TABLE OF CONTENTS

Paragraphs

I.	INTRODUCTION	1-9

II.	IMPLICATIONS OF MEETINGS OF THE CONFERENCE'S PARENT BODIES	10-12

A.	April 1995 session of the Economic Commission for Europe	10

B.	February 1995 session of the UN Statistical Commission	11-12

III.	INTEGRATED PRESENTATION OF INTERNATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK IN THE ECE REGION	13-90

A.	Introduction	13-15

B.	Sub-programme 1: Organisation and operation of

statistical services	16-31

C.	Sub-programme 2: Technical infrastructure and other

cross-cutting issues	32-38

D.	Sub-programme 3: Economic Statistics	39-56

E.	Sub-programme 4: Social and demographic statistics	57-77

F.	Sub-programme 5: Natural resources and environment

statistics	78-84

G.	Sub-programme 6: Dissemination and support for

secretariat activities	85-89

H.	CES programme of work and calendar of meetings, 1995/96

and 1996/97	90

IV.	CES CONTRIBUTION TO THE SOCIAL SUMMIT	91-93

V.	ECE STATISTICAL PUBLICATIONS	94-97

VI.	THE ANALYTICAL USE OF NATIONAL STATISTICS AT THE INTERNATIONAL LEVEL: A PRESENTATION BY THE ECE SECRETARIAT	98-100

TABLE OF CONTENTS (Continued)

Paragraphs

VII.	THE STATISTICAL TREATMENT OF PERSONS ON LEAVE	101

VIII.	POSSIBILITIES TO DESCRIBE STATISTICALLY THE EFFECTS OF ONGOING

INTEGRATION PROCESSES IN EUROPE	102-111

IX.	DATA PROTECTION	112-114

X.	ELECTION OF BUREAU MEMBERS	115-118

XI.	OTHER BUSINESS	119

XII.	ADOPTION OF THE REPORT	120

ANNEX I.	INTEGRATED PRESENTATION OF PROGRAMMES OF INTERNATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK IN THE ECE REGION, 1995/96 AND 1996/97 (see CES/1995/R.25 AND ADDENDA 1-6)

ANNEX II.	CES PRIORITIES FOR 1995/96 AND 1996/97

ANNEX III.	CES MEETING CALENDAR, 1995/96 AND 1996/97

ANNEX IV.	CONSOLIDATED LIST OF STATISTICAL MEETINGS ORGANIZED BY INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS WORKING IN THE UN/ECE REGION, 1995/96 AND 1996/97, ARRANGED BY PROGRAMME ELEMENTS IN THE CONFERENCE'S PROGRAMME OF WORK

* * * * *

Information Guide for the Economic Commission for Europe (ECE)

IMPLEMENTATION OF COMMISSION DECISION I(48)

To be considered during the sessions of the Principal Subsidiary Bodies (PSBs)

and included in their reports to the Commission

Information Guide for the Commission

Paragraphs

(i)	Draft decisions and/or recommendations for possible

adoption by the Commission at its next session.	N/A

(ii)	Implementation of decisions previously adopted by the Commission,including application of resolutions adopted

by the ECOSOC and the General Assembly (inputs made to	10,21,60,

global programmes and interregional cooperation).	72,91-94

(iii)	Possible amendments to the mandate of the PSB, for

discussion and, possibly, adoption by the Commission	N/A

(iv)	Programme of work

- Implementation of the programme of work, including	16,32,39,57,78,85

- difficulties encountered

- proposals to streamline activities,	13-15,23-26,42,45,48,

to enhance efficiency, and	50,52,64,76,78-79,

to assist the economies in transition	83,87,99,119

- Resource information, and	(see CES/1995/R.15, Annex I)

- proposals to ensure a more efficient

use of available resources	78,83,92

- Programme of work and calendar of meetings	13-15,30,38,56,77,

for the coming year(s)	84,89,90 and Annex III

(see also CES/1995/R.25 and adda 1-6)

(v)	Cooperation

- Cooperation with other ECE Subsidiary Bodies

active in other but related fields of activity,

and suggestions for the improvement of such

cooperation.	35,45,86-89,99

- Cooperation with other relevant organizations	14-15,24,35,43,45-47,

and institutions, and suggestions for the	49-55,60-61,63-65,67,

improvement of such cooperation	73-74,79,81-82,97,101,112-113

I.	INTRODUCTION

Attendance

The Conference of European Statisticians held its forty-third plenary session in Geneva from 12-15 June 1995. It was attended by representatives of Albania, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States and Uzbekistan.

