, index of contents, methodological guidelines for classifying by activity. 153 More info on the NACE Rev. 2 / SKD 2008 available at http://www.stat.si/skd_nace_2008.asp (06. 02. 2009).


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education). SORS achieved significant progress in setting up the newstatistical database of activities/outcomes (SPZ KLASIUS), which forms thebasis for detailed code lists for common understanding and use of theclassification.

In December 2008, SORS started to produce a special website on KLASIUS,which will be available to its users and other public in the first half of 2009.

6.5.3 Revised International Standard Classification of Occupations – ISCO‐08

In 2007, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) finalized the revision of the structure of the International Standard Classification of Occupations – ISCO‐88. SORS is planning to carry out a revision of the Standard Classification of Occupations (SCO) in 2009, to be adopted by decree in 2010.

The classification system of the major occupational groups, sub‐majorgroups, minor groups and unit groups, currently entitled ISCO‐08, wasapproved at a tripartite meeting of experts on labour statistics on updatingISCO in December 2007. The changes in the classification are significant,although the first level structure, i.e. the level of major groups, remains thesame, while the lowest level of the classification, which previously includedonly 390 units, currently already includes 436 unit groups.

6.5.4 Amendments to the EU Classification of Territorial Units forStatistics – NUTS154 of 1 January 2008

The EU Classification of Territorial Units for Statistics (NUTS) can be modified every three years. The first amendments were introduced in 2006 and also included Slovenia. At the level of NUTS 2, Slovenia obtained two new units, called cohesion regions (Vzhodna Slovenija and Zahodna Slovenija). The new territorial breakdown is applicable from 01.01.2008.

– data provision in compliance with NUTS 2 in accordance with the new

Regulation

In accordance with Regulation (EC) No. 11/2008, Member States in whichthe NUTS classification was modified had to provide data on time series forfifteen different statistical areas in 2008. In addition to the aforementioned,on 01. 01. 2008 SORS started to provide the European Commission withstatistical data at the NUTS 2 level for the content areas stipulated by theregulations for individual sectors.

NEW Statistical Legislation: Commission Regulation (EC) No. 11/2008 of 8 January 2008 implementing Regulation (EC) No. 1059/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the establishment of a common classification of territorial units for statistics (NUTS) on the transmission of the time series for the new regional breakdown

6.6 PROTECTION AND SECURITY OF DATA

In addition to its regular activities for protecting tabulated data and microdata for researchers, SORS also participated in drafting a new security policy, and in modernising internal rules, with an emphasis on raising the awareness of staff and on their training in relation to appropriate data protection practices.

The new methods of data presentation, in particular from data portals and/or databases, which enable the users to design small tables from larger ones and thus linkage between them, cause greater difficulties in appropriate data protection. In the elimination of these difficulties, existing software packages for protection are not yet sufficiently effective. The participation of SORS experts in the European project of the development of methodology and technology for data protection is therefore of great importance.

154 More information on the NUTS classification within the framework of administrative territorial structure. Available at: http://www.stat.si/tema_splosno_upravno_NUTS.asp (06. 03. 2009).


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Work of the Data Protection Committee

The Data Protection Committee (DPC), engaged in data protection atSORS, was set up as an advisory committee for the Head of the Office; in2008, meetings of the Committee, composed of internal SORS experts(two subject‐matter experts, a statistical methodology expert, a legalexpert and a dissemination expert) were held. ►►Work of the Data Protection Committee in 2008 – main findings

The DCP held 18 meetings in 2008 (16 meetings in 2007). The DPC discussed 139items in 2008 (96 items in 2007). The scope of this material increased in particulardue to requests from foreign users of Slovenian microdata, which are available toresearchers on CDs and in the Eurostat secure room. Some 61% of the itemsdiscussed were requests for microdata, addressed to SORS by Eurostat on behalfof European and American researchers.

The structure of items discussed by the DPC (Eurostat requests not taken intoaccount), in terms of the contents of statistical area, was the following in 2008:37% related to demographic and social statistics, 48% related to economicstatistics (for the first time exceeding demographic and social statistics), 15%related to the environment and natural resources and miscellaneous areas.

Eurostat requirements are only connected with microdata, in particular withsurveys on living conditions and some also with the labour force survey andinnovations and scientific research activity survey.

70% of the items discussed were in connection with user requests for microdata,10% for individual data, 2% for unprotected tables, 14% of the items wereconnected with the issue of organizing data protection and 4% with other topics.

SORS safety assessment preparation

In relation to the protection and security of data, SORS followed thestrategy adopted under the Medium‐term Programme of StatisticalSurveys 2008–2012. SORS safety assessment preparation, performed in2008, made an important contribution to the shaping of a new securitypolicy and upgrading the in‐house rules, since it will be based, inparticular, on raising the awareness of staff and their training forappropriate practice in connection with data protection.

Training for data protection In the first half of 2009, all SORS employees will attend in‐house trainingon data protection and an activities calendar in the area of data protectionwill be prepared for the coming two years.

Statistical protection of data – training for appropriate data protection

In addition to regular work related to statistical data protection andparticipation in the Eurostat project for the development of the softwarepackages τ‐Argus (for table protection) and µ‐Argus (for microdataprotection), in 2008, SORS carried out training for appropriate dataprotection within the system of national statistics. SORS experts introducedthe latest methodologies and technologies in this area to representatives ofauthorised producers and to SORS staff.

6.7 DISSEMINATION AND COMMUNICATION WITH USERS

6.7.1 www.stat.si website – easy and fast access to statistical data and information

The SORS website (www.stat.si) is the most important form of statistical data dissemination. Everything that SORS publishes is available free of charge to the user on this website. Moreover, an increasing amount of data is published only on the website via databases or other electronic forms.

In 2008, the Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia enabled easier and faster access to data and information through an improved search engine. It also commenced the design a new website, which will be oriented, in particular, towards improving the navigaton structure for its contents.


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SORS is one of the few national statistical offices that systematically provides on its website digitized printed material of older date. Since the first half of 2009, its website has also contained earlier editions of the Statistical Yearbook (1953–1995) and selected contents from the Population Censuses (1948–1991) available to users.

