EUROMOD Scientific Report 2020

The report was drafted by the EUROMOD Scientific Advisory Board for the attention of the EUROMOD Steering Committee. The transfer of the EUROMOD microsimulation model from the University of Essex (UoE) to the JRC and EUROSTAT started at the beginning of 2018 and has been successfully completed at the end of 2020. The main features of this important and challenging endeavour have been agreed by DG EMPL, ECFIN, TAXUD, REFORM, EUROSTAT and JRC (partner DGs). These DGs recognise the relevance of EUROMOD for the Commission and its public good nature. All the parties involved in the EUROMOD transfer agreed on the importance of establishing a governance structure for the model. Two bodies have been set up1. i) The Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) provides guidance as regards to the EUROMOD technical development plans and overall scientific strategy, ii) the Steering Committee (SC) is responsible for monitoring the progress of EUROMOD against the stated aims, objective and mission. The SC also maintains budgetary oversight of the model maintenance and development. The first meeting of the SAB took place on the 25th November 2020. In accordance with the provisions of the EUROMOD governance structure, this Scientific Report summarizes the state of the EUROMOD updating process, recent model developments and the recommendations issued to DG JRC and DG EUROSTAT by the EUROMOD Scientific Advisory Board. This report contains a description of the EUROMOD transfer and the main features of the 2020 updating process; it mentions the main recent technical developments of EUROMOD and the plan for 2021; it also analyses the uses of the model over the course of 2020Sa a list the recommendations issued by the SAB to JRC and EUROSTAT.