The session was attended by representatives of the European Union.

Australia, India, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand and the Republic of Korea participated under Article 11 of the terms of reference of the ECE.

A representative of the Interstate Statistical Committee of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS STAT) participated under article 12 of the terms of reference of the ECE.

Representatives of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Information and Policy Analysis (UN Statistical Division), United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and Caribbean (ECLAC), United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and the following specialized agencies and intergovernmental organizations attended: Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO); International Labour Organization (ILO); International Monetary Fund (IMF); World Health Organization (WHO); World Trade Organization (WTO); and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

The following non-governmental organization in consultative status with ECOSOC was represented: International Statistical Institute (ISI). The following participated at the invitation of the secretariat: European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and Nordic Statistical Secretariat.

Mr. I. Fellegi (Canada) chaired the session. Messrs. P. Garonna (Italy) and J. Olenski (Poland) were Vice-Chairmen.

Agenda and procedure

The provisional agenda (ECE/CES/47) was adopted. The Conference recalled the procedures for improving the efficiency of plenary sessions (CES/821)that the Conference adopted at its 1994 plenary session.

Opening statement

The opening address was delivered by Mr. Yves Berthelot, the Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Europe. The text of his statement was made available as a room document.

II.	IMPLICATIONS OF MEETINGS OF THE CONFERENCE'S PARENT BODIES

A.	April 1995 session of the Economic Commission for Europe

Documentation: CES/1995/R.16

The Conference noted the decisions which the Economic Commission for Europe had taken at its fiftieth session (CES/1995/R.16), and agreed to take them fully into account in considering priorities within its own work programme. The Conference also considered that its policies and activities are entirely consistent with those of the Commission.

B.	February 1995 session of the UN Statistical Commission

Documentation: CES/1995/R.17

The Conference noted that the Statistical Commission had reiterated that the regional commissions had a key role to play in promoting and monitoring implementation of the 1993 SNA. The Conference agreed to consider this in its discussion of the project on the implementation of the SNA in the integrated presentation of international statistical work in the ECE region (see paras. 40-42 below). The Conference asked ECE, Eurostat and OECD to report jointly to the UN Statistical Commission on work in this region.

The Conference noted that the Statistical Commission had agreed that the next meeting of the UNSC "Working Group" should include an item on its agenda on the role of the regional commissions in the coordination and integration of international statistical programmes. The Conference asked the ECE secretariat to prepare a note for the meeting outlining the experience of the CES and the UN/ECE in this field.

III.	INTEGRATED PRESENTATION OF INTERNATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK IN THE ECE REGION

A.	Introduction

Documentation: CES/1995/R.15

The Conference noted the work which the Bureau had conducted during 1994/95 in further developing the integrated presentation of international statistical work in the ECE region. It welcomed the in-depth reviews that the Bureau had conducted of sub-programmes 3 (economic statistics) and 4 (social and demographic statistics) of the work programme, and the resulting improvements which had been made to these sub-programmes. The Conference asked the new Bureau that would be elected for the 1995/96 - 1996/97 period to perform a similar type of in-depth review of the other sub-programmes during its term of office.

Several delegations indicated that they found the information presented in the integrated presentation by the various different international organizations useful as a tool for coordination at the international level, and as an aid to planning at the national level. The Conference thanked all the international organizations for the inputs they had made to the presentation.