– an improved website search engine and preparations for improving the website

contents in 2009/2010

The variety of statistical data and information published on the website has been increasing over the years, and in addition , searching has become increasingly difficult, in particular for users visiting the website for the first time.

The main improvement for website visitors in 2008 was a new searchengine, which enables considerably more successful browsing than theformer search engine.

In addition, SORS also began designing a new website, which will beoriented, in particular, towards improvement of the navigation structurefor its contents. The content related renovation in 2009 will be followedby technological renovation and the introduction of a new website in thenext year.

– SI‐STAT data portal155

In 2008, adding contents and upgrading the existing data on the SI‐STATdata portal continued, providing users with independent selection of dataand their saving in different formats. At the end of 2008, SI‐STATcomprised 1277 different tables (1118 in 2007). Data were published for404 small content fields within 25 statistical areas.

As an upgrade to the SI‐STAT data portal, an interactive statistical atlasof Slovenia is in preparation, to provide users with a cartographicpresentation of statistical data of different periods of time.

The number of users who register for the possibility of data saving has been gradually increasing and reached a figure of 6800 at the end of 2008 (a figure of 5100 at the end of 2007). Users have saved 1646 inquiries through which simple access to updated data in tables was provided.

The most frequently visited statistical areas in the SI‐STAT database

10506

12753

12809

15467

16074

29186

31845

45563

79175

0 15000 30000 45000 60000 75000 90000

Population census 2002 ‐review by municipalities

Transport

Education

Business entities

Agriculture and fishing

Labour market

Prices

Tourism

Population

– digitization of Statistical Office Digitization of older statistical material facilitates the spread of

155 The SI‐STAT data portal is available at: http://www.stat.si/pxweb/dialog/statfile1.asp (04. 03. 2009).


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publications of older date information and its accessibility, as well as the use of statistical data and,in addition, digitization of older statistical material is important forpreserving our cultural heritage, since the rich editions of the StatisticalYearbook and census books are undoubtedly a part of this heritage.

Since March 2009, earlierer Statistical Yearbook editions (1953–1995) andselected contents from the Population Censuses 1948–1991156are alsoavailable to users on the website. A digital atlas of Slovenia is also inpreparation, by means of which users themselves will be able to selectcartographic presentations of statistical data from different time periods.

– Statistical Databank 157

Interest in the Statistical Databank in 2008 was still very high – it totalledapproximately 2000 sessions and/or 12000 inquiries per month. Mostinteresting were population data and/or citizen data, since usersthemselves can select an individual municipality or its relatedsettlements. In 2008, the most numerous users were organisationsinvolved in planning and analysis (municipalities, outpatient clinics,schools, institutions, individual researchers) and also students preparingseminar and diploma papers.

6.7.2 Publication Activity

– printed publications and publications in electronic form

SORS regularly published statistical data in all basic databases ofpublications, i.e. Statistical Yearbook, First Relese, Rapid Reports, SomeImportant Statistics on Slovenia and Results of Surveys. In 2008, SORS published 727 publications; most of them in the collection entitled First Release. The number of the latter doubled in 2006 compared to 2004. Since 2004, SORS has noted a decrease in the number of publications in Rapid Reports158 (only 56 publications in 2008).

Of promotional publications, which include Slovenia in Figures, StatisticalPortrait of Slovenia in the EU, Slovene Regions in Figures, attentionshould be drawn to Brochures159, in which in 2008 a publication entitledSlovenia’s Population is Ageing – New Solidarity Relations between Generations are Needed, which presents certain »relations« betweengenerations through selected criteria, was published. At the beginning of2009, in the same collection, a publication entitled Intercultural Dialogue in Slovenia was published, which can provide a starting point to thinkingabout human diversity and its acceptance, which may be a basis forconstructive dialogue in both the general and specific sense or achallenge for further surveys.

In order to present the contents and methods of work, SORS alsopublished leaflets with information and presentation of data on statisticalsurveys.

All publications160(by collections of publications) and/or individual contents area are available to users.

156 See Digitization of Statistical Office publications of older date, 6 March 2009, Special Release. Available at: http://www.stat.si/eng/novica_prikazi.aspx?id=2202 (06. 03. 2009). 157 Statistical data bank available at: http://www.stat.si/pxweb/Dialog/statfile1.asp (04. 03. 2009). 158 The 2005 Publishing Strategy stipulated that the then Rapid Reports will be gradually replaced by the new Rapid Reports, which will comprise the contents of the Results of Surveys and the existing Rapid Reports. Rapid Reports and Results of Surveys will be abolished if all the data and methodology descriptions are available via the Internet from the SI‐STAT database. 159 See Publications/Brochures, available at: http://www.stat.si/eng/pub_brosure.asp (05. 03. 2009). 160 See Publications, available at: http://www.stat.si/eng/pub.asp (03. 03. 2009).


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SORS publications by year, 2004–2008

4

86

145160 158

222

301

416

457472

385

336

208

8056

0

100

200

300

400

500

2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

E‐Release First Release Rapid Reports

6.7.3 Public Relations

Because of its mission and also in relation to public relations, SORS mainly has contacts with the external public (target groups) via statistical data – this is how SORS is most often identified in public. The basic aim in this is to present the usefulness of statistical data to various target groups and to provide them with information on the activities of SORS as the leading producer in the system of national statistics and the coordinator of the Slovenian national statistical system. In order to increase its profile, SORS sent free publications including basic statistical data to various publics and it presented these publications at fairs, conferences and to students at various faculties.

– organizing press conferences Public media, as representatives of the general public, are at the forefrontof target user groups. SORS therefore provides them with statistical datain which the public itself is fairly interested and also data which, on onehand, provide a description of phenomena, situations or trends and, onthe other hand, contribute to the recognition of data and SORS.

