Good afternoon, dear colleagues.
It is a pleasure to join you today to mark twenty years since the introduction of the European Statistics Code of Practice.
When the Code was first adopted in 2005, the European Union had just welcomed 10 new Member States, including my own, and 74 million new citizens.
With this enlargement, the need for reliable, comparable statistics was greater than ever.
This is what the Code provided:
A set of key principles that became the cornerstone of the quality framework for Eurostat and all national statistical authorities that produce European statistics.
It enshrined our shared commitment to quality, transparency, and independence in official statistics.
At its heart, was a clear declaration that, for the European Union, facts matter and should guide the policy decisions that seek to improve the lives of EU citizens.
Over the last twenty years, thanks to the Code of Practice and the peer review mechanism, the European Statistical System has become a European success story, respected and admired worldwide.
But of course, there have been challenges too.
The credibility of European statistics came under scrutiny in 2009 when Greece revised its government deficit statistics sharply upwards.
The repercussions were felt across Europe.
Confidence in our economic governance was shaken.
Markets questioned the credibility of European data; citizens questioned the reliability of European institutions.
It became clear that statistical integrity is not an abstract principle, it is the bedrock of financial stability and political trust.
The European response was substantial.
This episode provided an impetus to important reforms.
Eurostat was granted stronger verification powers.
The independence of National Statistical Institutes was enshrined in European law.
The European Statistical Governance Advisory Board was created to provide an independent overview of the implementation of the Code by the European Statistical System.
And, most importantly the Code of Practice gained new importance.
It became not only a guiding framework for the quality of European statistics, but a guarantee of accountability.
Overall, the European Statistical System emerged stronger, more transparent, and more resilient.
It also deepened the understanding that statistical independence and the rule of law go hand in hand.
Just as the rule of law ensures that no one is above the law, statistical independence ensures that no one is above the facts.
Both are essential safeguards of democracy.
Wherever statistics are free from political interference, citizens can have confidence that their leaders act on evidence, not expedience.
This brings me to the three core values embedded in the Code of Practice that have guided the European Statistical Systems since 2005: independence, quality, and trust.
Firstly, independence: the cornerstone of the European Statistical System.
Independence guarantees that European official statistics are produced objectively, without fear or favour.
This principle was enshrined in law in 2009 when Regulation 223 on European statistics was adopted, reflecting the clear political consensus that the independence of our statistical agencies is non-negotiable.
But independence should never be taken for granted.
It requires constant vigilance: Governments must respect it; Institutions must safeguard it; and statisticians must embody it.
When independence is compromised, confidence and trust evaporate.
We have seen concerning developments in other jurisdictions where the independence and reliability of statistics have been undermined.
I can assure you all today that, as the Commissioner responsible for Eurostat, I am fully committed to preserving Eurostats independent role in the Commission and beyond, and to safeguarding the impartiality and objectivity of its work.
The second value is quality.
High-quality statistics must be methodologically sound, comparable across countries, and timely enough to inform decisions.
In times of crisis, during the COVID-19 pandemic or the energy crisis, for example, this means having the capacity to deliver accurate, up-to-date and relevant data, without sacrificing necessary rigour.
High standards are maintained by adapting quality assurance frameworks and the peer reviews to latest developments, and maintaining a spirit of transparency.
And then there is trust, the product of both independence and quality.
Trust has to be earned.
It is built day after day through transparency, open communication, and responsiveness to users needs.
It means that when policymakers, businesses and citizens see a number from the European Statistical System, they can believe it and make informed decisions on that basis.
Two decades after the Codes adoption, the world of data looks radically different, and peoples trust cannot be taken for granted.
As we navigate an era of growing polarisation and the proliferation of disinformation, it has never been so important to maintain trust in shared sources of verified truth.
This also underlines the importance of making our statistics as accessible as possible to ensure verified data is freely available.
Eurostat and national statistical authorities must remain committed to communicating and disseminating statistics in a coherent, accessible, and inclusive manner.
Dear colleagues,
Anniversaries are moments to celebrate, but also to reflect.
Todays event provides the perfect opportunity to do both.
To engage in a meaningful exchange on the continued value of the Code in todays world and how it can remain relevant for the future.
The past twenty years have shown that when Europe commits to quality and independence, it can build something remarkable:
a unique statistical system trusted around the world.
Today, the European Statistical System has never been stronger, more transparent, more unified, and more determined to protect the integrity of our work.
As we look to the future, we have a responsibility to reaffirm the values contained in the Code of Practice.
Because statistics are never just numbers.
They hold a mirror in which Europe sees itself, its challenges, its progress, its truth.
For twenty years now, the Code of Practice has helped keep that mirror clear.
Let us make sure it continues to do so for the next twenty, and beyond.
I would like to thank Eurostat for organising todays event.
I hope that you will all find it enjoyable and informative.
Thank you.
