Key data
| Regulation | Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1566 of 13 July 2026 |
|---|---|
| Publication | 14 July 2026 |
| Entry into force | 13 July 2026 |
| Direct stakeholders | National statistical institutes (INE in Spain) and companies selected in national surveys on ICT |
| Category | European Regulation |
| Reference year | 2027 |
| Higher legal framework | Regulation (EU) 2019/2152 of the European Parliament and of the Council |
| Data destination | Eurostat |
If your company has ever received a survey from the INE about technology use or online sales, this regulation is the underlying reason. The Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1566, published on 14 July 2026, sets the exact technical specifications that Member States must follow when collecting and transmitting to Eurostat business statistics on ICT use and e-commerce for the reference year 2027.
The regulation is based on Regulation (EU) 2019/2152, which establishes the general framework for European business statistics. What is now added are the specific rules of the game: data formats, metadata and quality criteria that make data from all EU countries comparable.
What does this regulation establish?
The regulation defines three major blocks of technical requirements that national statistical institutes must meet when sending their annual reports to Eurostat:
| Block | Content | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Technical data specifications | Exact formats in which data collected from companies must be structured | Ensure that data is processable and comparable between countries |
| Metadata requirements | Descriptive information about how, when and from whom data has been collected | Allow Eurostat to evaluate the methodology used by each Member State |
| Quality criteria | Minimum standards for reliability, coverage and representativeness of reports | Ensure statistical comparability among the 27 EU countries |
The statistical topic to which this regulation refers is "Use of ICT and e-commerce", which measures the degree of business digitalization: internet access, use of cloud services, online sales, digital presence, use of artificial intelligence, among other key indicators for EU digitalization policy.
The annual metadata and quality reports regulated by this regulation are those that Member States send to Eurostat to certify that their data meets European standards. Without these reports, national data cannot be integrated into comparable European statistics.
Economic and operational impact
For the vast majority of companies, the direct impact of this regulation is indirect and operational, not economic in the strict sense. There are no fees, European fines or costs directly derived from this regulation for private companies.
However, there are practical consequences worth knowing:
- Greater rigor in INE surveys: With technical specifications fixed at European level, national ICT surveys must collect more precise and structured data. This can translate into more detailed questionnaires for selected companies.
- Obligation to respond: INE surveys on ICT have mandatory statistical character for companies selected in the sample. Failure to respond may result in formal requests and, ultimately, administrative sanctions under Spanish statistical legislation.
- Impact on public policies: Data collected under this framework feeds decision-making on digitalization investment at European level. Companies operating in sectors with low digital penetration may be affected by policies derived from this data.
- European comparability: Aggregated data allows the European Commission to identify digital gaps by country and sector, which may influence the distribution of European digitalization funds.
Who does it affect?
- National Statistical Institute (INE): It is the body directly obliged by this regulation in Spain. It must adapt its data collection, validation and transmission processes to the technical specifications set by the regulation.
- Companies selected in the INE ICT survey: Those that receive the annual INE questionnaire on use of information technologies and e-commerce. The selection is sample-based and can affect companies of any sector and size.
- Companies with e-commerce activity: Those that sell products or services online are particularly relevant to this statistic and are more likely to be included in the sample.
- SMEs and self-employed with employees: The INE ICT survey includes companies of different sizes. SMEs with 10 or more employees are usually within the usual scope of these European statistics.
- Large companies and corporate groups: More likely to be systematically selected in the statistical sample.
Practical example
Imagine you are the financial director of a distribution company with 45 employees and an active online store. In the first quarter of 2028, the INE sends you the annual questionnaire on ICT use and e-commerce for the reference year 2027.
That questionnaire collects data structured according to the technical specifications set by the Regulation (EU) 2026/1566: what percentage of your sales were made online, what cloud services you use, whether you use artificial intelligence tools, what your information security level is, etc.
Once completed, the INE aggregates your response with that of thousands of similar companies, validates that the data meets the quality criteria required by Eurostat, and transmits the report in the technical format established by this regulation. Your company does not report directly to the EU, but its data contributes to the European statistic on business digitalization that determines policies and funds.
If you do not respond to the questionnaire, the INE may send you a formal request. The Law on Public Statistical Function establishes the obligation to collaborate with official statistics, with the corresponding sanctioning regime.
What should companies do now?
- Identify if your company can be selected: If you have e-commerce activity or a relevant number of employees, it is likely that at some point you will receive the INE ICT survey. Anticipate by designating an internal person responsible for this type of statistical requests.
- Prepare your digitalization data for 2027: When the questionnaire arrives, you will need data on online sales, digital tools used, cloud services contracted and information security level. Keep an updated record of these indicators throughout the year.
- Respond within the deadline if you receive the questionnaire: Collaboration with official statistical surveys is mandatory. Not ignoring INE requests avoids administrative complications.
- Delegate to the IT or digital transformation area: The data requested by this survey is technical. Make sure that the technology department or systems manager is informed and can provide the necessary data quickly.
- Follow the evolution of the regulation: This regulation sets the specifications for the reference year 2027. In subsequent years, the Commission will publish new specifications that may expand or modify the data requested, especially in areas such as artificial intelligence or cybersecurity.
Frequently asked questions
Do companies have to report directly to the EU or Eurostat?
No. Companies do not report directly to the EU or Eurostat. They participate in national surveys organized by the INE in Spain. It is the INE that aggregates the data and transmits it to Eurostat in the technical formats established by Regulation (EU) 2026/1566.
What specific data does the INE ICT survey request?
The survey collects information on business digitalization: internet use, e-commerce sales, cloud services, artificial intelligence tools, information security and digital presence, among other indicators. The data corresponds to the reference year 2027.
Is it mandatory to respond to the INE ICT survey?
Yes. Official statistical surveys by the INE are mandatory for companies selected in the sample, according to the Law on Public Statistical Function. Failure to respond may result in formal requests and, ultimately, administrative sanctions under Spanish statistical legislation.
When does this regulation enter into force and what year do the data refer to?
Regulation (EU) 2026/1566 entered into force on 13 July 2026 and was published on 14 July 2026. The technical specifications it establishes apply to data from the reference year 2027, which will be collected by the INE and transmitted to Eurostat later.
What happens if the INE does not comply with the technical specifications required by Eurostat?
If the data transmitted by the INE does not comply with the formats, metadata and quality criteria established by Regulation (EU) 2026/1566, Eurostat may reject it or not include it in comparable European statistics. This would affect Spain's representation in EU business digitalization indicators, with possible consequences for the allocation of European funds and policies.
Official source
Consult complete regulation in official source
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, consult a qualified professional. Source: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/./legal-content/AUTO/?uri=OJ:L_202601566