The Conference also thanked the various international organizations which had agreed to serve as Rapporteurs/focal points for the Conference in individual fields of statistics. The Rapporteurs will annually provide feedback to the Bureau usually in time for their February meeting, and through it to the Conference on progress being made towards the objectives which countries had agreed upon for each field of statistics. They will also play an important role by flagging priority issues to be taken up by the Bureau and/or the Conference in individual fields of statistics. (The role of rapporteurs/focal points is described in more detail in CES/1995/R.15, para. 15).

B.	Sub-programme 1: Organisation and operation of statistical services

Documentation:	CES/1995/R.15/Adda 1 and 7, and the background documents for this sub-programme listed in the annex to the agenda of the plenary session.

The Conference approved the comments of the Bureau on work done in 1994/1995 and on ongoing activities of the Conference in this subprogramme.

Programme element 1.1 - Issues in Statistical Policy: It was agreed that the topic of substantive discussion at the 1996 CES plenary session will be "Labour market dynamics: New statistical and analytical approaches". It was also agreed that Mr. P. Stibbard of the UK Department of Employment should be asked to serve as the Discussion Leader for the topic of substantive discussion at the 1996 plenary session.

The Conference accepted the invitation of OECD to hold its 1996 plenary session in Paris.

Referring to the Programme Committee of the 1996 seminar in Lisbon for heads of statistical offices, it was agreed that Mr. W. De Vries of the Netherlands would take over the chair to replace Mr. Zeuthen who has retired. The other members of the Committee remain Mr. De Oliveira of Portugal, Mr. Ryten of Canada, Mr. Franchet of Eurostat and Mr. Griffin of UN/ECE.

The attention of the Conference was drawn to the fact that the issue of pricing policies of publications etc. and relationships between NSOs and the private sector was a gap in the work of the statistical offices at the international level. It was agreed that this was an important area of work. A suggestion was made that as an initial step, an informal mechanism be set up to tap the experiences of some countries in that regard. In particular, Australia offered to make available information on the work it has carried out in this area.

It was stressed that continuing prominence needs to be given to the Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics.

The Conference accepted the other recommendations of the Bureau for programme element 1.1

Programme element 1.2 - Transition countries: The Conference underlined that it considered this programme element to be of high priority.

The Conference was informed of the progress made in the UNDP-financed project to be undertaken by the ECE Statistical Division aimed at assisting transition countries to further develop their social and demographic statistics. It approved the planned activities of the Conference under this project, and technical assistance that will be provided through the services of the Regional Advisor on Statistics.

It was agreed that a cross reference should be inserted in this programme element to refer to the work under programme element 3.9 on the International Comparison Programme and the European Comparison Programme because of the contribution of the latter to the statistical development in transition countries.

The Conference accepted the other recommendations of the Bureau for programme element 1.2.

Programme element 1.3 - Promotion and coordination of international statistical work: A suggestion was made to include material in this part of the integrated presentation listing the various intersecretariat working groups which the Statistical Commission had set up and their respective roles. More detailed information on the working groups would be provided in the write-ups for individual fields of statistics in the integrated presentation. Some information on the working groups is already given in the relevant programme element.

Programme element 1.4 - Technical assistance to developing countries: A suggestion was made to amend the objectives of this programme element to read "To assist statistical agencies of developing countries to develop according to their needs and circumstances". It was also suggested that the objectives should make a reference to the application of the Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics.

A concern was voiced regarding the insufficient information on bilateral assistance for developing countries which made the task of coordination very difficult. The Bureau was asked to look into the possibility of addressing that need.

Subject to the qualifications outlined above, the Conference accepted the recommendation of the Bureau for programme element 1.4 and for the other programme elements in this sub-programme.

The Conference was informed by the delegate of France of a recent informal meeting for Mediterranean countries that was organized as a follow-up to the seminar for statistical offices that the Conference had organized in Palermo in September 1992. The Bureau was asked, when conducting its in-depth review of sub-programme 1 (organization and operation of statistical services), to look into the possibility of including a new project in the sub-programme aimed at countries in the Mediterranean region.

C.	Sub-programme 2: Technical infrastructure and other cross-cutting issues

Documentation:	CES/1995/R.15/Add.2 and the background documents for this sub-programme listed in the annex of the agenda to the plenary session.

