MEDSTAT IV, a successful Euro-Mediterranean statistical cooperation project
The relationship between the European Union (EU) and northern and southern Mediterranean countries in the field of statistics started back in 1995, following the launch of the EuroMed partnership at the Barcelona Conference. The objective of this cooperation is to promote dialogue and the exchange and harmonisation of practices in order to produce and disseminate relevant, harmonised and quality statistical data. This data can subsequently inform policy choices and feed into public policies, in particular Euro-Mediterranean policies.
The approach has developed over the last fifteen years to adapt as closely as possible to the regional situation. The MEDSTAT IV project, the fourth cycle of EU support to the statistical systems of Southern Neighbourhood countries, has contributed to building the capacities of each partner country, producing data in new thematic areas and sharing methods and practices at regional level.
For further reading: Regional perspective for statistics: "No one left behind!"
MED countries in control of technical cooperation
The EU’s ad hoc assistance between 2006 and 2016, then the subsequent enhanced support provided by the MEDSTAT IV project between 2016 and 2019, have allowed partner countries to take their rightful place at the strategic and operational levels. In the context of the activities conducted, the project has contributed to building the capacities of the thematic coordinators of partner countries, in particular during the annual working groups held in each sector.
The involvement and commitment of these MED coordinators to further contribute to regional cooperation have helped increase responsibilities in the context of the Forum of Euro-Mediterranean Statisticians, an annual meeting of the Directors-General of all the National Statistical Institutes in the region with the European Commission.
Relevant data for users
Southern Neighbourhood countries have been working with European countries for over 20 years on a number of thematic sectors, such as energy, transport… However, developments in the world and regional context have brought new thematic areas to the forefront (gender, Sustainable Development Goals…) requiring statistical data which national statistical institutes have had to take up.
For further reading: Monitoring the Sustainable Development Goals: the challenges for official statistics
The MEDSTAT IV project has accompanied these developments by mobilising international experts. It has promoted exchanges of practices on these new issues in order to improve the production of reliable, relevant and updated data. These data are now available, for both decision-makers and citizens, in a large number of strategic sectors.
Regionally harmonised methods and practices
Finally, the exchanges of experience and platforms for reflection supported by MEDSTAT IV have contributed to the production and ownership of common methods and practices at regional level.
The scale of the regional cooperation and involvement of European and Mediterranean experts in the discussions between professionals has also contributed to aligning statistical systems and methodologies on both sides of the Mediterranean.
This harmonisation is essential for working together and allowing comparisons between countries. It in itself facilitates exchanges between statisticians. Consequently, it reduces the entry cost for certain national statistical institutes for the production or dissemination of certain data, the level of which is raised by the most advanced countries in this field.
MEDSTAT IV publications are available on the project website: medstat4.expertisefrance.fr
Our expert’s opinion
Hasnae Fdhil is Head of the Communication and Cooperation Division of the High Commission for Planning of the Kingdom of Morocco. She has been elected as a member of the Executive Committee of the International Association for Official Statistics for the second time (2019-2021) and received an Outstanding Service Award from the International Statistics Institute in 2017. Hasnae has led several statistical cooperation projects, including the coordination of the MEDSTAT programme in Morocco.
Why is Euro-Mediterranean cooperation useful for MED countries?
Euro-Mediterranean cooperation has provided a forum conducive to dialogue for multi-stakeholder discussions involving MED countries, Eurostat, EU member countries, and regional and international organisations. It has contributed to the development of statistics in the region, in terms of both production and quality and visibility. To give you an example, the number of indicators from Eurostat database regarding the region has risen from 200 indicators in 2007 to 1,500 indicators in 2019.
The reflection and activities developed in the context of this cooperation have evolved over time to best meet the emerging needs of the region. In this respect, making users central to the discussions, involving them in sectoral activities, and developing materials/projects bringing together producers and users are the strong points of this regional cooperation.
Will the tools, methods and practices developed by this project remain in place now that the MEDSTAT IV project has reached completion?
Several of them make it possible to reply affirmatively to this question. Firstly, the approach to the implementation of the MEDSTAT IV project has facilitated the ownership of the methods and good practices that have been developed. It is important to mention that the project has contributed to South-South cooperation by training pools of experts in MED countries via the training of trainers, coaching and their effective involvement in regional and international technical discussions.
Secondly, the nature of certain results achieved in the context of the EU-MED cooperation has ensured that the contribution of the project is sustainable. Examples include the development of energy assessments, the commitment to quality, the harmonised survey on international migration (MED-HIMS) and the C4S “Communication for Statistics” project. This last example has helped lay the groundwork in countries for better communication between statisticians and journalists.
Finally, convinced of the need to make this Euro-Mediterranean cooperation sustainable while giving responsibility to all stakeholders, in 2013, the partners set up the Forum of Euro-Mediterranean Statisticians and the thematic working groups chaired by MED countries. The operationalisation of these mechanisms should ensure the sustainability of this regional cooperation. The MEDSTAT IV project has made it possible to test their functioning and has worked for an effective technical and managerial involvement of MED countries.
In view of the challenges facing the statistical systems of our countries, especially to meet the increasing demand for reliable, comparable and high-quality statistical data, in particular in the context of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, it is crucial to continue this historic partnership.
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