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Paving the Way for Accession II Focus on Macro-Economic Statistics: Barbara Jakob Talks to Key Eurostat Officials

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Paving the Way for Accession II Focus on Macro-Economic Statistics: Barbara Jakob Talks to Key Eurostat Officials letin of European Statistics M ' -~*i "VÍ Statistical Office of the European Communities SIGMA 4 ■ 1997 Sigma ­ the bulletin of European statistics produced in Luxembourg by Eurostat Chief editor Daniel Byk Assistant chief editor Fons Theis Editorial team John Wright Barbara Jakob Annika Östergren Steffen Schneider Assistant Virginie Benoit Layout Claudia Daman Technical aspect pioneers Quentin Masquelier Cover Frédéric Guyon Pictured here ¡n Luxembourg are some of the first trainees Published by from national statistical institutes and statistics­providing Office for Official Publications of the European agencies in Central Europe sponsored to work at Eurostat Communities This study­placement scheme of up to six months started in Catalogue number January 1996 in the framework of the Phare programme. It CA­AB­97­004­EN­C will extend to up to 30 trainees at a time.Aim is to famil­ © ECSC­EC­EAEC Brussels · Luxembourg 1997 iarise Central European countries' NSIs with the workings of the European statistical system. Printed in Luxembourg Views expressed in Sigma are those of the authors, not roup worked in Eurostats Directorate B, gaining experience in necessarily those of the European Commission KtaaBal statistics, balance of payments and non­financial accounts. Sigma is available free of charge from: FronTleft­to­right: Andrus Alber, Bank of Estonia; Ilona Cserhati, Brian CSO;Youlia Antonova, Bulgarian NSI;and Pal Pozsonyi, Eurostat Press & Communications Team Hungarian CSO. Room B3/079 |ean Monnet Building From left­to­right: Miloslav L­2920 Luxembourg Fax: 352 4301 35349 Chlad, Czech Statistical Office, who worked in E4 on regional accounts; Jordan Totev, Bulgarian NSI, and Anne Herm. Statistical Office of Estonia, who both worked in E4 on demographic data col­ lection; Slavice Cerne, Slovenian Statistical Office, attached to C2 on transport statistics; and Natasa Gorjan also from the Slovenian Statistical Office, who was in A5 (Technical cooperation with Phare and Tacis coun­ tries). Natasa Gorjan and Andrus Alber describe their experiences on pages 39 & 41. Sigma 4 m 1997 m. — CONTENTS SIGMA COMMENT Statistics & EU enlargement by Photis Nanopoulos, Eurostat Director for Phare & Tacis aid SIGMA THEME The challenge STATISTICS, by European Commissioner Hans van den Broek EU & ENLARGEMENT 5+/ cou/d = 2/ Going Phare - how Eurostat and Central European countries cooperate Statistical partners for accession 10 by Alberto De Michelis, Eurostat Director for economic statistics & convergence Paving the way for accession II Focus on macro-economic statistics: Barbara Jakob talks to key Eurostat officials Agricultural statistics: a moving target 15 Steffen Schneider talked to David Heath of Eurostat Prague - a springboard to statistics for accession 19 John Wright reports from a key meeting in the Czech capital Open Czech 26 John Wright visits the Czech National Bank Cyprus figures on a solution 29 John Wright interviews the head of statistics in Candidate Country Cyprus Latvia steers steadily west 33 John Wright focuses on statisücs in the Baltic state Statistics' Hungarian rhapsody 36 by Dr Tamás Katona, HCSO President Experience not to be missed 39 Two trainees from Central Europe describe their attachment to Eurostat in Luxembourg FOCUS ON MEMBER STATES Dutch DG grows 'legs'& changes tempo 42 Profile of the Dutch Central Bureau of Statistics by John Wright Census 'revolution' in Italy 50 by Enrico Giovannini of ISTAT Presenting statistics for a modern Ireland 51 by Charlie Weston, Irish CSO media adviser FOCUS ON EUROSTAT Statistics driven by integration 53 Fons Theis interviews Yves Franchet Medstat establishes new ties for statisticians 55 by Luca Ascoli, Eurostat Sigma4m 1997 I SIGMA COMMENT tatistics will promote enlargement by Photis Nanopoulos M 1 nlargement together with ■ 7 Economic and Monetary Ä—«· Union is one of the most important and historic challenges faced by the European Union.Ten Central European countries (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, the Czech Republic, the Slovak Republic, Hungary, Slovenia, Romania and Bulgaria) and Cyprus have applied for EU membership. The sheer number of applicants alone is a test for the EU. Full enlargement would represent a growth of more than 30% in the Union's population, well over a hundred million new citizens. And Central European countries have emerged from another political sys­ tem, which has had a tremendous impact, among many other things, on their statistical systems. The Commission in July 1997 gave its Opinion on the membership applications by these countries, which represent the overwhelming majority of the Phare region. It