Press Conferences161

In 2008, SORS held sixteen regular press conferences at which the current economy (21 presentations) and social issues (6 presentations) and issues related to other statistical areas (21 presentations) were presented. On these occasions, it also informed the public about new methodological standards (a new population definition, SKD 2008) and the issuing of important statistical publications. Press releases

In relation to special news in the section on Special Days and Holidays on the SORS website162, in which particular phenomena and/or situations in society are presented in terms of several statistical areas, a press release is sent to journalists and STA; there were 27 such releases in 2008. SORS also prepared press releases on the occasions of meetings of the Statistical Council, the EU Council Working Party on Statistics, important international events in connection with official statistics, discussions of SORS

161 More information on press conferences organised by SORS available at: http://www.stat.si/stat_novinarske.asp (03. 03. 2008). 162 Special days and holidays available at: http://www.stat.si/eng/tema_splosno_posebnidnevi.asp (03. 03. 2009) 163 See publications under General section. Available at: http://www.stat.si/eng/tema_splosno_splosno.asp (03. 03. 2009).


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issues at sessions of the Government of the Republic of Slovenia163, that were followed by a press conference; in 2008, the number of press releases totalled approximately 20 and were submitted to specific media and STA.

. Direct communication

In addition to presentations at press conferences, at the request of journalists SORS statisticians add interpretations of data from their contributions (press releases); in 2008, there were approximately 100 such contributions. Two thirds of them were in connection with commentaries to demographic data, inflation, real estate prices and national accounts (in particular the GDP, deficit and general government debt), agriculture (economic accounts for agriculture), standard of living (poverty, consumer surveys), labour market, etc.

– participation of SORS in the Student Arena164

The aim of SORS is appropriately and effectively to present officialstatistical data and Slovenian national statistics to its most numeroustarget group, i.e. students. SORS has therefore already participated forfive years at the event entitled Student Arena, at which youngstatisticians inform students about access to data and their availability toSlovenia and the EU and explain the methodological limitations of theiruse. In addition to information, SORS offered visitors its own statisticalpublications, among which the greatest interest has been expressed forthe so‐called little yearbook, a publication entitled Slovenia in Figures.

– public information In 2008 SORS received 14 requests for public information; SORSanswered 12 requests and rejected two. As explained in the Catalogue ofPublic Information165, SORS, in its examination of requests for statisticaldata, operates in compliance with the National Statistics Act.

6.7.4 Information centre for user support

– support to users of statistical data and information and education

The most important part of the activities of the Information Centre withinSORS (INDOK) is composed of giving advice to users on access to data onthe website and assistance in the use of interactive tools on the website,in particular the databases. INDOK also established in 2008 that userrequests in connection with all three segments – telephone calls, writtenrequests, personal visits – were decreasing. However, in terms ofdemanding questions, an increasing number of users shifted from writtenrequests to telephone calls. Compared to 2007, the number of requestsfrom the media increased the most (by 43%), even though these are only4% of all SORS’s users. In 2008, INDOK detected changes in the structure of demanding questions asked by statistical data users; in comparison with 2007, the share of simple questions fell by 7%. The majority of phone calls were related to advising on the availability of data on the website and preparation of data in the SI‐STAT database.

To promote and/or to increase the use of statistical data, in 2008 INDOKcarried out some short presentations on the availability of data on theSORS website, in particular for university and secondary school students,who are one of the largest groups of statistical data users.

164 The Student Arena is the largest educational fair for young people in Slovenia, which, at the beginning of an academic school year, offers in one place numerous activities divided in the following thematic sets: education, study abroad, employment, international cooperation, culture and leisure time. 165 See the Public Information Catalogue by SORS. Available at: http://www.stat.si/katalog.asp (03. 03. 2009).


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– European statistical data transfer

Under the European Statistical Data Support (ESDS) project for support tousers in accessing European statistical data, Eurostat regularly monitorsthe quality of services through anonymous tests166.

Eurostat analyses have established that SORS, with 85 out of 100 possiblepoints, ranks among the top eight participating countries that wereassessed as very good. The average achieved in 2008 was 42 points.Analysis of the results will provide assistance to SORS in furtherimprovements in its work with users of European statistical data.

– Specialised library of the Statistical Office

SORS Specialised Library performs a range of services for internal andexternal users: it provides various full‐text searches in domestic andforeign databases (IUS‐INFO, GV‐IN, Infoklip, EBSCO, ProQuest, EurLex); in 2008, the library archives increased by 559 bibliographical records(including 65 SORS publications).

The number of external users of the library is decreasing due to thecomplete availability of the newest statistical data on the website. Onaverage, the library was visited by one visitor a day.

6.7.5 Transmitting statistical data to international institutions

In 2008, the Statistical Office cooperated with numerous international organisations for which, together with national institutions, it completed statistical questionnaires. On 1 July 2008, Eurostat introduced mandatory transmission of data from EU Member States, according to the principle of a single entry point, which means the mandatory use of eDAMIS software.

– inter‐institutional cooperation in completing international questionnaires

In 2008, SORS, as the national coordinator for transmission of officialstatistical data by completing monthly, quarterly and annual statisticalquestionnaires for international organisations167 cooperated with variousnational institutions, in particular with the Institute of Public Health of theRepublic of Slovenia, the Bank of Slovenia, the Ministry of the Interior,the Ministry of Labour, Family and Social Affairs, the Ministry ofAgriculture, Forestry and Food, the Ministry of the Environment andSpatial Planning, the Prison Administration, the Post and ElectronicCommunications Agency of the Republic of Slovenia, the SlovenianRoads Agency, the Institute of Social Welfare and others. In 2008, SORS cooperated with seventeen international organisations to which the data and metadata of 43 statistical questionnaires were sent.

– structural indicators (Eurostat)168 In 2008, for new structural indicators169 SORS sent quality reports to

Eurostat, which are important information for producing a quality profilefor an individual indicator.

For the second half of 2009, SORS planns to publish on the website dataof a shortlist of structural indicators, together with methodology andquality profiles. Users will thus be able to make an interesting

166 Anonymous Test Grants 2007–2008, Slovenia. According to the internal report of the Central Support Team, Eurostat, Directorate B: Statistical methods and tools; Dissemination, Unit B‐6: Dissemination 167 In addition to Eurostat, also the following international organisations: ILO, FAO, UN, UNICEF, UNECE, UNESCO, OECD etc. In terms of the scope of data and inclusion of various sources, the most extensive is the MONEE (UNICEF), FAO/UNECE/ITTO – Joint Forest Questionnaire, UNECE – Joint Wood Inquiry, FAO – Fishery Statistics, UNIDO–General Industrial Statistics, OECD – Environmental Data, FactBook, ILO – October Inquiry etc. 168 See the Structural Indicators published on the Eurostat website. Available at: http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/portal/page?_pageid=1133,47800773,1133_47803568&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL (04. 03. 2009). 169 The List of Structural Indicators currently includes six different topics, totalling approximately 60 structural indicators; the publication of another 11 structural indicators is anticipated shortly. SORS published data on Structural Indicators on its website in 2003 and 2004 under General/Intersectoral indicators.