The Conference approved the comments of the Bureau on the work done in 1994/95 and on ongoing activities of the Conference in this sub-programme.

Programme element 2.1 Management of statistical information technology: The Conference welcomed the readiness of the Slovak Republic to host the Seminar on Integrated Statistical Information Systems and Related Matters -ISIS'96 in Bratislava and expressed its appreciation that this longstanding tradition would continue.

Programme element 2.3 - Dissemination and interchange of Statistical Information: The Conference was informed that the IMF has been asked by its Executive Board to work towards the development of standards for the publication of statistics. There was general agreement that this proposed work could be of interest to national statistical offices. The Conference asked the IMF to keep the Bureau and the Conference informed of the outcome of this work.

Programme element 2.4 - Industry, commodity and occupational classifications: It was suggested that the compatibility between national classification and ISIC Rev.3 and Rev.2 continue to be kept under close scrutiny. It was further suggested that business accounting practices by countries in the region be examined so as to ensure better harmonization. In this process business accounting practices should be also taken into the consideration. The Conference recommended considering this issue at the Seminar on the introduction of the ISIC Rev 3 and NACE Rev 1 which the ECE Industry and Technology Division and EUROSTAT will organize jointly in October 1995 (see programme element 3.11 )

Programme element 2.6 - Geography: The Conference noted the growing role of geographical information systems in the statistical production and welcomed the readiness of the US Bureau of Census to host the next Work Session on GIS in April 1996.

Programme element 2.8 - Training: The Conference noted that there is a lack of information on training activities organised by developed countries for developing countries and on joint training ventures organized between international organizations and individual donor countries. It requested the Bureau to consider ways in which this gap may be filled in.

Subject to the qualifications outlined above, the Conference accepted the Bureau's recommendations for the planned activities of the Conference in the other programme elements in this sub-programme.

D.	Sub-programme 3: Economic Statistics

Documentation:	CES/1995/R.15/Adda 3 and 7, and the background documents for this sub-programme listed in the annex to the agenda of the plenary session.

The Conference approved the comments of the Bureau on work done in 1994/95 and on ongoing activities of the Conference.

Programme element 3.1 - Implementation of the System of National Accounts: The representative of IMF, on behalf of the Intersecretariat Working Group on SNA, informed the Conference about the planned international activities aimed at advancing the implementation of the 1993 SNA. The Conference noted the importance of the publication in September 1995 of the revised ESA as an official binding document for the European Union Member States. Countries underlined the importance of the revision of the COICOP and COFOG functional classifications. The final version of COICOP should be linked with CPC. The SNA implementation process could benefit from drawing on the experience of those countries which had made most progress in this field. A report on the SNA implementation strategy will be prepared by the Intersecretariat Working Group on National Accounts for the next session of the Statistical Commission.

The Conference agreed that priority subjects at the next ECE/Eurostat/OECD meeting on national accounts should include FISIM, COFOG, the hidden economy and the development of the new SNA questionnaires.

The Conference noted with appreciation the offer by Japan to provide technical assistance to transition countries in national accounts.

Programme element 3.2 - Money and banking, government finance, and balance of payments: The Conference took note of the progress of work reported by IMF on the development of international methodologies in monetary and financial statistics and on making them consistent with the 1993 SNA. It also agreed to amend the last sentence of the objectives of programme element 3.2 to read "Eurostat and EMI have the objective of a harmonisation of Balance of Payments outputs".

Programme element 3.3 - International trade in goods: Attention of the Conference was drawn to the Statistical Commission's decision to revise international merchandise trade concepts and definitions and to present a draft of the revised concepts and definitions to the 1997 session of the Statistical Commission. The Conference noted that the Statistical Commission had also accepted the recommendation of the Task Force on International Trade Statistics to discontinue work on various adjustments to reported data. It noted that adjustments would continue to be made for differences due to CIF/FOB reporting and to the systems of trade. A broader range of adjustments may also be continued for some categories of goods and in some regions.

