81 years of the State Statistical Office: In step with European standards and values

On the occasion of the 81st anniversary of the State Statistical Office, a conference titled "Macedonian official statistics through the prism of the European Statistics Code of Practice" was held on 1 June 2026 at the Marriott Hotel in Skopje, attended by representatives of state institutions, international organisations, academia, civil society, and users of statistical data.
The conference was dedicated to the role of official statistics in modern society, as well as the significance of the European Statistics Code of Practice as a basis for ensuring the professional independence, impartiality, quality and confidentiality of statistical data.

The event was opened by the Director of the State Statistical Office, Dejan Stankov, who emphasised in his address that official statistics represent a public good and an essential support for evidence-based decision-making grounded in knowledge and reliable data.
During the conference, the principles and significance of the European Statistics Code of Practice were presented, along with the experiences and benefits of the peer review process of the national statistical system.

The panel discussion on the topic "The importance of aligning official statistics with international standards" attracted particular attention, with the participation of the Director of the State Statistical Office, Dejan Stankov, the UNICEF Representative in the country, Ms. Lesley Miller, the Fiscal Council representative, Ms. Marina Trpeska, the Director of the Macedonian Centre for International Cooperation (MCIC), Mr. Aleksandar Krzhalovski, and Mr. Lars-Johan Söderberg, a consultant from Statistics Sweden at the State Statistical Office. The panellists exchanged views on the role of official statistics in creating public policies, the importance of the professional independence of statistical institutions, and the contribution of high-quality data in strengthening public trust.

The conference highlighted that alignment with European and international standards is a continuous process that contributes to improving the quality of statistical production, strengthening institutional integrity and further development of the National Statistical System.

As it marks 81 years of its existence, the State Statistical Office remains committed to its mission of providing timely, high-quality and reliable statistical data, in accordance with European principles and standards, in the service of citizens, institutions and society as a whole.