Statistics Netherlands

As laid down in the law, the task of Statistics Netherlands is to carry out statistical research for the government for practice, policy and research purposes and to publish the statistics compiled on the basis of such research.
Section 4 gives Statistics Netherlands the responsibility and coordinating role for EU statistics: "The CBS is the national authority responsible for the production of Community statistics."
Section 18 regulates the independence of Statistics Netherlands concerning methodology and dissemination. "The Director General shall determine the methods by which the studies included in the work programme and the multi-annual programme will be carried out and the manner in which the results of those studies will be published."
In the Netherlands legal and free access to the administrative sources is granted under the Statistics Netherlands Act. Political pressure to reduce response burden is very high. Therefore, in section 33 of the Statistics Netherlands Act is stated that Statistics Netherlands first effort is to produce statistics based on data from the administrative registers of other public institutions. Data collection by using surveys of businesses or households will only be done when use of administrative data from other public institutions is not possible or not adequate to fulfil the timeliness or other quality requirements of the statistics.
The main statistical registers are the Central Population Register, the General Business Register, the register of the Chamber of Commerce, Land Registration and administration from the Tax and Customs Administration and Social Security.

The legal framework within which Statistics Netherlands is required to treat confidential information is strictly regulated in the act on Statistics Netherlands Act and the personal data protection act. In addition to this, Statistics Netherlands adheres to the European Statistics Code of Practice. Statistics Netherlands also has a data protection officer who ensures that all legal requirements in the area of protection of confidential data are fulfilled and maintains a register of cases in which personal data are used for statistical purposes.

everything belonging to the legal framework of the European Statistical System (ESS)

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No lobbyists with EP accreditations

None declared

Ms Carina Fransen (Head of international relations)

Mr Peter Barendswaard (Policy advisor Legal affairs)

VI - Organisations representing local, regional and municipal authorities, other public or mixed entities, etc.

Other public or mixed entities, created by law whose purpose is to act in the public interest