Statistics Netherlands provides statistical support to Ukraine

16/10/2024 15:00

In September 2024, a delegation from the State Statistics Service of Ukraine paid a study visit to Statistics Netherlands (CBS). Since this was the first time that an in-person visit was possible, representatives from the Dutch Ministry of Finance and the Ukrainian Embassy also attended. The visit took place as part of the Constituency Programme of the Dutch Ministry of Finance, and the aim was to provide advice for Ukrainian colleagues and to share knowledge on a number of topics in the field of statistics, thereby helping Ukraine to meet the requirements for joining the European Union (EU) in the future.

Angelique van Haasteren works at the Ministry of Finance as coordinator of the Constituency Programme for Ukraine. ‘Our activities in Ukraine have always been an important part of the Constituency Programme. We are supporting Ukraine by sharing our knowledge and expertise, especially in the field of public finance where statistics play such an important role. In order to provide technical assistance to Ukraine in this area, we have signed a covenant with CBS and also made use of their experts.’

Independent, high-quality statistics

CBS’s Carina Fransen is the coordinator of the project launched by the Ministry of Finance. ‘Our goal is to support Ukrainian colleagues with specific professional advice, so that they can ensure that their statistics comply with European statistical requirements. This is very important for Ukraine’s future accession to the EU. The European Statistical System (ESS) requires statistical offices to produce independent, high-quality official statistics that comply with European regulations and the European Statistics Code of Practice. Compliance with these legal and regulatory requirements ensures that a country’s decisions are based on independent, high-quality statistics.’

Study visit by the delegation of Ukrainian Statistical Office and the Dutch Ministry of Finance to CBS providing statistical support. — © Sjoerd van der Hucht

Reliable data

Van Haasteren: ‘These independent and high-quality figures are very important to organisations in Ukraine that work with data, but also to the European Union and its member states, so they have access to reliable data that can be compared with that of other countries. It is impressive to see how CBS and the State Statistics Service of Ukraine kept this programme going in 2023 and 2024, as the Ukrainian statistics office was hit hard by the war. Both parties have worked closely together. Fransen adds: ‘Our colleagues at the statistics office in Ukraine are highly motivated, despite the threats they face on a daily basis.’

A sense of urgency

Carina Fransen recalls a UN meeting at which the Director General of the Ukrainian statistics office proudly shared the news that a completely new statistics law had been fast-tracked through the Ukrainian parliament in the autumn of 2022. ‘That statistics law is based on European laws and regulations and best practices from other EU countries. There was a real sense of urgency to passing this legislation, despite its far-reaching impact and the war. The war also means there is a lack of reliable statistical information, and that different statistics are needed. This is why both UNECE and Eurostat (the European statistical office) are now actively helping to produce statistical information on all kinds of aspects of Ukrainian society.’

Technical assistance

Anna Mitriaieva is project manager for technical assistance to Ukraine in the field of statistics at CBS. Originally from Ukraine, she helps colleagues in the Ukrainian statistics office to upgrade their knowledge and skills in a range of different fields. ‘For several years now, the State Statistics Service of Ukraine has been working with European partners in general and with the European Union in particular in their preparations for joining the EU. CBS previously provided technical assistance in 2021 and 2023 as part of the Ministry of Finance’s Constituency Programme and worked on several thematic projects.’

Expertise

The State Statistics Service of Ukraine has selected a number of statistical projects where CBS’s expertise is needed. What projects are they? Mitriaieva: ‘They involve providing methodological advice on the indicators required to compile groups of businesses according to their activities. We have also been providing methodological advice on the gross value added of goods and services produced in the industrial sector or in other sectors of the economy.’

A great partnership

Another component of technical assistance consisted of reducing the administrative burden on larger and smaller firms, the classification of businesses, national accounts, consumption by firms and individuals, satellite accounts, and so on. In addition, CBS has provided training on Statistical Disclosure Control. Mitriaieva: ‘Over the past three years, we have built up our technical cooperation step by step and looked at the main priorities. The primary focus has been on economic and financial statistics. Our partnership has gone very well, both with the statistics office in Ukraine and the Dutch Ministry of Finance. We hope to continue these wonderful projects into 2025 as well.’