Official statistics, methodologically harmonized with European Union standards, are of great importance in the integration process of Montenegro, it was pointed out in the conversation between Finance Minister Novica Vuković and General Director of Eurostat, Marijana Koceva.
The meeting, during which the possibilities of improving the statistical system in Montenegro were discussed, was also attended by the Ambassador of the European Union in Montenegro, Johan Satler, and the director of the Directorate of Statistics, Miroslav Pejović, with his associates.
Vuković said that the institution he manages in the coming period will "with full commitment" contribute to the progress regarding the statistical production of official data in accordance with the legal acquis of the EU, as well as that the team of the Ministry of Finance will "work diligently" to close the negotiation chapter 18 - Statistics.
As he said, already at the beginning of his ministerial mandate, he was faced with the most important statistical task of the state, the implementation of the census, which, from the perspective of the Ministry of Finance, "he gave full priority and contribution to its full professionalization, i.e. its apoliticality", said that department.
Koceva, as it was announced, congratulated on the conducted census of population, households and apartments in Montenegro and expressed her satisfaction with the cooperation with Monstat. "She also emphasized the importance of strong support for the institutional status of the Directorate for Statistics in national circumstances, with the aim of creating an even stronger role as coordinator of the statistical system. She expressed Eurostat's readiness to help Montenegro harmonize the statistical methodology with EU standards, which, as she assessed, will accelerate its integration process."
At the meeting, the importance of good inter-institutional cooperation at the level of Monstat, the Ministry of Finance and the Central Bank was emphasized, which, as assessed, is also a prerequisite for the inclusion of Montenegro in the European statistical framework.
"It was agreed that, in order to intensify the activities necessary to close the negotiation chapter 18, a team will be formed from representatives of national institutions and Eurostat, which will, according to the Work Plan that will be defined, improve the current statistical standards of Montenegro and make them sustainable for the coming period, when it becomes a member of the European Union".
Eurostat, as the statistical office of the European Union, provides high-quality statistical data on Europe and within the European Statistical System partnership, produces European statistics in cooperation with National Statistical Institutes and other national authorities of EU member states, the Ministry of Finance said in a statement.
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