Eurostat

MODES OF ACCESS TO EU MICRODATA IN THE NEW LEGAL FRAMEWORK

ALEKSANDRA BUJNOWSKA

EUROSTATSTATISTICAL OFFICE OF THE EUROPEAN UNION

Eurostat

Access to confidential data for scientific purposes

Regulation (EC) No 223/2009 on European statistics defines the basic principles of: - the development, production and dissemination of European statistics and - access to confidential data for scientific purposes

Access to confidential data for scientific purposes is enabled under the following conditions (Article 23):

Only indirect identification possible Access for statistical analyses for scientific purposes Approval of national statistical authorities that transmitted the data to

Eurostat required for each access request

Eurostat

Principles of the new Commission Regulation (EU) No 557/2013 on access to confidential data for scientific purposes• Users: recognized research entities• Purpose: statistical analysis for scientific purposes indicated

in the research proposal• Datasets available:

• scientific use files (access in research entities)• secure use files (access in secure environment)

• Access provided by Eurostat or another accredited entity: access facility

• Approval of access by national statistical authorities• Transparency and efficiency

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Process, step 1

1. Recognition of research entity • Application form, confidentiality undertaking and terms of

use to be signed by the head of research entity• Assessment by Eurostat

Publication of the name of the research entity on Eurostat website

More than 100 applications received Around 70 research entities recognized and published on

Eurostat websites

All information about access conditions and microdata available are published on Eurostat website: Eurostat – Statistics – Access to microdata

Eurostat

Process, step 2

2. Research proposal • Application form and confidentiality declaration to be

signed by researchers applying for access to confidential data

• Consultation of the technical service in Eurostat• Consultation of national statistical authorities (4 weeks)

Opening of the access

All information about access conditions and microdata available are published on Eurostat website: Eurostat – Statistics – Access to microdata

Eurostat

Confidential data for scientific purposes

• Scientific use files (data sent to researchers): confidential data for scientific purposes on which methods of statistical disclosure control have been applied to reduce to the appropriate level and in accordance with current best practice the risk of identification of the statistical unit

• Secure use files (data available in Eurostat secure environment): confidential data for scientific purposes on which no further methods of statistical disclosure control have been applied

• Statistical disclosure control methods - methods to reduce the risk of disclosing information on the statistical units, usually based on restricting the amount of or modifying the data released

Eurostat

Which datasets are available?

Datasets currently released: 1. European Community Household Panel (ECHP)2. Labour Force Survey (LFS)3. Community Innovation Survey (CIS)4. Structure of Earnings Survey (SES)5. Statistics on Income and Living Conditions (SILC)6. Adult Education Survey (AES)7. European Health Interview Survey (EHIS) - NEW8. European Road Freight Transport (ERFT) - NEW

Two new datasets will be released soon:9. Community statistics on information Society (CSIS)10. Continuous Vocational Training Survey (CVTS)

Household Budget Survey will be released as from January 2014.

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Current modes of access

• Scientific use files – confidentialised and transmitted to research entities on electronic devices

• Secure use files – available only in Eurostat secure room (in Luxembourg)

Eurostat

Secure use files – possible modes of access

• On-site access• Decentralised access (remote access via secure

access facilities in national statistical authorities in MS)

• Remote access (access from the research entities)

• Remote execution (use of confidential data without actually seeing them)

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Access facilities

• Physical or virtual environment and its organisational setting where access to confidential data for scientific purposes is provided

• Implementation• National Statistical Institutes • National Statistical Authorities • Other bodies

Eurostat

Implementation – 2014/2015

• Decentralized access• Accreditation of safe centres in NSIs • Development of the IT solution • Trainings of the safe centres' staff• Opening of the access via safe centres

Eurostat

Thank you for your attention!

Any questions?

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