Pejović: The methodology for carrying out the census is fully in line with EU standards

The methodology for conducting the census is fully in line with European standards, said the director of the Statistics Office (Monstat), Miroslav Pejović.

A five-day training for state instructors in the currently most significant statistical action, "Census of Population, Households and Dwellings in 2023", is underway.

The training is held in Sutomore and represents the first level of training for participants in the census. Pejović emphasized the importance of this activity in order to ensure the application of a unique methodology on the territory of Montenegro, in accordance with the Law on the Census of Population, Households and Apartments.

"The census, as the most comprehensive and complex statistical action, applies to all citizens. Public policies, strategies and plans that will be adopted on the basis of data obtained from the census will have a great impact on the quality of their lives. Our task is to ensure that every citizen receives the same information, the same explanation of the methodology, and to create the conditions for them to express themselves completely freely on all issues, either on issues that concern their personal feelings, or on those that concern the factual situation," Pejović said. as reported by Mediabiro.

He adds that the methodology defined by Monstat is in line with European standards, the Census Regulation, Eurostat guidelines, recommendations of the UNECE office for the 2020 Round, and all in compliance with the European Statistics Code of Practice.

"However, the methodology itself cannot provide objectivity, but it is achieved only if all participants, primarily state instructors, apply it objectively, professionally and impartially in the census. This training was organized with this goal in mind, to familiarize ourselves with the importance of the census and for everyone to see their responsibility from the importance of the census and to master the methodology with the aim of its successful application in the field," explained the director of the Directorate of Statistics.

He emphasized the key role of state instructors in the implementation of this statistical action, who have clearly defined powers, responsibilities and obligations, as well as sanctions for non-compliance. Nevertheless, he notes that he believes that this will not happen, that such unpopular decisions will be avoided and that the goal of this "exclusively statistical action" will be fulfilled.

"From the point of view of the Directorate for Statistics, the quality of the data obtained from the census will also depend on the quality of the numerous researches that Monstat will carry out based on them. And as we know, statistics are a prerequisite for the continuation of the negotiation process with the European Union, and thus the basis of the European Commission's policy towards our country, i.e. our citizens," he explained.

He reminded that the significance of the census is multifaceted and that it is much more than what is heard in public, and that it consists of all the questions on the census questionnaires, and not only those that concern the personal feelings of citizens, about which there is the most controversy.

In addition, he pointed out that all issues included in the census are equally important, that they have the same importance, regardless of whether they relate to the demographic characteristics of the population, education, information literacy, the conditions in which citizens live, (un)employment and other characteristics of the population .

"We expect the citizens to participate in this statistical action, to contribute to the quality data that will be obtained through the census with their honest and accurate answers. What is important to point out is that citizens are guaranteed data protection by Article 29 of the Census Law, which is clearly marked on the census questionnaires. This means that the obtained data can be used exclusively for statistical purposes, that they represent an official secret and that they cannot be given to other legal and natural persons. Also, census data cannot be used to impose any obligations on citizens, and also, based on these data, citizens cannot exercise any individual right. The Directorate for Statistics guarantees data protection and only those data published by MONSTAT will be considered official census data," Pejović pointed out.

The census will be held from November 1 to 15, and the reference moment of the census (the date and time to which the data refer) is October 31 at midnight.