a) Collaborate with the Permanent Section for Statistical Coordination in the preparation of the document “General Lines of Official Statistical Activity”;
b) Monitor the production of territorially-based statistics, namely by assessing their suitability for users' needs;
c) Monitor, in close collaboration with the appropriate Sections, the production of territorially-based statistics through the analysis of statistical projects with relevant implications for regional and local statistical information;
d) Opinion on the adequacy of technical instruments for statistical coordination involving regionally-based statistics;
e) Develop actions that enhance the use of administrative acts and other sources for statistical purposes, in conjunction with the appropriate Sections;
f) Promote the exploitation of existing statistical operations with a view to taking advantage of their potential for the enrichment of territorially based statistics;
g) To monitor, through the national institutional participants, the work of the Committees or Working Groups that operate within the scope of the European Union and the relevant international organizations relating to its area of intervention.

- Permanent members:

- represented at Council:
• Statistics Portugal
• Regional Statistics Service of the Azores
• Regional Directorate of Statistics of Madeira
• Entities delegated by INE
• Presidency of the Council of Ministers
• Government representation in the area of the economy and the sea
• Government representation in the area of finance
• Government representation in the area of agriculture and food
• National Association of Portuguese Municipalities
• Representative of Business Confederations (to be designated by agreement between those represented in the CSE)
• Representative of Trade Union Centrals (to be designated by agreement between those represented in the CSE)
• José Cadima Ribeiro
 

- other representants in a permanent basis:
• Agency for Development and Cohesion, I.P.
• Coordination and Regional Development Commissions
• Directorate-General for the Territory
• Directorate-General for Local Authorities
• National Association of Parishes

- The Lisbon and Porto Metropolitan Areas will be invited to participate in the activities that the Section develops, in cases where the matters under analysis justify it.