The Hellenic Statistical Authority (Greek: Ελληνική Στατιστική Αρχή), known by its acronym ELSTAT (Greek: ΕΛΣΤΑΤ), is the national statistical service of Greece. The purpose of ELSTAT is to produce, on a regular basis, official statistics, as well as to conduct statistical surveys which: - cover all the fields of activity of the public and private sector, - underpin the processes for decision making, policy drawing and evaluating the policies of the Government and the public administrations and services (evaluation indicators), - are submitted to international agencies in compliance with the obligations of the country and concern the general public or specific categories of users of statistics in Greece and abroad In accordance with its establishing law, ELSTAT is an independent authority and it is not subject to the control of any governmental bodies or other administrative authority. Its operation is subject to the control of the Hellenic Parliament. ELSTAT represents Greece as the “National Statistical Institute” in accordance with paragraph 1 of article 5 of the Regulation (EC) No 223/2009 in the services of the European Union and in any other competent international organisation. It cooperates with the European Statistical Office – Eurostat and the other services of the European Commission, the National Statistical Institutes of the other Member States, the national authorities and other international agencies and organisations on statistical issues. ELSTAT also cooperates with public and private agencies in Greece or abroad, such as educational institutions, research centers and non-profit organisations for the promotion of scientific research for statistical issues, the harmonization of methodology and the implementation of the statistical principles of the Hellenic and European Statistical Systems.