Overcoming challenges in cross-border data collection: what we learned from 22 Countries

Producing reliable, comparable data on cross-border workers remains a complex task across Europe. National Statistical Institutes (NSIs) face a range of challenges, from fragmented data ownership to legal constraints and capacity shortages. These obstacles are not theoretical, they are practical, concrete, and affect the ability to deliver statistics that reflect the realities of cross-border mobility.

In the second in-person workshop of the DG REGIO-funded project on cross-border data collection, held on 17–18 November 2025 in Brussels, representatives of Statistical Institutes from 22 countries came together to look at these issues. The discussions made one thing very clear: despite the diversity of administrative systems, the challenges many countries face are surprisingly similar. 

Several countries raised concerns about limited human resources and the absence of dedicated units to manage cross-border data production. Others pointed to difficulties in accessing relevant administrative sources, especially when the NSI does not have established procedures to access social security data. In some cases, different institutions within a single country hold the necessary datasets, but lack of coordination and legal clarity slows down data sharing.

The workshop also revealed that the data set has quality issues. In several countries, determining the actual place of work is problematic and solving this is not straightforward. Sometimes pieces of information exists in free-text fields without clear codes making automatic processing difficult. Few countries reported that their existing data does not identify workers residing abroad, since citizenship is more relevant in their administrative system. 

Despite these obstacles, the event confirmed a strong willingness among participants to overcome barriers. Many NSIs expressed appreciation for the chance to learn from each other and highlighted the value of structured peer exchange. In some cases, the workshop even led to new progress: institutions that had previously decided not to take part in the project left the meeting considering ways to move forward.

We are grateful to all participants who shared their institutional realities with openness and detail. These insights are vital to shaping a realistic and sustainable methodology for cross-border data collection. As the project moves forward, we will continue to build on this collective knowledge, step by step, country by country.

For more information on the project, please contact: crossborderdata@cbs.nl