28 October 2011

The present data collection consists of data on expenditure and receipts of social protection contained in the ESSPROS (European System of integrated Social Protection Statistics) domain. Detailed information on the ESSPROS 'Concepts and Definitions' is available in Section 3.4 below.

The ESSPROS domain

Only ESSPROS data on expenditure and receipts for the total of schemes are currently disseminated in Eurostat database, ESSPROS domain. The remaining components (the latest collection available) are made available on Circa.

The ESSPROS domain contains both data on expenditure and data on receipts for the total of social protection schemes, corresponding to two collections "expend" (Social protection expenditure) and "receipts" (Social protection receipts).

The collection "expend" contains three groups:

1. expsum (Expenditure - Summary tables); it contains two summary tables:

• e sum Expenditure: main results.

The data include the expenditure broken down in social benefits, administration cost and other expenditure. In addition, social benefits are classified by functions of social protection (see ESSPROS Manual-The European System of integrated Social PROtection Statistics (ESSPROS), Part I - § 110).

The data are published:

• In national currencies (including Euro converted from former national currencies using the irrevocably fixed rate for all years), in Ecu/Euro and in Purchasing Power Standards;
• At current prices and at constant prices;
• In percentage of the GDP and in percentage of total expenditure;
• Per inhabitant.
• e pens Pensions.

The data include the social benefits relating to pensions (old age, disability and survivors' pensions as well as early retirement benefits). In addition the data are split between means-tested and non means-tested benefits.

The data are published:

• In national currencies (including Euro converted from former national currencies using the irrevocably fixed rate for all years), in Ecu/Euro and in Purchasing Power Standards;
• At current prices and at constant prices;
• In percentage of the GDP;
• Per inhabitant

2. expcur (Expenditure - Tables by functions and aggregated benefits); it contains five tables corresponding to different "currencies": national currencies (e nac), euros (e eur), Purchasing Power Standards (e pps), Purchasing Power Standards per head (e ppsh) and % of the GDP (e gdp).

For each table data (social protection benefits) are published:

• according to the classification by function of social protection: eight functions and the total of social benefits;
• according to the detailed classification of benefits by type (see ESSPROS Manual - The European System of integrated Social PROtection Statistics (ESSPROS), Part I - §111 and following). In addition the data are split between means-tested and non means-tested benefits.

3. expfunc (Expenditure - Tables by benefits and currency); it contains nine tables corresponding to the eight different functions of social protection and one for the total of social benefits.

In each table data are published according to the detailed classification of benefits relative to each function (see ESSPROS Manual - The European System of integrated Social PROtection Statistics (ESSPROS), Part II). In addition data are split between means-tested and non means-tested benefits.

For each table data (social protection benefits) are also published (at current prices):

• In national currencies (including Euro converted from former national currencies using the irrevocably fixed rate for all years), in Ecu/Euro and in Purchasing Power Standards;
• In percentage of the GDP;
• Per inhabitant.

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The collection "receipts" contains two groups:

1. recsum (Receipts - Summary tables); it contains two tables:

• r sumt Receipts by type.

The data include the receipts of social protection broken down in the different types of receipts (see ESSPROS Manual - The European System of integrated Social PROtection Statistics (ESSPROS), Part I - § 70 and following).

The data are published:

• In national currencies (including Euro converted from former national currencies using the irrevocably fixed rate for all years), in Ecu/Euro and in Purchasing Power Standards;
• At current prices and at constant prices;
• In percentage of the GDP and in percentage of total receipts;
• Per inhabitant
• r sums Receipts by sector of origin.

The data include the receipts of social protection broken down by the different sectors of origin (see ESSPROS Manual - The European System of integrated Social PROtection Statistics (ESSPROS), Part I - § 87 and following).

The data are published:

• In national currencies (including Euro converted from former national currencies using the irrevocably fixed rate for all years), in Ecu/Euro and in Purchasing Power Standards;
• At current prices and at constant prices;
• In percentage of the GDP and in percentage of total receipts;
• Per inhabitant.

2. reccur (Receipts by different "currencies"); it contains three tables: national currencies (r nac), euros (r eur) and % of the GDP (r gdp).

