International Relations Working Group

IRWG 2011/01/EN/1

International Relations Working Group 3rd Meeting

Minutes 10/02/2010

Luxembourg, 25/1/2011 10.30 – 15.30 Ampere Room

IRWG 2011/01/EN/1

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

General  The mandate was formally adopted  Information on developments following the Lisbon Treaty.  Presentation of Statistical Cooperation issues  Presentation of a future communication tool for the IRWG

UNSC agenda  Decision on coordinated EU position on: o Programme Review: National Quality Assurance Framework o Environment statistics o Environmental accounting o World Statistics Day o Global geographic information management  Usual caution in case it becomes too political for a technical forum: o Development indicators

Inventory of Groups  Useful tool but should be adapted to be more effective  Should be updated frequently

Actions  Calendar on future and past important meetings and a brief paper for the next meeting  Executive document with a summary of cooperation activities for the next meeting.  Posters that have been produced by Eurostat with an overview of statistical cooperation to be distributed.

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MINUTES Pieter Everaers (PE) opened the meeting by welcoming the participants. The draft minutes of the first IRWG meeting (May 2009) were agreed upon. Spain asked to include an item on statistical cooperation under item 4 of the agenda and PE announced that Haiti will also be mentioned on this point. 1. Adoption of the mandate [information item] PE thanked the group that had been in charge of redrafting the mandate. The IRWG mandate was formally adopted. As stated in the mandate the work of the group and mandate will be reviewed periodically.

2. Coordination of EU position for the United Nations Statistical Commission [discussion item] The countries had been asked to identify the issues of interest for a coordinated EU position at the UNSC. PE started by stating that although there were no items of great concern in the UNSC agenda the following points might merit the attention of a unified approach by EU members: - Agenda item 3 (a) Programme Review: National Quality Assurance Framework - Agenda item 3 (g) Environment statistics - Agenda item 3 (h) Environmental accounting PE also informed that UNSD would like to be informed about European activities regarding the World Statistics Day on 20 October 2010 (20-10-2010) (UNSC agenda item 3(i) World Statistics Day). Eurostat informed of its plans, suggesting an EU-wide press release on this day, to be organised by a future network of press officers, which is being discussed in the Sponsorship Group on Communication.

There was a tour de table and in general the members agreed with the items proposed. - Agenda item 3 (a): The NQAF initiative was welcomed. It was stressed the need to assure its convergence and to liaise with existing EU initiatives such as the ESS Sponsorship Group on Quality as well as bringing together users and producers using the example of the Code of Practice. There was also support for the establishment of a TF. During the discussion it was suggested that Norway, as member of the current UNSC, should take the lead in presenting the common position. - Agenda item 3 (g) Environment statistics The focus should be on the development of the framework and core set of indicators and the timeline should be followed.

- Agenda item 3 (h) Environmental accounting The focus on the SEEA and on the handbook was highlighted. The need to appoint an editor for the Handbook was discussed in order to have the Handbook ready within the timeline proposed (to be presented to UNSC 2012).

During the discussion it was suggested that the Netherlands, as member of the current UNSC, should take the lead in presenting the common position. 3

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- Agenda item 3(i) World Statistics Day The idea of a common press release was welcomed but needs to be further discussed with the Sponsoship Group on Communication. In general the idea of an ESSC event to mark the World Statistics Day was supported. It was also suggested to have junior net event for this day. Some countries plan special seminars for this day or will join it with the anniversary celebration of their NSI or hold open door events. - Agenda item 3 (j) Global geographic information management Germany suggested this point as meriting an EU common position, in order to stress the role of the INSPIRE initiative in Europe. The suggestion was welcomed by the group. During the discussion it was suggested that UK and Germany should discuss bilaterally in order to decide who might take the lead in presenting the common position. - Agenda item 3(l) Development indicators Usual caution in case the discussion on this item becomes too political for a technical forum. The outcome of IRWG discussion on this point will be reported orally to the ESSC of 11 February. The common positions will be finalised during the Spanish Presidency meeting on 23 February in New York.