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comparison between Slovenia and other EU Member States and alsowider (including candidate countries to the European Union, Japan andthe USA).

– principle of a single entry point for transmission of statistical data to

Eurostat

On 1 July 2008, Eurostat introduced mandatory transmission of data toEU Member States, on the principle of a single entry point, which meansthe mandatory use of eDAMIS (Electronic Data AdministrationManagement Information System).

In addition, data format standardization (SDMX – a standard forstatistical data and metadata exchange) has been continued. SORS istaking part in a trial project of introducing the SDMX data transferstandard – SODI170. In 2009, it started to carry out in‐house workshops atwhich staff are familiarised with the SDMX standards. Experts and thegeneral public are also familiarised with them, i.e. through contributionsat Statistical Days conferences and at other national conferences oninformatics organized in Slovenia.

6.7.6 Cooperation with users via the Statistical Council of the Republic of Slovenia and sectoral Statistical Advisory Committees

The Statistical Council of the Republic of Slovenia, at its three meetings held in 2008, discussed documents in connection with the Programme of Statistical Surveys and was also informed about other issues important for the development of the national statistical system. Of the 25 Statistical Advisory Committees in operation, 16 organized meetings in 2008. SORS regularly publishes material and minutes of the meetings on its website171.

– Statistical Council of the Republic of Slovenia

The Statistical Council of the Republic of Slovenia, as the highestrepresentative of users and the profession in the national statisticalsystem, discussed strategic and development issues of national statisticsat three meetings held in 2008. In addition to draft documents inconnection with the annual programme of statistical surveys (Report onthe Implementation of the Annual Programme of Statistical Surveys2007, Priorities of National Statistics in 2009, Annual Programme ofStatistical Surveys 2009), it discussed the Draft Report onImplementation of the Medium‐term Programme of Statistical Surveys2003–2007, the Report on Compliance of the National Statistical Systemwith the European Statistics Code of Practice and the 2007 Report on theWork of the Data Protection Committee. It was also acquainted withsome information, e.g. the User Satisfaction Survey and withpreparations by SORS for carrying out the register census of population,households and housing in 2011.

– Statistical Advisory Committees

Statistical Advisory Committees are an important form of officialcooperation of the Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia withusers. In addition to providing professional explanations regardingmethodological issues, the role of the Statistical Advisory Committees isincreasingly important in promoting inter‐institutional informationexchange, good practice and more rational planning of national statistics.

Within the Statistical Office 24 Statistical Advisory Committees are inoperation, including approximately 450 external and 150 internalmembers. Sixteen Statistical Advisory Committees held meetings in2008. The highest attendance of external members was at meetings of

170 SODI – SDMX Open Data Interchange. 171 See the material and minutes of the meetings of the Statistical Council and Statistical Advisory Committees. Available only in Slovene at: http://www.stat.si/drz_stat_svet.asp and http://www.stat.si/drz_stat_sosveti.asp (27. 03. 2009).


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the Statistical Advisory Committee on Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheryand meetings of the Statistical Advisory Committee on Internal Tradeand Service Activities (80%).

6.7.7 Access to the data of authorised producers of national statistics

Regular publications of statistical data, in accordance with the Annual Programme of Statistical Surveys 2008, are also available on websites of the authorised producers of national statistics.

– Agency for Public Legal Records and Related Services (AJPES)

The Agency for Public Legal Records and Related Services (AJPES)172

regularly published on its website collected data on wages paid and dataon wages paid by individual legal entities of the public sector; data onoutstanding liabilities due; data from annual reports on the equity andfinancial status and profit and loss of business entities (enterprises, co‐operatives, entrepreneurs, budget users and other legal bodies governedby public law, non‐profit organisations – legal persons governed byprivate law and societies); Information on the Business Performance ofEnterprises and Co‐operatives in the Republic of Slovenia in 2007,Information on the Business Performance of Entrepreneurs in theRepublic of Slovenia in 2007, Information on the Business Performance ofNon‐profit Organisations – Legal Persons Governed by Private Law in theRepublic of Slovenia in 2007 and Information on the BusinessPerformance of Societies in the Republic of Slovenia in 2007.

See also chapters 1.2 Labour Market, 1.3 Education and Training, 2.1National Acounts, 3.1.2 Structural Business Statistics and 3.5 StatisticalBusiness Register.

– Bank of Slovenia (BS) In 2008, the Bank of Slovenia regularly published statistical data andinformation on its websites and in the following publications: BiltenBanke Slovenije (Bank of Slovenia Bulletin), Neposredne naložbe (DirectInvestments) and Finančni računi (Financial Accounts). Time series fromthe Bank of Slovenia Bulletin173 are also available to users on the website.See also chapters 2.1 National Accounts, 2.4 Balance of Payments andOther Statistics of Cross‐Border Economic Relations and 2.5 Monetaryand Financial Institutions and Markets.

–Institute of Public Health of the Republic of Slovenia (IVZ)

In 2008, the Institute of Public Health of the Republic of Slovenia aimedto improve access to health statistics data on its website174, on whichnumerous data, indicators, presentations and analyses and informationconcerning health and health care of the population are regularlypublished. It also publishes the Health Statistical Yearbook and otherannual publications concerning particular fields of work. For more on thetopic see chapter 1.5 Health and Consumer Protection

– Ministry of Finance (MF) In 2008, the Ministry of Finance (MF) regularly published data on itswebsite on public finance statistics: Reports on revenues andexpenditures for state budget and local government budgets inaccordance with the economic classification; data on the state budgetdebt; data on consolidated general government accounts revenue and

172 The AJPES website is available at: http://www.ajpes.si/?language=english (26. 03. 2009). 173 The Bank of Slovenia website is available at: http://www.bsi.si/en/financial‐data.asp?MapaId=64 (26. 03. 2009). 174 The Unit for Health Statistics within the Institute of Public Health of the Republic of Slovenia: http://www.ivz.si/index.php?akcija=kategorija&k=67 (26. 30. 2009).


