Commission Report (2002): Poland

• Progress since the last Regular Report
• Overall assessment
• Conclusion

Chapter 12: Statistics

Progress since the last Regular Report

Poland has continued to make good progress since the last Regular Report.

As regards statistical infrastructure, the Head Office of the Central Statistical Office was reorganised in the first half of 2002.

There has been no progress with regard to classifications.

In the field of demographic and social statistics, a Population and Housing Census was conducted in May and June 2002. First results will be available by the end of 2002 and subsequently integrated into all other fields of statistical production. As regards the Labour Force Survey, which is already continuous with quarterly reporting, a fully compliant questionnaire was introduced in 2001.

Statistics at regional level have seen further progress. The Polish statistical office (GUS) has made a major effort to re-calculate historical time-series, which suffered a break due to the administrative territorial reform of 1999. Many indicators are available also at level 4 and 5 of the Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics (NUTS 4 and 5). A geographical information system is being put in place to further improve the use of regional data by both internal and external users.

In the field of macro-economic statistics a number of methodological improvements were implemented in 2002. Seasonally adjusted time series are being prepared and will be available by the end of 2002. Quarterly national accounts were further improved, but delays still should be shortened. As regards Government finance statistics, the GUS's co-operation with the Ministry of Finance has been enhanced but should be further developed. The methodology of Foreign Direct Investment statistics was improved in 2001 leading to an enhancement of monetary, financial and balance of payments statistics.

For external trade, work concentrated on the preparations for the INTRASTAT system, which monitors trade between Member States. A framework programme for the implementation of INTRASTAT was adopted in June 2002 along with the appointment of an inter-ministerial team to oversee the implementation of the programme.

In the field of agricultural statistics, Poland conducted an agricultural census in 2002, which should greatly improve the quality of agricultural statistics, in particular through an update of the sampling frame for structural surveys. co-ordination of statistical production between the GUS and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has made significant progress over the past year. Both authorities have created a joint task force, which is working on a strategic plan for the future development of the agricultural statistical system.

Overall assessment

Poland has a well established statistical system with an EC-compliant statistical law in force since 1995. The Polish Central Statistical Office (GUS) is an independent state agency. The Prime Minister nominates the GUS's President on a proposal by the Statistical Council for a six-year term.

Almost all major classifications, which are relevant for acquis implementation, are in force in Poland. However, in the field of industrial production a joint classification for statistics and tax authorities which would be compatible with the list of Products of the European Community (Prodcom) has not yet been implemented. There is a regional subdivision of the country's territory which corresponds to the NUTS classification and divides Poland into 16 units at level 2, coinciding with the 16 voivodships created in 1999. New regional sub-divisions at level 3 and 4 have also been created in the meantime.

Macro-economic statistics are produced on the basis of the European System of Accounts (ESA-95) methodology at a very high level of compliance. Poland is a member of the European comparison programme, which supplies the data for the compilation of Purchasing Power Standards. As regards Government finance statistics, there is also still room for improving the consistency with ESA-95 in this field. Some details on the delimitation of the Government sector still need to be clarified.

Monetary, financial and balance of payments statistics are compiled by the National Bank of Poland. Annual Balance of Payments statistics are produced at a very high level of compliance. However, the breakdown by item and geographical zone of quarterly and monthly Balance of Payments statistics should still be refined.

Structural business statistics and industrial production statistics are produced at a very high level of compliance. However, industrial production statistics still suffer from the problems connected with Prodcom implementation. Short-term business statistics are well developed.

In agricultural statistics, Economic Accounts for Agriculture (EAA) are compiled together with the Ministry on the basis of the EAA-97 methodology. They are considered to be EC-compliant. Certain weaknesses persist in animal production statistics and in balance sheets. These must be addressed.

Conclusion

In its 1997 Opinion, the Commission concluded that Poland should be able to comply with EU requirements for official statistics within the next few years.

Since the Opinion, Poland has made very good further progress in most areas of statistics; in addition a population and housing census and an agricultural census were conducted in May and June 2002. Poland has achieved a high level of alignment and developed a strong administrative capacity.

Negotiations on this chapter have been provisionally closed. Poland has not requested any transitional arrangements in this area. Poland is generally meeting its commitments made in the accession negotiations.

In order to complete preparations for membership, Poland's efforts now need to focus on further improving the quality of Government deficit and debt statistics, implementing INTRASTAT, introducing a Prodcom-compatible classification also for tax purposes and addressing the remaining weaknesses of agricultural statistics.

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