On 16 January 2015, a meeting with the members of the Lithuanian Accounting Firms Association took place at Statistics Lithuania. The President of the Association, Sigitas Babarskas, emphasised the need for the reduction in the number of compulsory statistical questionnaires, a wider use of administrative data sources, extension of statistical data submission deadlines – because not all enterprises are able to produce the required data by the set deadlines. Other members of the Association expressed their opinion about the timing and timeliness of the filling-in and submission of specific statistical questionnaires. Moreover, the preparation of interim financial statements and reliability of quarterly data submitted to Statistics Lithuania were discussed.

Deputy Director General of Statistics Lithuania Aldona Gibaitė-Kudžmienė presented the burden reduction policy of Statistics Lithuania and its implementation instruments. Attention was paid to the fact that the use of administrative data sources, annual review of statistical questionnaires, possibility for respondents to provide statistical data electronically contributes to the reduction in the time spent by enterprises on the filling-in of statistical questionnaires. In 2014, one respondent spent, on average, 9.17 hrs on the preparation of statistical data and filling-in of statistical questionnaires. The members of the Associations were encouraged to popularise and use the electronic statistical data preparation and transfer system e-Statistics. The participants of the meeting were also informed about the feedback that enterprises filling in statistical questionnaires can provide for Statistics Lithuania, as well as about comparative statistics prepared for such enterprises, available in the e-Statistics system.

Head of the Enterprise Statistics Division of Statistics Lithuania Antanina Valiulienė informed the participants of the meeting about administrative sources used in the preparation of structural business statistics. She also emphasised the fact that annual financial statements data do not fully represent assets by activity; for this reason, it is necessary to collect detailed data on small and average enterprises. Ms Valiulienė also encouraged enterprises to use the e-Statistics system and statistical questionnaires partially prefilled with data from administrative sources. It would markedly reduce the time spent by enterprises on the filling-in of the Enterprise Activity Statistical Questionnaire (F-01) – since it is partially prefilled with annual financial statements and State Social Insurance Fund Board (Sodra) data. In the e-Statistics system, respondents may also find other partially prefilled statistical questionnaires.

The parties agreed on further meetings and cooperation.