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expenditure. The Bulletin of Government Finance175 including data seriessince 1992, is available on the MF website.

– Pension and Invalidity Insurance Institute of Slovenia (ZPIZ)

The most important Pension and Invalidity Insurance Institute of Sloveniapublications of statistical data in 2008 were the following: MonthlyStatistical Overview; ZPIZ Annual Statistical Overview, chaptersStatistical Data on Insured Persons and Beneficiaries of Rights; Pensionand Invalidity Insurance in Numbers; Statistical Terminology Dictionaryof Mandatory Pension and Invalidity Insurance (Slovene‐English and viceversa).

See also chapter 1.6.2 Social Protection – social protection, pension anddisability insurance.

– Employment Service of Slovenia (ZRSZ)

In 2008, the Employment Service of Slovenia regularly provided monthlystatistically processed data on the unemployed, job vacancies and workpermits issued; data on financial compensation included in employmentpolicy measures; brief information for the public on registeredunemployment; extensive overviews of data with key comments in theform of monthly information176; annual statistical overviews with the mostimportant data published in the Annual Report 2007177. A selection ofimportant overviews, presented in a form of tables, regarding the registeredunemployment, is also updated monthly on the e‐administration website178.

6.8 INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION

6.8.1 Successful Presidency of the EU Council Working Party on Statistics

In the first half of 2008, the Presidency of the EU Council Working Party on Statistics by the Statistical Office was extremely successful. During the Slovenian Presidency, significant progress was made regarding discussion on the European Statistics Regulation.

Participation in EU legislative procedures and activities performed

within the framework of the European Statistical System

The Presidency of the EU Council Working Party on Statistics did notinclude only chairing meetings, but was also a constructive andsubstantive contribution by Slovenia to the development of the EuropeanStatistical System. At the Statistical Office, the Presidency Group washeaded by Genovefa Ružić and Karmen Hren, MSc. During its Presidency,SORS achieved considerable progress regarding discussion on a newregulation on European statistics179, which will establish a new foundationfor the operation of the European Statistical System and enable a betterresponse to modern data needs, which are the basis for decision‐makingand action in social, economic and environmental areas.

Following the efforts of the Slovenian Presidency to provide quality data

175 Bulletin of Government Finance is available at: http://www.mf.gov.si/angl/tekgib/bilten/abilten.htm (26. 03. 2009). 176 Website of the Employment Service of Slovenia at: http://www.ess.gov.si/eng/index‐ang.htm (26. 03. 2009). 177 Annual and Business Reports of the Employment Service of Slovenia available at: http://www.ess.gov.si/eng/AnnaulReport/AnnualReport.htm (26. 03. 2009). 178 See section e‐Administration Data Information Service: http://e‐uprava.gov.si/e‐uprava/en (26. 03. 2009). 179 Regulation (EC) No. 223/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 March 2009 on European statistics and repealing Regulation (EC, Euratom) No. 1101/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the transmission of data subject to statistical confidentiality to the Statistical Office of the European Communities, Council Regulation (EC) No 322/97 on Community Statistics, and Council Decision 89/382/EEC, Euratom establishing a Committee on the Statistical Programmes of the European Communities


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with a moderate burdening of enterprises and the population, anagreement was adopted on regulations on an agriculture census, tradeexchange among EU Members States and a survey on living conditions. Inconnection with regulations by which statistics responds to new needs fordata, significant progress was achieved on a new regulation concerningstatistics on sales and consumption of plant protection products. TheSlovenian Presidency also successfully finalized negotiations on aregulation concerning the population and housing censuses, which willprovide for the first time in this area harmonized and comparable data inthe EU.

In order to inform the public on the Presidency of the EU Council WorkingParty on Statistics, SORS prepared a special website180.

6.8.2 Preparations by Slovenian national statistics for OECD membership

The Statistical Office does not expect significant difficulties in joining the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)181 since it already successfully finalized the majority of activities in 2008. In June 2006, Slovenia attained the status of an observer country on the OECD Committee on Statistics (CSTAT)182, on which Slovenia is represented by the Statistical Office. This facilitated a timely start to preparations for the provision of all the statistical data required for membership.

Participation in international organisations

– action plan for carrying out the OECD enlargement strategy and the List of

Statistical Requirements

In 2008, the OECD Committee on Statistics adopted a special action planfor each Acceding State to provide assistance in carrying out the OECDenlargement strategy. This was followed by a List of StatisticalRequirements183 including a detailed specification of priority areas to beassessed, a time frame for statistical data preparation, requiredmethodology descriptions and other metadata, list of OECD contactpersons for the concerned areas, needs for statistical data in other OECDDirectorates, planned missions and meetings and other logistical detailsrelated to Slovenia’s accession to the OECD in terms of statistics.

– information and statistical data transfer to the OECD

SORS, as the national coordinator for statistical data transmission, in 2008already submitted to the OECD information on the legal and institutionalframework for operation of the Slovenian national statistics, as well as themethodological material of statistical surveys and the required data forvarious statistical areas.

►► Participation in preparation of the OECD publication entitled FactBook184

In 2008, SORS completed time series of 2007 data for 118 indicators for the FactBook publication published by the OECD. The Bank of Slovenia, the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Economy, the Institute of Public Health of the Republic of Slovenia and the Environmental Agency of the Republic of Slovenia (ARSO) cooperated in preparation of the data.

– organization of missions and other meetings within the framework of

membership preparations

In 2008, SORS, together with the Institute of Macroeconomic Analysis andDevelopment, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Labour, Family andSocial Affairs and the Bank of Slovenia, participated in organising and

180 See EU Council Presidency at http://www.stat.si/eu2008/Default.aspx?lng=eng (03. 03. 2009). 181 More information on the activities of Slovenian national statistics for the OECD membership available at: http://www.stat.si/oecdEng/Default.aspx?id=10 (09. 02. 2009). 182 OECD Committee on Statistics (CSTAT). 183 Statistical requirements for Slovenia, OECD membership candidate country. Available at: http://www.stat.si/oecdEng/Default.aspx?id=32 (09. 02. 2009). 184 See OECD FactBook 2008. Available at: http://www.oecd.org/site/0,3407,en_21571361_34374092_1_1_1_1_1,00.html (09. 02. 2009).