Programme element 3.4 - Transport: It was noted that improved coordination in this area was required, despite the fact that substantial progress was expected to result from using the new joint UN/ECE-Eurostat-OECD/ECMT questionnaires. It was recommended that in order to promote more rapid progress, the next ECE meeting on transport statistics should focus its planned future work on a more limited number of topics. A question was also raised as to whether it would be better to conduct some of ECMT's statistical activities within the context of the ECE because of the larger number of countries which are members of it.

Programme element 3.5 - Distributive trade: The Conference was informed about the methodological and data collection work by Eurostat in this field for the European Union and a broader group of countries, including the EEA and Central and East European countries. The Eurostat framework is open to all countries willing to contribute to further methodological development of distributive trade statistics or that could benefit from the results of the work.

Programme element 3.6 - International trade in services: The Conference welcomed the finalization of the OECD/Eurostat joint classification of trade in services and was assured of the classification's strict compatibility with the CPC.

Programme element 3.7 - Tourism: In view of the international nature of tourism and of important difficulties related to achieving commonly agreed concepts and definitions in tourism statistics, several countries stressed the need to strengthen multilateral and bilateral cooperation in this field. A proposal to convene a meeting on tourism statistics was put forward. The Bureau was asked to consider possible ways of making internationally coordinated progress in this field.

Programme element 3.8 - Other marketed services, and non-marketed services: The importance of the rapporteur/focal point bringing to the attention of the Conference areas where improved coordination is required was stressed during the discussion. The Conference noted that the Voorburg Group partly coordinated and complemented work of other international organisations; provided a broader forum for consideration of Eurostat's framework for statistics on service enterprises; complemented the work of the OECD Expert Group on Service Statistics; and conducted work on CPC (CPC services) delegated to it by the UN Statistical Division. It was suggested that the Voorburg Group could pursue the work on harmonization of industry statistics with specific services statistics.

Programme element 3.9 - Price statistics, including purchasing power parities: The Conference took note of the work by Eurostat on the harmonisation of CPI methodologies, scope and definitions within the European Union Member States and of the technical assistance in PPP work to Group II countries of the European Comparison Programme (ECP). Several transition countries stressed the importance of this project and of publishing the results of 1993 comparisons as soon as possible. The Conference thanked the Austrian Central Statistical Office for its valuable and long-standing contribution to international comparisons in the region.

Programme element 3.10 - Agricultural statistics: Several countries stressed the importance of preparations for the 2000 round of agricultural censuses. The FAO plans to have the recommendations ready by the end of 1995. A suggestion was also made to pay more attention to forecasting in planned future work in this field.

Programme element 3.11 - Industrial statistics: Difficulties in industrial statistics arise from the introduction of new industrial classifications (ISIC,Rev.3 and NACE,Rev.1) and from the shift from national to international industrial classifications in transition countries. ISIC,Rev.2 will continue to be used, at least for some years to come, by OECD and UNIDO to collect internationally comparable data. The Conference took note of the harmonization of industrial statistics in the European Union Member States and of the consequences of this process for businesses.

The new format of the publication on Engineering Industries and Automation was pointed out as a successful result of cooperation between ECE and OECD.

Programme element 3.14 - Business registers and administrative records in support of economic statistics: The Conference stressed the importance of securing access by statistical offices to administrative registers and files and of having some degree of influence on their structuring to improve effectiveness of their use for statistical purposes. The delegates were informed about the EU Council Regulation on Community coordination in drawing up business registers for statistical purposes and on assistance activities by Eurostat to transition countries in developing business registers and setting up and managing panels of newly created enterprises. Future activities will be focused on the cost implications of the creation and maintenance of registers, on the assessment of the quality of information in registers, and on the development of recommendations regarding the management of registers and on the drawing and coordination of samples. This work could benefit from the activities and documentation of the Round Table on Business Registers.

Programme element 3.XX - Other work in the field of economic statistics: The Conference noted the important implications for statistical offices of the IMF's recent decision to strengthen its surveillance over its Member countries' economic policies. Statistical offices were encouraged to interact with their country's representatives on the IMF Executive Board so as to be better informed of their statistical policies and needs. It was suggested that statistical offices be included on the list of agencies to visit during IMF regular consultation missions to countries.