For each table data (receipts) are published:

• according to the classification by types of receipts;
• according to the classification by sectors of origin.

The Commission Regulation (EC) No 10/2008 of 8 January 2008, implementing the Regulation (EC) No 458/2007 of the European Parliament and of the Council on ESSPROS, establishes the main definitions and classifications used in the ESSPROS domain, for the data on social protection expenditure and receipts for the total of social protection schemes.

Detailed definitions and classifications can be found in the ESSPROS Manual - The European System of integrated Social PROtection Statistics, the reference document of the Commission Regulations. This Manual replaces the former ESSPROS Manual 1996, valid until the 2007 collection, and contains mainly adjustments in the definitions and classifications. 

Time series have been adapted to the revised classifications contained in the latest version of the methodology while changes in the methodological treatment of data due to revised definitions and conventions were required at least starting with 2006 data.

Not applicable

The annual data on expenditure and receipts for the total of social protection schemes are drawn up according to the ESSPROS (European System of integrated Social Protection Statistics) methodology (for more information please refer to section 11.1).

ESSPROS main concepts and definitions

The European System of integrated Social PROtection Statistics (ESSPROS) is an instrument of statistical observation which enables international comparison of the administrative national data on social protection in the EU Member States.

The conventional definition used for the scope of social protection definition is the following:
"Social Protection encompasses all interventions from public or private bodies intended to relieve households and individuals of the burden of a defined set of risks or needs, provided that there is neither a simultaneous reciprocal nor an individual arrangement involved. The list of risks or needs that may give rise to social protection is, by convention, as follows: Sickness/Health care, Disability, Old age, Survivors, Family/children, Unemployment, Housing and Social exclusion not elsewhere classified".

ESSPROS is meant as a common framework enabling a comprehensive and coherent description of social protection:

- covering social benefits to households and their financing;

- geared to international comparability;

- harmonising with other statistics, particularly the national accounts, in its main concepts.

The ESSPROS system

ESSPROS is composed of a Core system and of modules.

The Core system includes:

- Quantitative data: annual data on Social protection receipts and expenditures by scheme/groups of schemes and for the total of schemes; they provide a means of analysing and comparing social protection financial flows.

- Qualitative database: Metadata by social protection scheme and detailed benefit.

The modules contain supplementary statistical information on particular aspects of social protection:

- A module on pension beneficiaries has been introduced in 2008 (2006, 2007  and 2008 data available).

- A pilot collection, with a view to introducing a module on net social protection benefits from 2010, has been launched in 2008; the outcome of the pilot studies was positive for a very large majority of countries.

Two Commission Regulations for the collection of data on net social benefits were approved in 2011. 

The statistical unit in the ESSPROS is called social protection scheme. A social protection scheme is defined (see Framework Regulation) as a distinct body of rules, supported by one or more institutional units, governing the provision of social protection benefits and their financing.

The expenditure and receipts for all national resident schemes of social protection are included in the ESSPROS data of the core system.

The ESSPROS system is based on the notion of residence: each country includes only transactions by resident schemes. Benefits paid to non-residents are included in ESSPROS data and, conversely, benefits received from abroad ("rest of world") by residents are not included in ESSPROS data.

Data relate to the members States of the EU-27, Iceland, Norway and Switzerland.

Totals are calculated for EU-27, EU-25, EU-15, EA-16, EA-15, EA-13, EA-12 and The European Economic Area: EEA (except Liechtenstein).

Most variables are available since 1990.

The coverage for national data varies according to the availability of the data for the different countries and can, in some cases, start substantially earlier than 1990.

The implicit deflator for Household and NPISH final consumption expenditure (CPI00_NAC for P31_S14_S15) derived from chain-linked National Accounts has been used to obtain figures at constant prices referring to the year 2000.

Data are made available:

• In national currencies (including Euro converted from former national currencies using the irrevocably fixed rate for all years), in Ecu/Euro and in Purchasing Power Standards;
• At current prices and at constant prices;
• In percentage of the GDP.

Some data are also calculated per inhabitant.

