STEP - Statistics Through Eastern Partnership
Improving the quality of official statistical data in the Eastern Partnership
Published on 22/05/2019
STEP - Statistics Through Eastern Partnership
Objective
Statistics Through Eastern Partnership (STEP) is the first regional statistics programme in the Eastern Partnership region. It is financed by the European Union, managed by Eurostat and implemented by a consortium led by Expertise France. The project aims to produce more and better statistics in the Eastern Partnership countries for evidence-based decision-making.
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€4.7mBUDGET
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01/01/2019PROJECT START
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43 monthsDURATION
PROJECT FUNDED BY
PARTNERS
The six Eastern Partnership countries (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine) share a common past and their administrative systems, although having evolved independently in the recent years and despite numerous differences, still have many commonalities. All of the countries, to a varying degree, face a number of common economic, political and social challenges. Addressing these issues requires access to reliable, and up-to-date statistical data to guide policy development. The institutions involved in the production and dissemination of official statistics play a key role in this process and supporting them is thus essential.
EU statistical standards are among the most elaborate. Therefore, the European Union seeks to support the six Eastern Partnership countries in their efforts to align their statistical systems with European standards.
The European Commission is therefore funding the STEP programme, which is managed by Eurostat and implemented by Expertise France, in collaboration with the national statistical institutes of EU Member States : INSEE (France), ISTAT (Italy), KSH (Hungary), Statistics Denmark and Statistics Lithuania.
Find out more on Eurostat’s support to the ENP East region
Furthermore, as the European statistical system is characterised by high levels of statistical harmonisation in a wide range of areas, it is expected that the Eastern Partnership countries will be able to better compare their trajectories and develop new roads for cooperation. Regional cooperation generates very positive emulation between the countries allowing to progress together towards more quality and comparability in the field of statistics. It also provides a propitious platform for the identification and promotion of good practices in the region.
Four expected results
• Improve production and dissemination of good quality statistics in the partner countries
• Increased level of harmonisation of methodologies between Eastern Partnership countries and the EU
• Strengthened institutional capacity of the national statistical institutes along the principles set out in the European Statistics Code of Practice
• Supported evidence-based policymaking, ensuring that statistical evidence substantiates policy choices, through improved cooperation and coordination between the national statistical institutes, policymakers and line institutions.
Follow all updates regarding the STEP programme on its official website and on Twitter
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Official and development statistics
The production of reliable, accessible, comparable and high-quality data is a public policy issue and a major building stone of any democratic society. They are essential to governments to define, pilot and evaluate their policies and are key elements to build efficient dialogue with the society. Furthermore, in the context of the measurement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) the increasing demand for robust statistical information is a central issue for statistical agencies all over the world.