Subject to the qualifications specified above, the Conference accepted the Bureau's recommendations for the planned activities of the Conference in the programme elements in this sub-programme.

E.	Sub-programme 4: Social and demographic statistics

Documentation:	CES/1995/R.15/Adda 4 and 7, and the background documents for this sub-programme listed in the annex to the agenda of the plenary session.

The Conference approved the comments of the Bureau on work done in 1994/1995 and on ongoing activities of the Conference in this subprogramme.

Programme element 4.1 - Social indicators and frameworks: Norway, which had hosted the Second Meeting of the Siena Group in the week before the present Conference, informed the Conference about the main conclusions. The theme of the meeting this year had been Social exclusion with an emphasis on young people. Conclusions from that meeting were that although exclusion was not a problem limited to young people, it was of special concern to this group in view of the many years of life they have in front of them. There was a great need for conceptual work in this area due to the illusiveness of concepts and there was a need to integrate social statistics from different sources. Statistical offices had a role to play in bringing available data together and preparing publications focused on youth. Longitudinal data were necessary to understand and explain possible causalities in respect of youth and exclusion. Some of the papers for the Oslo meeting will be published in the ECE'Statistical Journal. Next year's meeting would be hosted by France but the topic has not yet been defined.

The Conference underlined the importance of social statistics and indicators for policy makers and the high priority attached to them both in the national and the international context. It noted the increasing requirements for social statistics and the demand for international comparability to carry out both national and European-wide policies.

Programme element 4.2 - Gender statistics: The Conference was informed of two new publications on gender statistics that the UN Statistical Division and the ECE are producing as a contribution to the Fourth World Conference on Women (Beijing, September 1995). A plea was made for the inclusion of women's issue in all fields so that it no longer would be necessary to consider Gender separately.

Programme element 4.3 - Multi-purpose social surveys: The Conference was informed of Eurostat's work on the European Community Household Panel (EHCP) which is a multi-purpose social survey aimed at collecting harmonised micro data on various topics including, among others, income, employment, housing, health and education. Some participants considered that the EHCP tries to cover too many domains.

While panel surveys are being carried out in a number of countries, often in conjunction with the use of administrative data, some caution was also expressed about their suitability for small countries due to the large samples needed, the rather low response rates experienced by some countries and the large cost associated with such undertakings.

Programme element 4.4 - Registers and administrative records for social and demographic statistics: In view of the importance attached to the use of data from registers and administrative records both for social and economic statistics, the Conference urged that the work session on this subject, planned for 1996/97 be held earlier. Eurostat indicated it would look into the possibility of organizing the meeting in Luxembourg and holding it in the first half of 1996. (Eurostat subsequently reported that November 1996 would be the earliest date that it could organize the meeting). A suggestion was also made to include in the agenda of the work session the policy issue of data protection in the use of administrative records. The representative of the United States indicated that her country was prepared to offer input to the meeting.

Programme element 4.5 - Population and housing censuses: The Conference was informed of the progress of work on updating the recommendations for the 2000 round of population and housing censuses. The linkage of this work to the priority activities of the UNDP-financed project to assist transition countries was also underlined.

Programme element 4.8 - Education and training statistics: The attention of the Conference was called to the planned joint ECE-UNESCO-OECD work session on education statistics and the amendment to its agenda which will review the preliminary version of the revised ISCED manual. In considering this revision, the Work Session was urged to take into account the severe problems of interpretation and applicability experienced to date with the current version of ISCED. It was also felt that it would be most useful to have the revised version of ISCED ready for application to the results of the 2000 round of censuses.

Programme element 4.10 - Labour statistics: The Conference noted that the objectives of this programme element did not correspond to the range of activities being undertaken by the various agencies.

Several countries underlined the importance of international comparability in labour force statistics. The need to undertake comparative studies on different statistical systems and the extent to which these and the statistics resulting therefrom can be adapted in order to enhance international comparability was also stressed. In this regard, Canada, France, United Kingdom and Germany agreed to take part in a pilot study on the comparison of labour force statistics systems, with OECD playing a coordinating role.