rec­ ommended that accession negotia­ tions should begin with Hungary, Poland, Estonia, the Czech Republic ment, social cohesion, structural of only six of the countries, the and Slovenia. Cyprus had already funds and reinforced pre­accession Commission made clear it would received assurances about negotia­ strategies. Compilation of this continue, as before, to work with tions from the European Council Opinion together with its statistical all candidates.This means that following the positive Opinion from annexes is proof of how the statistical cooperation will contin­ the Commission in 1993. European statistical system can ue independently from the out­ perform: Eurostat was able to come of the December summit, The Commission's Agenda 2000 obtain in time from all candidates which will decide those^countries also contains proposals for the all the data required. to go through to the next round reform of EU policies (eg the of negotiations. As history Common Agricultural Policy), sus­ Though recommending immediate proves, the opening of such nego­ tainable economic growth, employ­ accession negotiations in the case tiations has little connection with 2 Signio 4« 1997 SIGMA COMMENT their duration or date of final accession. The year 1997 has seen some dra­ In this issue of Sigma... matic changes in cooperation between the EU and Phare coun­ This issue of Sigma is dedicated to statistics and EU enlargement. The context is tries. In March, the Commission well known. Eleven countries have applied for membership: the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Poland, Slovenia, Bulgaria, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia, adopted a communication on new Romania and Cyprus. The European Commission has recommended opening orientation of the Phare pro­ accession negotiations with the first five. Cyprus received pontive assurances on gramme as a basic accession instru­ accession negotiations from the Council in 1993. ment. In Agenda 2000 the Commission also proposes a new In the following pages we... financing framework and work mechanisms for applicant countries. ■ illustrate how Eurostat and Candidate Countries (CCs) are cooperating Such reinforced strategies will have ■ emphasise the role of statistics in the accession process, and an impact on statistical coopera­ tion, the main items being ■ highlight the statistical efforts of CCs in preparing for EU membership. Accession Partnerships and pursuit of the Europe Agreements process Final decision on countries to be included in the next round of negotiations was whereby Eurostat becomes increas­ due to be taken by the European Council on 13 and 14 December 1997. In these ingly involved. Agenda 2000 also circumstances, we decided not to focus entirely on the five Central European stipulates that candidates should, by countries recommended by the Commission plus Cyprus but also to take a look the time of accession, comply with at the other candidates (including a focus on the Latvian Central Statistical the acquis communautaire. The Bureau; seepage 33). acquis has become substantial and Our aim is simple: we hope to help you learn a little more about the progress of Eurostat will have to make a major statisticians in all CECs and Cyprus towards the goal of EU membership, and effort to help our partners reach what they think about the enlargement process. full compliance. Preparation for enlargement also Enthusiasm among CCs for accession and, particularly from our point­of­view, means extensive negotiations.The statistical cooperation is manifest Here are some typical comments selected from articles in this issue: statistical system ­ both Eurostat and Candidate Countries ­ has an ■ 'We have been trading with Europe for a long time. Most of our tourism is obligation to support these negoti­ from Europe. Although we belong geographically to Asia, we are culturally ations as well as those in the European with our economy to European standards. I think by joining the EU framework of the Europe we shall have more prosperity and stability — both political and economic — Agreements. as part of a bigger 'nation'." ­ Dr Evros Demetriades, Director of the Department of Statistics and Research, Cyprus. Eurostat has cooperated with the applicant countries more closely ■ "We have always felt part of Europe. I don't want to imagine us outside. I am positive we shall rise to the statistical challenge. " ­ Cecilia Pop, Head of than with any country in its history. National Accounts, National Commission for Statistics, Romania. It has done so on a broad basis since 1989 ­ the earliest possible ■ "I think the majority of Poles are convinced about joining the EU. I think the after the political changes that feeling of being a member will be very important. " ­ Bozena Jakobiak, brought us to this stage. Such National Accounts Director, Central Statistical Office, Poland cooperation has already yielded ■ "Most of our people hope we
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