Multinational enterprise groups and their structure

Another reason for the experimental status of EGR data is the way data on group structures are produced. The EGR is a platform that merges the data of EU and EFTA countries with commercial data. The final view on groups is established on the basis of sources' preference rules and the business rules that govern the EGR system. The outcome may thus differ from the national view on groups.

All of the national statistical authorities of the EU and EFTA countries produce statistics on multinational groups, such as figures on foreign affiliates or foreign direct investment. These statistics are drawn from national sources and a EuroGroups Register (EGR).

The EGR – the central statistical business register of Eurostat and the EU and EFTA countries' statistical authorities – covers multinational enterprise groups operating in Europe. It provides the statistical authorities of the EU and EFTA countries with yearly population frames of multinational enterprise groups. The Register's main function is to provide the statistical authorities with a harmonised structure of multinational groups and their variables for the production of national statistics and quality checks.

EGR data enable information to be produced on the overall structure of multinational enterprise groups in the EU and EFTA countries, while preserving the confidentiality of micro-data.