Programme element 4.11 - Demographic statistics (including estimates and projections, migration, fertility and families and households): The Conference was informed of the ongoing work on the preparation of a new set of recommendations on international migration statistics. It noted that because of the complexities of the issues involved and the low level of national compliance with past and current recommendations, a concerted effort was being made to involve all major international organizations active in this field to develop the new set of recommendations.

The Conference stressed the importance of international migration statistics and the urgent need to improve their international comparability. It urged all major actors involved to speed up the process of harmonising the concepts on migration statistics, including statistics on refugees.

A suggestion was also made to consider using data from censuses and surveys, registers, administrative records in the compilation of international migration statistics, given that this was an area where the national statistical offices could have an influence on the definitions used. The new recommendations should be imaginative in addressing the complexities of the issues involved in the field of migration.

With regard to demographic projections, the need was also expressed to have major actors in this field work on the development, design and methodology for projections of specific population groups e.g. households.

Programme element 4.12 - Human settlements and housing statistics: A suggestion was made that advantage be taken of the UN Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat-II) to be held in June 1996 in Istanbul, to mobilize and advocate support for the improvement of human settlement and housing statistics. The Bureau was asked to consider preparing a statement by the Conference to be made at HABITAT-II, underlining the usefulness of statistics to policy makers in this field.

The Conference was also informed that the UN Statistical Division's second edition of the Compendium of Human Settlements Statistics was due to be published in late 1995 and will be distributed at the HABITAT-II Conference.

Programme element 4.13 - Statistics of Household income and expenditure of the welfare of the population, and of poverty and income inequality: The Conference was informed of the plans of ECE and Eurostat, with the aid of consultants, to prepare regional guidelines on statistics of the distribution of income, consumption and accumulation of households. The most recent guidelines are those of the UN in 1977. Some participants pointed out that no work on expenditure was being undertaken. It was also noted that the work of the Luxembourg Income Study (LIS) was not included in the description of work being undertaken and the work of OECD had also been inadvertently excluded. The Conference was also reminded of the inherent obstacles in any work on poverty concepts. The Conference asked the Bureau to consider these issues in its work on the further development of the integrated presentation.

Programme element 4.14 - Statistics on population groups of special interest: As a follow up to the Siena Group meeting in Oslo on young people, the Conference urged statistical institutes to make better use of available statistics from different sources to describe the situation of youth. It was also stressed that, in doing so, a more output-oriented approach needed to be taken, with less emphasis given to standardization and harmonization. This process of exploiting data from different sources would also be useful in determining the gaps and the quality of the statistics in question.

Programme element 4.XX - Other work in the field of social and demographic statistics: A suggestion was made to include work on the statistical measurement of social infrastructure/network somewhere in the work programme.

Subject to the qualifications specified above, the Conference accepted the Bureau's recommendations for the planned activities of the Conference in the programme elements that comprise this sub-programme.

F.	Sub-programme 5: Natural resources and environment statistics

Documentation:	CES/1995/R.15/Adda 5 and 7, and the background documents for this sub-programme listed in the annex to the agenda of the plenary session.

The Conference approved the comments of the Bureau on work done in 1994/95 and on ongoing activities of the Conference. No amendments were proposed to any of the programme elements, but it was proposed that higher priority should be given in this sub-programme to work done by ECE in the specific areas of classifications and physical environmental accounting.

The continuous collaboration and joint work of participating international organizations (ECE, OECD, Eurostat, European Environment Agency) in the field was stressed as the way of ensuring that no duplication of work occurs.

Programme element 5.1 - Standards and frameworks for environmental data and indicators: The Conference supported the activities oriented towards the methodological development of environmental statistics and indicators, in particular: (a) development of classifications and standards for waste and recycling, and (b) classifications and standards of land use.

