Speaking at a news conference, the head of the Eurostat F Directorate in charge of relations with non-EU countries, Peter Everaers, said Croatia had achieved significant progress in the area of official statistics in recent years. Compared to Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia is much more advanced, but it has a lot to do to catch up with Slovenia, he said.
Most efforts have to be made in raising the awareness of the importance of statistics because the EU considers accurate, timely and independent statistics a fundamental part of the system which must be adjusted to the EU legislation, as well as a basic instrument in monitoring almost all processes in the process of integration with the EU.
For example, without reliable data on the value of GDP, it is not possible to determine precisely a state's share in the EU budget.
The EU will therefore continue closely monitoring Croatia's official statistics, which will considerably influence other processes in the process of integration with the EU, Everaers said.
Last year's monitoring revealed considerable progress, for example in the establishment of a statistical council which serves as an advisory body for all users of statistical data, in the area of data protection and data confidentiality, and in the application of modern information technology, Everaers said.
He concluded by saying that the main areas of official statistics in Croatia had made considerable progress and were being adjusted to EU norms, but that there was a number of smaller problems which needed to be solved before Croatia was admitted to the EU.
DSZ director Jakov Gelo said the DSZ had prepared a programme of statistical research for the period until 2007, which was in line with EU norms, however, its implementation was uncertain because of lack of funds.