3. Reflection on main international statistical projects, past and future international meetings [discussion item] James Whitworth (JW) gave information on the developments following the Lisbon Treaty. The Commission will in April publish guidance on how it will affect international relations in the EU. The implementation of the changes should become reality in June 2010. Spain announced that there is information on the Lisbon Treaty on their presidency website (www.eu2010.es). Italy suggested that a rolling calendar for the IRWG should be created in order to note future and past important meetings and at the same time allow the sharing of information in the framework of the CCSA. Slovenia requested that for the next meeting a brief paper on this point should be available instead of an oral presentation. Slovenia also requested information on the Budva initiative1. Eurostat took also the opportunity to present the Dubai initiative: subgroup of the Davos Economic Forum focusing on measurement methods.

A presentation of Statistical Cooperation issues followed regarding European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) and MEDSTAT countries, ACP and information on the current situation in Haiti.

It was agreed to have for the next meeting an executive document with a summary of cooperation activities. Eurostat also agreed to share with the group their poster giving the overview of statistical cooperation.

4. Inventory of Groups and Task Forces at international level [information item]

1 Budva initiative: the western Balkans countries, Greece, Bulgaria and Romania met in Budva, Montenegro in September 2009 to discuss common issues in statistics and will work together towards a proposal for organisation of common meetings. 4

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The mapping of groups, which was carried out with the contribution of a majority of NSIs, was presented by Ann Nilsson (AN). The Inventory was considered useful but it was underlined that it should be kept up to date in order to fill its purpose. For international groups the individual countries should only be mentioned for special task forces. Additional information as “who reports to who” and the links between international and European groups was suggested. The mapping of ESSC groups should however be made by an internal survey at Eurostat.

5. Future working arrangements for the IRWG [discussion item] A new communication tool, the Wiki based tool Confluence, was presented by AN. It was proposed to be used inside the IRWG when it will be in a few months opened for external groups. It is currently used inside the European Commission. The IRWG was requested to take note of this tool and when it will be available in order to start using it for discussion, exchange of information and experiences.

6. Other issues Guillaume Mordant will soon leave his post in international relations in INSEE to work in another sector of the organisation. The group wished him all the best in his new post.

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Participation International Relations Working Group, 10 February 2010

Title Participants Country Email Ms Brigitte Grandits Austria [email protected] Mr Philippe Mauroy Belgium [email protected] Ms Veneta Petrova Bulgaria [email protected] No participant Cyprus Ms Hana Slegrova Czech Republic [email protected] Mr Kim Voldby Pedersen Denmark [email protected] EFTA statistical Mr Kurt Wass office [email protected] No participant Estonia Ms Marika Pohjola Finland [email protected] Mr Guillaume Mordant France [email protected] Mr Bernd Störtzbach Germany [email protected] Mr Ioannis Tzougas Greece [email protected] Ms Tamara Pál Hungary [email protected] No answer Iceland Mr Paul J Crowley Ireland [email protected] Ms Marina Gandolfo Italy [email protected] Ms Dace Deinate Latvia [email protected] Ms Daiva Norkeviciene Lithuania Daiva [email protected] Mr Nico Weydert Luxembourg [email protected] Ms Catherine Vella Malta [email protected] Ms Carina Fransen Netherlands [email protected] Mr Richard Ragnarsøn Norway [email protected] Ms Beata Jakubczak Poland [email protected] Ms Maria Conceição Veiga Portugal [email protected] Mr Vergil Voineagu Romania [email protected] Ms Daniela Stefanescu Romania [email protected] Ms Magda Holubová Slovak Republic [email protected] Ms Andreja Hocevar Slovenia [email protected] Antonio Martinez Mr Serrano Spain [email protected] Ms Susanne Johansson Sweden [email protected] Mr Rolf Escher Switzerland [email protected] Ms Judith Scherrer Switzerland [email protected] Mr Tim Clode United Kingdom [email protected]