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carrying out seven missions and/or meetings with the OECDrepresentatives in Slovenia. National accounts, inflation, producer prices,real estate prices and labour market were discussed in detail. In addition,additional questionnaires had to be completed, intended for verifyingSlovenia's ability to provide data and metadata for the main statisticalindicators.

The compiled information will form the basis for the Readiness StatusReport on Slovenia's statistics, prepared by the OECD Committee onStatistics. This is expected to be prepared by the end of May 2009.

In order to inform the public about the activities of Slovenian nationalstatistics for OECD membership, SORS prepared a special website185.

6.8.3 SORS activities in the European Statistical System and in the international environment

In 2008, SORS smoothly carried out its activities in the European Statistical System and in the international statistical environment. It was successfully included in various EU statistical projects and legislative procedures. Its participation in the United Nations was also important.

Technical assistance programmes and close inter‐institutional cooperation

projects – integration in the European projects

In 2008, SORS successfully carried out various projects of technicalassistance for Slovenia and other projects of assistance in the area ofstatistics, co‐financed by the European Commission/Eurostat and intendedto facilitate alignment of statistical fields with EU requirements, to assist inthe introduction of European statistical legislation, to support theimplementation of quality statistical surveys, etc.

– technical and professional assistance to the Western Balkan countries

On the basis of agreements on co‐operation concluded in the field ofstatistics, SORS has been assisting in alignment of the mentioned fieldswith EU requirements and in the institutional establishment of statisticalsystems.

In 2008, in addition to regular cooperation with the statistical offices of theWestern Balkan countries, i.e. Croatia, Serbia and Montenegro, SORS asthe leader of a group of four Western Balkan countries also performedtasks under the European Comparison Programme of GDP and prices. Italso carried out another two projects of close inter‐institutional co‐operation:as a co‐operating partner in a consortium with Italy, SORS carried out a projectentitled Support to the Sector of Statistics in Bosnia and Herzegovina and as aco‐operating partner in a consortium with Germany, a project entitled Supportto the National Statistical Institute of Macedonia.

Participation in EU legislative procedures and activities performed

within the framework of the European Statistical System

In addition to successful Presidency of the EU Council Working Party onStatistics, in 2008 SORS performed activities in various fields within theframework of the European Statistical System. It participated in thedrafting and adoption of European legislation concerning statistics. It hasregularly taken part, from an early stage, in the drafting of new legislationwithin Eurostat working groups and in procedures of adopting legislativeproposals within the framework of the Statistical Programme Committeeand other comitology committees of the European Commission and the EUCouncil Working Party on Statistics.

International co‐operation

– co‐operation within the framework of the United Nations

In addition to preparations for OECD membership, participation in theConference of European Statisticians of the UN Economic Commission forEurope and in the work of the United Nations Statistical Commission and

185 See Slovenia in the OECD – support provided by national statistics. Available at: http://www.stat.si/oecdEng/Default.aspx?id=10 (03. 03. 2009).


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various specialised agencies, including special funds for variousprogrammes of the UN were also important.

6.8.4 Statistical Days 2008: Intergenerational Solidarity – the Challenge Facing Modern Societies

The international conference of statisticians, data providers and users of statistical data entitled Intergenerational Solidarity – the Challenge Facing Modern Societies, was held in Radenci from 10 to 12 November 2008. The theme of discussion at this conference was the consequences of demographic changes caused by the ageing of the population, since the increasing number of the elderly and simultaneous reduction in the birthrate are resulting in changes in the ratio between the generations and, at present, we are already detecting these changes in several aspects of social life in Slovenia and worldwide.

Organisation of the international statistical conference

A three‐day conference, attended by 171 participants from eight countries,was composed of eight sections covering eight related topics; theparticipants presented their various views on policies, which provide thebasis for inter‐generational solidarity, on social security, on data that are anecessary support to policies and on the labour market in demographicallychanged societies.

The conference started with a discussion entitled Innovative Approaches to Communicating with Various User Groups. In the discussion, prominentrepresentatives of statistics, including Enrico Giovannini, Director of theOECD Statistics Directorate, and users of official statistics, explained theirviews on the visual presentation of statistical data.

In parallel with the sections, three round tables were organised, at whichstatisticians and users of statistical data discussed preparations for linkingmicro‐data for research purposes, modelling and evaluating the efficiencyof legislation, the so‐called sensitive data in statistical surveys, such as dataon ethnic affiliation and religion, as well as on the European MarineStrategy and the needs for relevant statistics in this field.

In order to inform the public, SORS prepared a special website on which thecontributions of the participants and the conclusions of the conference arepublished186.

6.9 ORGANISATION, HUMAN RESOURCES AND EDUCATION

Professional independence and the physical security of processes and data are of key importance in maintaining confidence in statistics; however, due to the inadequate work premises at both locations, these are increasingly difficult to ensure. The complexity of operations at two separate locations also means irrational use of SORS’s funds.Although the Government has made a decision on moving SORS to new premises, this has not yet been realised.

The Government of the Republic of Slovenia was informed about a decision on the need to draw the attention of the Government of the Republic of Slovenia to the difficulties of the Statistical Office in connection with its personnel and premises – this decision was proposed by the Statistical Council of the Republic of Slovenia at its 28th regular session, held on 8 December 2008; however, the Government adopted no official decision in this connection. The Committee on the Economy and Sustainable Development within the Government of the Republic of Slovenia, which discussed the aforementioned report and was informed about the decision of the Statistical Council of the Republic of Slovenia prior to the session of the Government held on 23 December 2008, in its discussion highlighted that efforts should be strengthened to find a solution to the personnel and premises issue as soon as possible.

