The Council of the European Union has received an Opinion from the Committee on Monetary, Financial and Balance of Payments Statistics (CMFB) on the exchange of confidential statistical information (ECI) for European Statistics. The Opinion, sent by CMFB Chair Robert Kirchner on 27 May 2026, is now before the Council for review by delegations.
The CMFB Opinion provides guidance on the conditions and procedures for sharing confidential statistical data among EU statistical authorities for statistical purposes. It aims to facilitate the production of high-quality European Statistics while ensuring the protection of confidential information. The document does not specify particular dates, numerical targets, or enforcement mechanisms, but rather offers a framework for data exchange.
This Opinion is a technical input to the Council's ongoing work on statistical governance. It does not carry binding force but may inform future legislative or operational decisions on data sharing within the European Statistical System. The Council will now consider the Opinion as part of its deliberations on statistical policy.
National statistical authorities may benefit from clearer guidelines on data sharing, potentially improving data quality and comparability. Businesses and individuals whose data is collected for statistical purposes may see enhanced confidentiality safeguards. EU institutions, including Eurostat, could gain more efficient access to cross-border data. However, the Opinion's non-binding nature means its practical impact depends on subsequent implementation by member states.