Définition
The harmonised European system for business outlook surveys piloted by the European Commission (the Directorate-General for Economic and Financial Affairs, ECFIN, based in Brussels), is the framework within which the harmonisation of European business outlook surveys is organised.
The system sets very thorough rules, particularly on harmonised methods to be respected by adherent institutes (covering sample selection, questionnaire content, particularly the precise form of questions posed, periodicity and sector fields for surveys, questioning period, processing method and dates of publication). Statistical institutes are bound by a contract signed with the Commission. These surveys are useful in the short-term diagnostic analysis of the French and European economies.