In accordance with the adopted Government Personnel Plan for 2008, the number of SORS employees on 31 December

186 See Statistical Days 2008. Available at: http://www.stat.si/statisticnidnevi/?lang=en (06. 03. 2009).


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2008 was 380. Within the 2003–2008 period , the permitted number187 of permanent employees decreased by 13.

6.9.1 In‐house organisation and the number of staff as of 31 December 2008

– adjusting the number of staff

In accordance with the 2008 Joint Personnel Plan for State AdministrativeBodies adopted by the Government of the Republic of Slovenia, 380personnel were approved for SORS. According to the organisationalchanges, the number of personnel was gradually adjusted, so that it was incompliance with the mentioned Plan on 31 December 2008.

– termination of employment relations In 2008, SORS terminated the employment relationship of 29 employees,of whom six retired, the fixed‐term employment contracts of nine expiredand fourteen employees terminated the employment themselves.

– recruitment of new personnel

In view of the demanding nature of the field of work, SORS has beenseeking, in particular, persons with at least a professional higher educationdegree, whereby the necessity of vacant job replacements is carefullyverified.

In 2008, SORS was only in part successful in recruiting new staff, since ithad to advertise job vacancies repeatedly either because the candidateswho applied did not have suitable qualifications or the selected candidateresigned since another employer had offered him/her a higher wage orhe/she found employment closer to his/her home.

Employment of information technology experts is becoming an ever morepressing issue, since the wage policy, despite its transition to a new wagesystem, is not attractive to young people, and it is hard adequately tostimulate and retain IT experts currently employed by the Office. Despitethis, in 2008 SORS succeeded in obtaining some trainees in the mentionedfield, who will have to be appropriately trained in the coming years.

– SORS 2007/2008 scholarship holders In the 2007/08 school year, the Government of the Republic of Sloveniaprovided scholarships to 11 students for the needs of SORS: 4 students ofinformation science, 2 students of economics, 2 students of social science ‐information technology, 1 student of geodesy and 2 students ofmathematics. Five of these scholarship holders are senior year students orgraduation candidates and are expected to be employed by SORS in 2009.

– changes in the organisation

The internal organisation188 has also been adapted to SORS work andstructural changes.

In 2008, in compliance with the Decree on the internal organisation,systemisation, posts and titles within bodies of public administration andjudicial bodies189 SORS prepared ten proposals of Rules amending the Ruleson internal organisation and job classification.

Main changes in the organisation in 2008

187 Budget users may exceed the permitted number of employees only in connection with Government of the Republic of Slovenia scholarship holders, whose employment is mandatory under the scholarship agreement. After the completion of traineeships, when they become regular officials employed for an indefinite period of time, they are included in the permitted number of employees. Fixed‐term employees (project work, substitution of employees on long‐term sick leave or maternity leave) are not included in the Personnel Plan. 188 See Organisation Chart of the Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia. Available at: http://www.stat.si/doc/stat_urad/organigram/organigram_eng.pdf (03. 03. 2009). 189 Decree on the internal organisation, systemisation, posts and titles within bodies of public administration and judicial bodies (Uradni list RS (Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia), Nos. 58/03, 81/03, 109/03, 22/04, 43/04, (58/04 – as amended), 138/04, 35/05, 60/05, 72/05, 112/05, 49/06, 140/06, 9/07, 33/08, 66/08, 88/08, 8/09).


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In the Information Infrastructure and Technology Sector, a new department for system and technical support was formed;

In the Production and Services Sector, the tasks of information society statistics were divided between the department of tourism statistics and the department of trade statistics;

The number of posts was reduced in organisational units in which the number of employees exceeded actual needs as a result of changes in the technological process, methods of work and work processes.

The number of posts was increased in connection with tasks that required reinforced staffing to ensure quality and timely performance.

Transition to a new wage system was conditioned by a transfer to the jobclassification as of 1 August 2008. This transfer did not involve a change tothe organisational structure, job description or number of positions.

6.9.2 Staff education and training

– preparation of 2009 Catalogue of Education and Training

In 2008, SORS prepared the 2009 Catalogue of Education and Training,which represents an important orientation to new knowledge and theexchange of good practices among staff.

The Catalogue covers those education and training contents thatencourage staff continuously to acquire new knowledge and/or life‐longlearning, which is one of SORS’ most important strategic objectives. Themain sets of themes of education and training, carried out by SORS in 2009,with internal experts and external operators for individual statistical areas,are the following: (i) statistics, (ii) management and interpersonal relations, (iii) information technologies, (iv) specific knowledge, (v) European Statistical System, (vi) communication – public relations, (vii) acquiring formal education, (viii) foreign language training, (ix) education of users and data providers.

– carrying out education and training in 2008

Number of participants in 2008 per type of education

• Twnety‐five SORS employees attended training under the European Statistical Training Programme 2008190 .

• Training in information technology, organized by external service providers, was attended by 122 SORS employees; forty‐two SORS employees attended internal training at SORS, i.e. Word (continued), Excel (continued), SAS Enterprise Guide, and Excel VBA.

• Foreign language courses (English, French) were successfully completed by 6 participants.

• In total, 310 SORS employees attended other forms of training. In terms of contents, they were divided into: (i) in‐house training, intended for presentation of national statistics to trainees, data protection, use of administrative sources in SORS practice and other courses prepared by SORS experts. (ii) coaching skills for heads of sectors and heads of departments; regular attendance at conferences and seminars related to specific areas of work.

• Off‐the‐job training: In 2008, 9 SORS employees (2%) concluded an education contract with SORS, namely, on acquiring a professional higher education degree (2), master’s degree (3) or doctoral degree (1). Two SORS employees, acquired their master’s degree through off‐the‐job training.

190 See the European Statistical Training Programme (ESTP) ‐ core programme 2008. Available at: http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/pls/portal/docs/page/pgp_insite/pge_estat/estp%20core%20programme%202008_2.pdf (03. 03. 2009).


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6.9.3 Communication with staff

– carrying out the intranet renewal project to improve

communication with SORS staff

In 2008, in line with the prepared project plan, which contained an analysisof the existing situation and an analysis of the needs and wishes of staff,SORS drafted a detailed structure of a new intranet portal. The projectgroup invited a wide circle of staff to cooperate in drafting the contents, sothat the new portal should provide: simple and fast access to information,the most successful possible search by intranet content, simplified andeffective content management, systematic and safe data collection, andthe introduction of uniform design and technical standards.