ESSPROS data are annual data, corresponding to calendar year. However, data for the United Kingdom are on a financial year basis and relate to the year from 1 April to 31 March (for example, data for 1996 relate to the year from April 1996 to March 1997).

ESSPROS data for the period 1990-2005 have been made available on the basis of a gentlemen agreement.

Starting from the collection 2008  (with reference to 2006 data), the Framework Regulation (EC) N° 458/2007 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the European system of integrated social protection statistics (ESSPROS), dated 25 April 2007, enters into force; also the two implementing Commission Regulations apply: Regulation (EC) N° 1322/2007 of 12/11/2007 on appropriate formats for transmission, results to be transmitted and criteria for measuring quality for the ESSPROS core system and the module on pension beneficiaries and Regulation (EC) N° 10/2008 of 08/01/2008 on definitions, detailed classifications and updating of the rules for dissemination for the ESSPROS core system and the module on pension beneficiaries.

By the time of dissemination of the data, the Commission will at the same time disseminate detailed data by scheme to specific users (i.e. Commission departments, international institutions, etc.). These specific users will be allowed to publish groups of schemes.

Regulation (EC) No 223/2009 on European statistics (recital 24 and Article 20(4)) of 11 March 2009 (OJ L 87, p. 164), stipulates the need to establish common principles and guidelines ensuring the confidentiality of data used for the production of European statistics and the access to those confidential data with due account for technical developments and the requirements of users in a democratic society.

Countries send the data on expenditure and receipts by scheme and at "all schemes" level.  

At the country's request, and for confidentiality reasons, data by schemes can be disseminated as an aggregation into 'groups of schemes'; this aggregation into 'groups of schemes' is done by Eurostat.

The European Parliament and Council Regulation No 458/2007 on the European system of integrated social protection statistics (ESSPROS) laid down the deadline for the dissemination of ESSPROS data: by 31 October of year N+2, Eurostat will publish (Annex I, points 1.3 and 2.3) data on social protection expenditure at total schemes level for the year N.

As stipulated in Regulation No 458/2007, the ESSPROS expenditure and receipts data at "all schemes level" have been disseminated in the Eurostat database by the fixed deadline within the "Social Protection" domain (at the following address: Population and social conditions/Living conditions and welfare).

Not applicable

In line with the Community legal framework and the European Statistics Code of Practice Eurostat disseminates European statistics on Eurostat's website (see item 10 - 'Dissemination format') respecting professional independence and in an objective, professional and transparent manner in which all users are treated equitably. The detailed arrangements are governed by the Eurostat protocol on impartial access to Eurostat data for users.

Annual.

News releases on-line generally follow the publication of a 'Statistics in Focus' (SIF), normally once per year.

ESSPROS publications (Statistical books and Sifs) can be found on the ESTAT website.

As stipulated in Regulation No 458/2007, the ESSPROS expenditure and receipts data at "all schemes level" were disseminated in the Eurostat database within the fixed deadline (domain "Social Protection" under Population and social conditions/Living conditions and welfare).

ESSPROS data can be accessed through the dedicated section on "Social protection", which is available on the Eurostat website; in this dedicated section the ESSPROS Core System data are linked to the legal basis (the ESSPROS Regulations), to the methodology (the ESSPROS Manual and User Guidelines) and to the remaining components of the system. 

Not relevant

Internet address: http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat

Electronic > Other: Circa publication 

ESSPROS data referring up to the 2007 collection were compiled in accordance with a former version of the ESSPROS methodology, the ESSPROS Manual 1996.

Starting from 2008 collection the latest version of the methodology, namely the ESSPROS Manual - The European System of integrated Social PROtection Statistics (ESSPROS), came into force; this latest version is the reference document in the two Commission Regulations implementing the EP and Council ESSPROS Regulation.

From 2011 the current methodology is in accordance with the latest version of ESSPROS Manual - The European System of integrated Social PROtection Statistics (ESSPROS).

All these reference documents are published by Eurostat and available in CIRCA public area and in the dedicated section "Social protection", under "Publications", of Eurostat Website.

