Statistics negotiations closed

Negotiations on statistics were provisionally closed with the 10 countries that, according to the EU, could be ready to join by 2004, the Malta-EU Information Centre said in its latest round up of the progress made.

These 10 countries are: Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia.

Negotiations on this chapter were also closed with Bulgaria and Romania.

A sound statistical basis is needed for the conduct of policies in many areas. While the adoption of the legal acquis for this chapter is not problematic, the issue was whether the countries were able to produce accurate and harmonised data in a permanent and sustainable way, MIC said.

All candidate countries have accepted the acquis and there seems to be a good level of alignment to basic principles.

Statistical cooperation with these countries has progressed over recent years, both on a bilateral basis with Eurostat (partly supported through PHARE) and in the framework of international organisations such as the United Nations, International Monetary Fund, and the Organisation of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

No special arrangements were obtained. The chapters were opened and closed as follows:

Bulgaria: Opened October 2000, closed December 2000.
Cyprus: Opened March 1999, closed June 1999.
Czech Republic: Opened March 1999, closed June 1999.
Estonia: Opened March 1999, closed June 1999.
Hungary: Opened March 1999, closed June 1999.
Latvia: Opened April 2000, closed June 2000.
Lithuania: Opened April 2000, closed June 2000.
Malta: Opened October 2000, closed December 2000.
Poland: Opened March 1999, closed June 1999.
Romania: Opened October 2000, closed December 2000e.
Slovakia: Opened May 2000, closed June 2000.
Slovenia: Opened March 1999, closed June 1999.