Statistics on the information society

 

SUMMARY OF:

Regulation (EC) No 808/2004 — EU statistics on the information society

WHAT IS THE AIM OF THE REGULATION?

• It seeks to establish a common EU-wide system for the collection of statistics on the digital economy and society.
• The statistics collected serve as a basis for EU policy and strategy on the development of the European information society.

KEY POINTS

The statistics will be grouped as modules as defined in the regulation’s 2 annexes.

Annex I

• Module 1:

  Enterprises and the information society — this covers statistics compiled for business (enterprise) units.

  • Statistics will be provided annually for up to 5 reference years from 2004.
  • Subjects — not all of which will be covered each year — include:
    • information and communications technology (ICT) systems and their usage in businesses,
    • use of the internet and other electronic networks by businesses,
    • e-commerce,
    • e-business processes and organisational aspects,
    • use of ICT by enterprises to exchange information and services with governments and public administrations (e-government),
    • ICT competence in the enterprise unit and the need for ICT skills,
    • barriers to the use of ICT, the internet and other electronic networks, e-commerce and e-business processes,
    • ICT expenditure and investment,
    • ICT security and trust,
    • use of ICT and its impact on the environment (Green ICT),
    • access to and use of the internet and other network technologies for connecting objects and devices (Internet of Things),
    • access to and use of technologies providing the ability to connect to the internet or other networks from anywhere at any time (ubiquitous connectivity).
  • The precise details of the data to be collected are agreed upon as part of the annual implementing measures (see below).
  • These data can be broken down as follows:
    • size class
    • European Classification of Economic Activities (NACE) heading
    • region (limited to no more than 3 groupings).
  • EU countries will transmit aggregate data to Eurostat.

Annex II

• Module 2:

  Individuals, households and the information society.

  • Statistics will be provided annually for up to 5 reference years from 2004.
  • Subjects covered include:
    • access to and use of ICTs by individuals and/or in households,
    • use of the internet and other electronic networks for different purposes by individuals and/or in households,
    • ICT security and trust (2 closely interlinked aspects, with trust generally dependent on security),
    • ICT competence and skills,
    • barriers to the use of ICT and the internet,
    • perceived effects of ICT usage on individuals and/or on households,
    • use of ICT by individuals to exchange information and services with governments and public administrations (e-government),
    • access to and use of technologies enabling connection to the Internet or other networks from anywhere at any time (ubiquitous connectivity).
  • The socio-economic background characteristics of data to be collected will be agreed upon as part of the annual implementing measures.
    • Statistics on households can be by:
      • household type
      • income group
      • region.
    • Statistics supplied by individuals can be by:
      • age-group
      • sex
      • education level
      • employment situation
      • actual marital status
      • country of birth
      • citizenship
      • region.

Implementing measures must be drawn up at least 9 months before the data collection period. These are drawn up by the European Commission which is assisted by the European Statistical System Committee (which replaced the Statistical Programme Committee in 2009). The committee is responsible for supporting the Commission in implementing this regulation, comprises EU countries’ representatives and is chaired by the Commission.

FROM WHEN DOES THE REGULATION APPLY?

It has applied since 20 May 2004.

BACKGROUND

For more information, see:

• Digital society and economy (Eurostat).

MAIN DOCUMENT

Regulation (EC) No 808/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 April 2004 concerning Community statistics on the information society (OJ L 143, 30.4.2004, pp. 49-55)

Successive amendments to Regulation (EC) No 808/2004 have been incorporated into the original text. This consolidated version is of documentary value only.

last update 08.09.2017