SUCCESSFULLY HELD EVENT OF THE EU-FUNDED TWINNING PROJECT "Improving the Quality and Coverage of Environmental and Health Statistics"

The Conference of the EU-funded Twinning Project ”Improving the Quality and Coverage of Environmental and Health Statistics” (MK 22 IPA ST 01 24) was successfully held on the 18th of September 2025. The event was organized one year after the project’s official launch.

The event was opened by high-level representatives:
H.E. Paolo Palminteri, Ambassador of the Republic of Italy to North Macedonia
Mr. Steffen Hudolin, Head of Cooperation at the EU Delegation
Mr. Dejan Stankov, Director of the State Statistical Office 

As part of the panel discussion on "Modernization of Official Statistics for European Integration", moderated by Prof. Marjan Petreski, experiences and perspectives were exchanged on how to advance national statistics in line with EU standards.

The panelists were, besides the Director of the State Statistical Office, experts from the national statistical institutes of Italy (Istat), Slovenia (SURS), Albania (INSTAT), and the Italian Geographical Society (SGI).

The second part of the program focused on the achievements of the Twinning Project so far, presented by the team from the State Statistical Office and their partners from Istat. So far, 17 out of a total of 60 missions have been implemented, with 4 study visits planned. Special attention was given to the sustainability and long-term benefits of the project.

The project aims to strengthen the national capacities for collecting, analyzing, and disseminating statistical data in the fields of environment, agriculture, and health, which are key areas for alignment with European statistical regulations and for evidence-based public policy.

The event confirmed the importance of international cooperation and of the exchange of best practices as a foundation for building a strong, efficient, and transparent statistical system – one that is ready to meet the demands of the EU integration process.