Update to the contribution to the progress report on the process of accession of the republic of macedonia to the european union

3.18STATISTICS

In the period 01 June – 30 September 2008, the upgrading and strengthening of the statistical system in the Republic of Macedonia continued, thereby improving the availability, quality, comparability and timeliness of statistical data towards their aligning with the statistical acquis.

The Accession Partnership and the short-term and the medium term priorities defined by the partnership represent the basic framework for the priorities of the Macedonian statistical system.
The State Statistical Office employed 10 new persons in June 2008, based on the approved new employments in the frame of the National Programme for Adoption of the acquis for 2007. On the same basis, the Republic Institute for Health Protection employed 2 new persons regarding statistics.
1.1.1. STATISTICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

ADMINISTRATIVE CAPACITY OF THE STATE STATISTICAL OFFICE

The State Statistical Office currently employs a total of 252 persons, of which 172 in the central office in Skopje and 80 in the 8 Regional Departments, including the 10 new persons that were employed in June 2008, based on the approved new employments in the frame of the National Programme for Adoption of the acquis for 2007. In September, an announcement for the approved 18 new employments in the frame of the National Programme for Adoption of the acquis for 2008, was published. On the same basis, the Republic Institute for Health Protection employed 2 new persons to deal with statistics.

In accordance with the Plan for vocational training for 2008, the SSO organised 6 (six) lectures In June and July, provided by its employees, of which 4 (four) in-house and 2 (two) in country. The lectures were referring on different issues: input data on national accounts, screening, strengthening of the performance and quality monitoring practices, cost calculation system, preparations for the Census of Population 2011 and Census cartography. In average, 26 persons participated per activity. Also, in September the SSO organised 1 (one) in country lecture, provided by its employees, on team working and communication on which 28 persons participated.
In addition, in the period from June 2008 until August 2008, 14 persons from the SSO have participated in 1 (one) mission in the Office and 18 persons participated in 15 international events.
Training within the IMF mission on quarterly calculations of GDP is being realised. The new updated metadata base (GDDS) was approved and it was published by IMF.
Within the area of capacity building, SSO prepared a new module in the system for monitoring the expenses, which refers to centralised evidence keeping of printing and allocation of the appropriate cost unit.
STATISTICAL OUTPUT, TECHNICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

In the field of Upgrading of IT infrastructure, the migration to new IT environment at the SSO and the eight Regional Departments has been completed. The outdated Windows NT is replaced with Windows 2003 and the implemented Active Directory significantly improves data and network security. Most of the personal computers dated from 2002 and older are replaced with new ones.

The symmetric input-output tables by current prices for 2005 were prepared.
In the field of ECC Collaborative infrastructure, the transmission of data to Eurostat is continuous through the Single Entry Point – SEP, and the number of new datasets that are transmitted through SEP is permanently increased.
DISSEMINATION

In the field of dissemination, a plan for complete redesign of the web site is prepared. In addition, in order to improve e-government services, the State Statistical Office, provided access on the Macedonian version of the web site to the forms of the statistical surveys, as a first step towards the introduction of the electronic data collection. Furthermore, the following pocketbooks were published:

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  Women and Men in the Republic of Macedonia, 2008
  
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  Regions in the Republic of Macedonia, 2007
  

1.1.2. CLASSIFICATIONS AND REGISTERS

CLASSIFICATIONS

The preparation of the new National Classification of Activities of the Republic of Macedonia -NKD Rev.2, harmonized with the EU NACE Rev.2 (Statistical classification of economic activities in the European Community) is in the final phase. Final consultation with the ministries and other competent authorities is in process, and amendments to the draft version based on their comments are to be made.

In order to re-classify the business subjects according to the National Classification of Activities -NKD Rev.2, the correspondence tables and links between NKD Rev.1 and NKD Rev.2 were prepared.
The short draft version of the Classification of Products by Activity (CPA) is in checking process, where there are checking links with the Customs Nomenclature (CN) and NACE Rev.2.
The process of harmonization of the National Classification of Products with the industrial classification, PRODCOM 2008, is in the phase of preparation.
REGISTERS

The pilot survey results were analysed and taken into consideration in preparing the final version of all methodological bases and other instruments for the Census. The SSO prepared the methodological instruments (questionnaires, guidelines and methodology) for conducting the Census of Business Subjects.