Eurostat will also make available in Circa an extended Manual, the "ESSPROS Manual and user guidelines", serving as a User's Guide for compiling and using ESSPROS; it contains detailed guidelines, further explanations, examples and the complete list of schemes for each country.

Countries produce annually by September of the year N+2 a quality report on the Core System for the year N (coverage of data sources, methodologies and assumptions used in the estimates, revision of statistics and geographical comparability). On this basis each year, by December of the year N+2 Eurostat produces a consolidated version of the reports.

The latest version of the 'Consolidated Quality Report for the ESSPROS Core System' (referred to the 2011 data collection) will be available before the 31st December 2011. 

Until 2007, the ESSPROS data collection was on the basis of a gentlemen's agreement. Since then three new pieces of legislation were introduced (European Parliament and Council Regulation No 458/2007; Commission Regulation No 1322/2007; and Commission Regulation No 10/2008), one of which, i.e. Commission Regulation No 1322/2007, lays down the rules for the appropriate formats for transmission and results to be delivered to Eurostat, the criteria to be followed in order to measure quality and the time limits of national quality reports.

On the basis of the regulations and as defined by the European Statistical System (ESS), the following quality criteria are applied to the ESSPROS data: relevance, accessibility and clarity, timeliness and punctuality, coherence, comparability and accuracy.

For a more detailed analysis of the quality components of the ESSPROS data with respect to the 2010 data collection please see the latest version of the Consolidated Quality Report on the ESSPROS Core System (referred to the 2011 data collection), that will be made available before the 31st December 2011. 

Also check in this document under point 8/10/11 for 'accessibility', point 13 for 'relevance', point 14 for 'accuracy and reliability', point 15 for 'timeliness and punctuality', point 16 for 'comparability', and point 17 for 'coherence'.

ESSPROS statistics are used in the annual 'Joint Report on social inclusion and social protection'. 

Four other annual/every two years reports include statistics using the ESSPROS data:

• "The social situation in the European Union" report, produced jointly by Eurostat and the Commission Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities (DG EMPL);
• the statistical pocketbook "Living conditions in Europe";
• the Eurostat report "Measuring progress towards a more sustainable Europe";
• the Eurostat yearbook "Europe in figures".

ESSPROS data are also transmitted to the OECD and integrated into their Social Expenditure database (SOCX) used to provide an accounting system for social expenditure in the OECD member countries.

The International Labour Office (ILO), other than introducing ESSPROS classification in its manual for "ILO Social Security Inquiry", classifies ESSPROS in the list of "Indicators identified to monitor progress towards decent work".

The Nordic Social-Statistical Committee (NOSOSCO), set up to coordinate social statistics from the Nordic countries, has decided to adopt the specifications and definitions used in ESSPROS.

ESPAnet (Network for European Social Policy Analysis) members use ESSPROS data for their analysis of social policy in Europe.

Not available

All the information as required by the Regulations (see point 6.1) has been disseminated by Eurostat.

Accuracy of the ESSPROS data is linked to and depends on the accuracy of the data received from the participating countries. Data sources are mainly administrative and register-based data, only a small percentage of the figures come from surveys or other means. Accordingly, for the ESSPROS data collection, accuracy deals with problems of coverage as the main possible source of errors.

Not applicable

As ESSPROS data comes mainly from administrative data and register-based data sources (other data sources used by the countries to complete the data collection are National accounts, surveys/census, and estimations), problems of coverage can be seen as the main possible source of errors (for more details please refer to the latest version of the Consolidated Quality Report on the ESSPROS Core System (referred to the 2011 data collection), available before the 31st December 2011). 

More errors might derive from non-responses (missed return) from data sources and wrong data recording in the ESSPROS questionnaire returned to EUROSTAT by the compiling Institutions during the phases of data collection (from the data sources) or data entry. Normally these errors are reduced through the validation phase, involving both Eurostat and the providing Institutions in the Member States.

Data on social protection expenditure and receipts for the calendar year N, together with any revision of previous years, are transmitted to Eurostat by 30 June of the year N+2, therefore with a time lag of 18 months (for more details please refer to the latest version of the Consolidated Quality Report on the ESSPROS Core System (referred to the 2011 data collection), available before the 31st December 2011).

