71st plenary session of the Conference of European Statisticians

Vesna Ćužić, the Director of the Agency for Statistics of Bosnia and Herzegovina, takes part in the 71st Plenary Session of the Conference of European Statisticians (CES) held in Geneva from June 22nd to 23rd, 2023.

During this conference, heads of national statistical offices discussed key topics related to improving national statistics and their international comparability.

The work of the High-Level Group on the Modernization of Official Statistics was devoted to the discussion on the progress and results of the High-Level Group on the Modernization of Official Statistics (HLG-MOS).

The heads of statistical offices deliberated on the importance of open-source technologies such as R or Python in enhancing statistical processes and analytics. This topic encompassed strategic and managerial thinking regarding the implementation of open-source code.

Discussions were also held on the coordination of international statistical work in the economy, with a focus on the activities of the United Nations and their regions. The topics covered in these discussions included the results of recent detailed reviews, hard-to-reach groups in administrative sources, and social cohesion.

Reports, guidelines, and recommendations were prepared in several key areas. These include the fundamental values of official statistics and related behaviors, data management, measurement of the circular economy, and key indicators associated with disaster risk.

The discussion on data ethics emphasized the importance of social acceptability in the collection, processing, and use of statistical data. The need to align with ethical guidelines and norms when working with data was highlighted.

Methodologies and practices ensuring high-quality, timely, frequent, and accurate official statistical data were also addressed, along with challenges and strategies related to accessing privately owned data.

The Conference of European Statisticians has a long history and plays a crucial role in promoting statistical development in member countries. With roots dating back to the League of Nations and the first Conference on Statistics held in 1928, this conference provides a platform for addressing new issues, developing guidelines and recommendations, and improving national statistics and their international comparability.