strategy for enp-south partner countries management group on statistical cooperation (mgsc) meeting,...
TRANSCRIPT
Strategy for ENP-South partner countries
Management Group on Statistical Cooperation (MGSC) meeting, Luxembourg, 22 – 23 March 2012
Presentation by Edward Cook (Unit A6, Eurostat)
What is a strategy?
A strategy is a clear plan of action designed to achieve a specific goal or vision
A strategy is about defining the route (activities)
to get from A to B
(bearing in mind risks and costs)
Version of scoping study discussed at the DC meeting in November 2011.
Some decisions taken, clarifications agreed, changes proposed
New version will be voted uponat DC meeting in May 2012
ENP South strategy: where are we?
Point A: The current situation
EU-MED cooperation in statistics is 16 years old. It has grown up!
There have been three successive regional programmes (MEDSTAT I, II and III), accompanied by some national activities (through TAIEX and Twinning projects).
There will be no MEDSTAT IV equivalent but there is a commitment to work together on a regional basis, for mutual benefit.
Point A: Achievement checklist
Regional co-operation on a South-South axis to complement the North-South co-operation
Capacity building in the countries
Transfer of technical knowledge
More and better data, increasingly harmonised with EU and international methodologies
Regular data exchange flows
More transparent data and wider dissemination
Leaving A: The catalysts
New long-term policy agenda for overall EU-MED cooperation
Recent events in many of the MED countries, meaning that official statistics should accompany the reform process and democratic transformations
Emergence of new topics
Point B: The target situation
Over-arching objective:
A reshaped EU-MED cooperation that is more responsive to the renewed EU-MED policy agenda
The revised ENP reference is COM(2011)303
Point B: The target situation
4 Specific objectives
The What? part:
1. Improved production of official statistics
2. Strengthened training and capacity * NEW
3. Empowered users
The How? part:
4. A permanent framework
Getting from A to B: the activities
It pays to plan ahead.
It wasn’t raining when Noah built the Ark!
(Thomas Edison)
Getting from A to B: the activities
Obj. 1 Improving the production:
A continuous harmonization of methods, practices and data
1. Choose priority topics – done (5, with Trade being 5th)
2. Establish regional working groups for topics and ToR
3. Establish harmonization programme and implement
4. Establish & implement working group on quality framework
5. Look at Codes of Practice and regional option
6. Look at new technologies for prodn and dissemination
Getting from A to B: the activities
Obj. 2 Training and capacity strengthening:
1. Strengthen national training capacities
2. Create and develop national pools of trainers
3. Design, implement and evaluate regional training plan
4. Share training materials through knowledge platforms
5. Establish regional EU-MED working group on training
Getting from A to B: the activities
Obj. 3 Empowering users:
1. Establish, implement & evaluate User Satisfaction Surveys
2. Explore ‘usability’ techniques:testing dissemination products before launch
3. Establish user-producer dialogue working groups
4. Look at user-producer analytical studies:validating the quality and relevance of data through their use
Getting from A to B: the activities
Obj. 4 Implementation framework:
1. Design of a management structure for the cooperation
- Establishment of a steering ‘forum’, comprising - the MED countries- the European Commission- EU/EFTA countries- Other regional and international partners
Getting from A to B: the activities
Obj. 4 Implementation framework:
1. Design of a management structure for the cooperation cont.
- Establishment of permanent ‘light’ management structure- hosted by Eurostat (ideally) or Union for the MED - comprising Eurostat staff & 2-3 seconded experts
- Organization of biennial meetings of the Forum (first meeting at end 2012 / start of 2013?)
Getting from A to B: the activities
Obj. 4 Implementation framework:
2. Design, validation and implementation of work programme
- Establish thematic working groups (meeting once a year)
- Preparation and implementation of the work programme
- Evaluation of the implementation
Getting from A to B: the activities
Obj. 4 Implementation framework:
3. Design, provide content, promote, and encourage use of a common knowledge platform (CIRCA-based)
4. Establish regular co-ordination mechanisms and protocols with major donors
5. Mobilize support and financing for the continued activities of the EU-MED co-operation
The risks of going off-course
Political tensions
Over-burdened local staff
Lack of coordination between actors / own-agendas
Insufficient partner support
Insufficient finance
Tentative calendar
Three phase implementation proposed:
(i) January 2012 – end 2013: Agreements and testing / transition through MED
III
(ii) January 2014 – end 2016
Installation of management framework
(iii) January 2017 onwardsPermanent structure in place
Questions
What are your reactions to the strategy?
How do you see the ‘forum’? How do you see MSt and other international organisations participating in the forum?
How do you think that this ENP-South strategy could be used elsewhere?
What else might need to be considered to make this a success?