1. Feedback from Strategic Seminar on GLOS JUL 2016, Ohrid, FYROM
Eurostat

2. General information about seminar
Requested by EU Enlargement countries (OCT 2015)
Co-organized by Eurostat & EFTA in JUL 2016
After GLOS's endorsement by Conference of European Statisticians (26APR2016)
To examine GLOS & explanatory notes, discuss applicability/adaptations needed for Enlargement countries

3. General information about seminar (cont'd)
Attended by Senior managers & legal experts from AL, AR, AZ, BiH, GE, XK*, MD, MK, ME, RS, UA; experts from GE, HR, NO, UNECE & UNSD
GLOS discussed chapter by chapter
GE & HR experts presented recent experiences of revising national statistical laws (SL)
ENLARG countries compared national SL vs. GLOS
* This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244 and the ICJ Opinion on Kosovo's declaration of independence.

4. Highlights All countries are thinking about implementing GLOS
Implementation will take time, but should start
GLOS provides strong arguments for negotiations with Governments and Parliaments
International Organizations are ready to provide technical support and promote GLOS in countries
UN Handbook on the organization of statistical system will be updated to take into account GLOS
UNECE's Common Elements for Stat. Legislation to be reviewed

5. Key conclusions - 1
"Official statistics" to replace state/national statistics.
UNFPOS and ESCoP principles are included in different chapters
GLOS's Scope is the whole NSS = NSI + Other Producers of Official Stats (OPOS). Not providers of data!
Chief statistician coordinates the whole NSS, incl. regional offices
No listing of OPOS in Statistical Law, only define criteria
Statistical Council = User Council. Excludes producers and is outside NSS.
Management Councils/Boards ≠ Statistical Council defined by GLOS

6. Key conclusions - 2 (Multi)annual programs: main NSS coordination tool
Coordination of OPOS is challenging. Benefits of belonging to the NSS should be promoted (e.g. data exchange & methodological support)
Coordination requires resources
Strong mandate of data collection should help NSI to access administrative data & improve data quality
Very high level of confidentiality protection is required for all countries in the region to build/increase trust in official statistics
Quality management and improvement are continuous core tasks

7. Key conclusions - 3 Dissemination policy to be applied across NSS
General rule – no pre-releases. Exceptions need to be made public.
Statistical services: useful to promote official statistics, but should not hamper implementation of statistical programs
Chief statistician / NSI to represent the country internationally
Infringements need to be foreseen, but incentives & preventions are more efficient
SL shall prevail over other relevant national legislation. If not possible, conflicting laws shall be amended.