In the case of the ESSPROS Core System, the target date for release is fixed by the European Parliament and Council Regulation No 458/2007 (Annex 1, points 1.3 and 2.3): the Regulation stipulates that quantitative data at 'all schemes level' and qualitative information for year N have to be disseminated by Eurostat by 31 October of year N+2. As stated in the Commission Regulation No 10/2008, data by scheme can also be published, however without a fixed deadline. 

With regard to the 2010 collection, the quantitative data at "all schemes level", regularly collected in the past years, were published by the Commission in the form of time series with a delay of 5 weeks with respect to the Regulation deadline.

Geographical comparability is possible at 'all schemes level'  (For more information regarding the geographical comparability please see the latest version of the Consolidated Quality Report on the ESSPROS Core System (referred to the 2011 data collection), that will be available before the 31st December 2011).

Comparability over time is possible for data at 'all schemes level'.  (For more information regarding the comparability over time please see the latest version of the Consolidated Quality Report on the ESSPROS Core System (referred to the 2011 data collection), that will be available before the 31st December 2011).

Not applicable

Coherence between the quantitative data and the other component of the core system, i.e. qualitative information, is being ensured during the data validation process.

Not applicable

ESSPROS data are subject to continuous revisions (especially for the recent years). The major cause is the revisions of basic statistics used by member states in compiling ESSPROS data.

Starting with 2008 collection, a revised version of the ESSPROS methodology is used. Time series have been adapted to revised classifications while changes in the methodological treatment of data due to revised definitions and conventions were required at least starting with 2006 data.

Figures are collected from National Statistical Institutes or/and Ministries of Social Affairs. Most of the data are compiled from administrative sources (For more detailed information please see the latest version of the Consolidated Quality Report on the ESSPROS Core System (referred to the 2011 data collection, that will be available before the 31st December 2011).

Data are collected yearly and have to be sent to Eurostat by 30th of June each year as stipulated in the European Parliament and Council Regulation No 458/2007.

Data are collected using a specific questionnaire in EXCEL, with rows corresponding to the detailed classification of receipts, expenditure and benefits (please refer to appendix 1 of the ESSPROS Manual) and columns corresponding to the statistical units (one column per scheme plus one column for the total of schemes).

The data collected from the Member States are validated by Eurostat. The process of validation is based on using times series evolution and using knowledge of reforms of the legislation in the field of social protection.

Annual data for the euro area, the European Union and the European Economic Area are derived from all countries, for which the respective data are available, usually by adding up the aggregates for all Member States after expressing them in a common currency (Euro/ECU).

The Euro/ECU series have been generated by applying the respective variable exchange rate of national currency vs. ECU for reference periods until 31.12.1998. For later periods the series are converted from respective national currencies to Euro by using the current exchange rate against the Euro. This exchange rate is the fixed rate in the case of euro area members and a variable rate in the case of those not belonging to the euro area.

The ESSPROS data are generally recorded on accrual basis, in accordance with the rules of National Accounts (ESA 95).

Not applicable

Data are missed for Sweden in 1990, 1991 and 1992.

For most of the Member States entering the 1^st May 2004 and for Bulgaria and Romania data by scheme and as aggregations at all schemes level are available only from the year 2000.

The aggregates for Bulgaria are available starting with 2005.

In line with the new methodology, EUROSTAT has proposed, starting from 2006 data, to record survivors' pensions to beneficiaries older than the legal/standard retirement age (determined by each country) as survivors' and not, as it was formerly the practice in some countries, as old-age pensions.

Certain countries (BE, CZ, DK, DE, EE, IE, FR, IT, CY, LV, LT, LU, HU, MT (from 1995) AT, PL, PT, RO, SK, FI, SE, UK, IS) applied the new treatment to the whole time series; other countries, BG, and SI, at the moment applied it only to 2005-2008 data, whilst EL only to 2006-2008 data.

ES and CH didn't apply the new treatment.

In NL and NO the organization of the pension system makes this rule not relevant.