SSO conducted the Census of Business Subjects in September 2008 for the first  time. The results from this Census will be used for verifying and updating the current situation of the business subjects in the Statistical register. The data from the Statistical Business Register will be a good base for better quality of statistical data  from the surveys.


1.1.3. SECTOR STATISTICS

DEMOGRAPHIC AND SOCIAL STATISTICS

Within the frames of the preparation for the Census 2011, the SSO has prepared the general (global) plan for conducting the Census.

ENVIRONMENT

In the period from June 2008 until September 2008, the activities were focused on defining the methodological instruments needed in the process of organising the Pilot Survey on Waste from Industries, which was conducted from 15-26 September 2008. For this objective, the following activities were realised:

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  The content of the questionnaire is defined, the draft questionnaire was reviewed and approved by the Editorial Board of the SSO and it is in the last phase of technical preparation
  
• 
  The logical control and the codes are prepared
  
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  The Manual for field organisation and filling-in the questionnaire is finished
  
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  A list of waste types as a Manual is prepared in accordance with the National List of Waste
  
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  A sample is designed
  
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  Also, the process of developing the questionnaire on municipal waste is ongoing.
  

MACROECONOMIC STATISTICS

In the frame of the data transmission programme, certain number of tables concerning GDP and GVA both on national and regional level, as well as the Supply and Use tables were transmitted to Eurostat. The transmitted tables are still in the process of evaluation and have to be verified by Eurostat.

Calculations of GDP by regions for 2006 have been made and the data were published in September 2008.
BUSINESS STATISTICS

External Trade

In external trade statistics is implemented a control of the customs procedures in order to improve the coverage of the foreign trade statistics and to harmonise the customs procedures with the EU recommendations, which were discussed in the framework of the CARDS regional project for the West Balkan countries.

ICT

The ICT survey questionnaires (household survey, enterprise survey and financial enterprise survey) - 2008 are being prepared according to the Regulation (EC) No. 808/2004 and 1099/2005 and EU recommendations concerning the obligatory questions.

Tourism and retail trade

In tourism and retail trade, the Census instruments are under preparation (Census of Capacities in Retail Trade and Accommodation Capacities, November 2008). The methodological basis and the instruments are prepared according to the EU Regulations on tourism and SBS (Council Directive on tourism statistics EC 57/95, Definitions of SBS Regulation variables - 17 33 1, Manual methodology of STS Eurostat, EU Council Regulation STS - 1783/98).

Consumer survey

The Survey on Consumer Opinion started from May 2008, on a monthly basis, and the data for May, June, July were sent to the European Commission according to the Grant Agreement.

Dissemination of the data on business statistics via E-Damis
The following data on business statistics are sent to Eurostat, via E-Damis:

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  Data on turnover in retail trade for 2006 and 2007, and on tourism and catering for 2006;
  
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  Data on industrial production index for 2005 to 06.2008, with a base year 2005, with weights;
  
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  Data on construction statistics:
  
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  Data on volume of production, from January 2008, monthly and quarterly
  
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  Data on new orders, from January 2008, monthly and quarterly
  
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  Data on building permits, number of dwellings and surface in square meters, from January 2008, monthly and quarterly
  

AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS

An Action plan for establishing Farm register (FR) was prepared. The activities were focused on getting more information and knowledge on FR and farm-typology. The general objective is to build up a statistical Farm register, which will be used as frame for agricultural surveys. FR will be deriving from an agricultural census (AC). The AC was performed in June 2007 and all data from the Census are processed and available

FOREIGN AID

The National Programme CARDS 2005 -Twinning project “Support to the State Statistical Office” successfully finalised all foreseen activities.

The preparation of the Terms of Reference for the National IPA 2007, “Support to the State Statistical Office in the implementation of the acquis” was finalised.

In July 2008, the Regional Statistical Programme IPA 2008, started with its implementation.

In August 2008, SSO prepared the Project Information Sheet for the National IPA 2009 programme for statistics.