By implementing the project plan, the ‘surs.net’ portal was published on 17December 2008 and started to be increasingly used by staff.

Our aim is to set up, together with staff, the best e‐tool for information and communication, since it is our wish for the surs.net portal to become our new connection.

6.9.4 Monitoring the staff satisfaction level

– preparations for surveys on the satisfaction level of SORS staff in 2009

In the first half of 2009, SORS carried out a survey on the satisfaction levelof its staff. A questionnaire, prepared in 2008, included various aspects ofsatisfaction with the workplace, such as: working environment, relationsand workplace communication, accessibility of education and a feeling ofprofessional qualification and general satisfaction.

The results will be an important source of information for the managementon the work climate within the organisation and will provide support forfurther improvement of working conditions.


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6.10 FINANCIAL OPERATIONS

The Statistical Office, as a direct budget user, obtains the majority of its funds from the budget of the Republic of Slovenia. As an independent specialist government service, it is directly involved in procedures of preparation and harmonization of the national budget (Article 18 of the National Statistics Act). Income from SORS’ own activities (less than 1%), which include the sale of services and publications is decreasing each year due to the increase in free e‐publications published on the website.

In acquiring funds from EU sources and the implementation of planned tasks, in 2008 SORS followed the objectives of the strategy of financial resources management, defined in the 2008–2012 medium‐term programme. By careful use of funds (via public tenders) it achieved that an amount of EUR 327,883 for entitlement spending remained unused under budget headings funded by the Budget of the Republic of Slovenia.

SORS expenditure

Sources of SORS financing (in EUR), 2008

Expenditure from own activities 15.747

Expenditure from EU funds

841.951

Budget of the Republic of Slovenia 13.290.732

In 2008, total SORS’ expenses were EUR 14,148,430. The largestpart of expenditure (94%) was from the Budget of the Republic ofSlovenia (EUR 13,290,732). Expenditure from EU funds totalledEUR 841,951 and those from own activities EUR 15,747.

The legal framework for financing SORS’ activities is provided by acts that apply to the entire state administration and are cited as sources taken into account in SORS financial operations:

• Budget of the Republic of Slovenia for 2008 (Uradni list RS (Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia), Nos. 126/2006 and 114/2007);

• Republic of Slovenia Budget for 2008 and 2009 Implementation Act (Uradni list RS (Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia), Nos. 114/2007, 58/2008 and 109/2008‐ZOPRSO809);

• Rules on the procedures of implementing the budget of the Republic of Slovenia (Uradni list RS (Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia), Nos. 50/2007 and 61/2008)

• Public Finance Act – Uradni list RS, (Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia) Nos. 79/1999, 124/2000, 79/2001, 30/2002, 56/2002‐ZJU, 127/2006 – ZJZP, 14/2007 – ZSPDPO and 109/2008

• Public Procurement Act (Uradni list RS (Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia) Nos. 128/2006 and 16/2008);

• Accounting Act (Uradni list RS (Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia), Nos. 23/1999 and 30/2002‐ZJF‐c).

– Expenses by intended use from the Budget of the Republic of Slovenia and by own activity

Labour costs

From the Budget of the Republic of Slovenia EUR 9,496,296was allocated for regular employees of SORS.

Material costs

Funds earmarked for offsetting material costs are used tocover expenses incurred in the performance of SORS' basicactivity and costs related to its basic activity (sale ofpublications and services).

In 2008, EUR 1,259,972 was used to cover the costs of itsbasic activity; the recorded material costs in connection withits own activity totalled EUR 15,747.

In 2008, SORS took over management of business premiseslocated at Parmova 33. The costs totalled EUR 308,745.

Costs of major surveys and projects


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Use of SORS funds from the Budget of the Republic of Slovenia, in EUR, by budget heading, 2008

308.745 87.008

9.496.296

1.259.972

974.250

816.348

348.110

EU Presidency

Management of business premises

International cooperation

Investments

Surveys, development tasks, own participation

Material costs

Labour costs

Costs of major surveys and projects that SORS was tasked toperform in 2008 totalled EUR 788,359. In 2008, EUR 75,467was allocated for development tasks. For the ISIS project (from the Budget of the Republic ofSlovenia) 20% VAT was paid and licenses purchased for theoperation of the system totalled EUR 110,422.

Costs of international cooperation

In 2008, SORS fulfilled all international obligations assumedunder regular programmes of cooperation with the followinginternational institutions: Eurostat, OECD, UN and itsspecialised and related agencies: ECE, CES, IMF, ILO, FAO,WTO, WHO and UNICEF. Slovenia's budget expenditure forthis purpose totalled EUR 348,110.

Purchase of fixed assets – investments

In 2008, fixed assets costs included the purchase of computerequipment totalling EUR 673,026 and other fixed assets andinvestments totalling EUR 143,322.

EU Presidency

Activities in connection with Slovenia's EU Council Presidency are financed under a special budget heading. In 2008, these funds, totalling EUR 87,008, were used to cover the costs of SORS related to the EU Presidency.

‐ expenditure from EU funds EUR 126,281 was paid from the EU funds in 2008 forpayments to staff who were employed on fixed‐termcontracts to work on projects and to staff in connection withthe increase in workload,.

SORS carried out several projects with the granted EU funds:

• The ISIS project was continued and finalized in 2008;A final payment totalling EUR 399,820 was made.From the Budget of the Republic of Slovenia, 20%VAT was paid and licenses purchased for theoperation of the system, totalling EUR 110,422.

• Within the project entitled Social StatisticsDatabase (SSD), which was finalized in 2007, apartial final payment totalling EUR 36,500 was madein 2008.

• In accordance with contracts, surveys of differentstatistical areas totalling EUR 194,815 were financed.

• Two contracts entitled TF Multi Beneficiary Programme for Statistical Integration, for 2004 and2005, were implemented, for which funds totallingEUR 145,864 were used.

• A project under which SORS provided expertassistance to Bosnia and Herzegovina in setting up astatistical system, was continued. EUR 64,950 wereused. The project was finalized in 2008.

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