The ECE secretariat's proposal to reactivate work on fauna, flora and habitat statistics was supported by several participants. The Netherlands offered help to the secretariat in the form of a full-time expert for several months. The secretariat's plan to commence work on statistics regarding chemicals was also welcomed. However, a suggestion was made to amend the title of that activity to "Statistics on the use of chemicals hazardous to health and the environment". The Bureau was asked to consider this issue in its in-depth review of this sub-programme during 1995/96. The Conference noted that Norway will host the 1996 ECE/Eurostat joint work session on methodology followed by Switzerland in 1997.

Programme element 5.2 - Natural resources and environmental accounting: The Conference took note of the willingness of Germany to host a Joint ECE/Eurostat work session on physical environmental accounting in 1988.

Programme element 5.3 - Environmental database development and dissemination: There was general agreement that work in this programme element on environmental database development should be given lower priority in the Conference's work programme. The Conference asked the Bureau to take this into consideration in its in-depth review of this sub-programme.

Subject to the qualifications specified above, the Conference accepted the Bureau's recommendations for the planned activities of the Conference in the programme elements that comprise this sub-programme.

G.	Sub-programme 6: Dissemination and support for secretariat activities

Documentation:	CES/1995/R.15/Add.6 and the background document for this sub-programme listed in the annex to the agenda of the plenary session.

The Conference approved the comments of the Bureau on the work done in 1994/95 and on ongoing activities of the Conference in this sub-programme.

Programme element 6.1 - Dissemination of statistical data by the secretariat: The Conference welcomed the improvements that have been made to the quality of recent issues of the ECE's Statistical Journal.

The following additional points were made during the discussion, and the Bureau was asked to take them into account in its 1995/96 in-depth review of this sub-programme: (a) place greater emphasis on the use of electronic data interchange when disseminating publications; (b) solicit and use feedback from users in the evaluation of statistical publications; and (c) coordinate closely with national, other international and supranational organizations in the preparation of ECE statistical publications.

Programme element 6.2 - Statistical support for other activities of the secretariats:	The Conference was informed about the activities of the ECE secretariat in the collection of data needed for various statistical publications. It was emphasized that those activities should continue to be organized in future in close cooperation with all international and supranational organizations involved in order to diminish the burden of national statistical offices and to avoid any inefficient duplications.

The Conference accepted the Bureau's recommendations for the planned activities of the Conference

H.	CES programme of work and calendar of meetings, 1995/96 and 1996/97

Subject to the qualifications of the Conference specified in Section's A to G above, the Conference approved its programme of work and calendar of meetings for 1995/96 and 1996/97.

IV.	CES CONTRIBUTION TO THE SOCIAL SUMMIT

Documentation:	CES/1995/R.18 and Addendum

The Conference was informed by the secretariat that its Declaration to the Social Summit had been distributed at the Summit. A UN Expert Group on the Statistical Implications of the Social Summit had been established by the Statistical Commission with the mandate to propose specific statistical activities and follow-up mechanisms for the period 1996-98. Sweden reported that the Expert Group had already met twice, in Oslo and Geneva, and had identified five policy domains in line with the main themes of the Social Summit. These were: population and development; poverty eradication; productive employment; social integration; and the status of women and men. The countries and organizations participating in the group had distributed the work domains among themselves and would prepare a report with statistical annexes to be ready by November 1995. It was emphasized that this was a unique opportunity for developing social statistics, particularly in developing countries, and for linking statistical progress with the work of the various summits.

Attention was also drawn to the strong emphasis in the Social Summit report on the need to develop the statistical capacities of countries and on monitoring progress. This clearly establishes a link between the national and the international level and provides key roles for Regional Commissions and statistical bodies, such as the Conference, in promoting statistical progress. The importance of making resources available for statistical work, as in the ECE region, where UNDP now was funding a social statistics project, was underlined.

The Meeting was also informed that the Danish Ministry for Social Development had asked Statistics Denmark to prepare a report about the monitoring of social issues at both the national and international levels, with the intention of presenting the report to the UN. The meeting was assured by the chair of the UN Expert Group that there was no duplication between these two initiatives and that they were working very closely together.

V.	ECE STATISTICAL PUBLICATIONS

A.	Report to the Commission on the Review of ECE Statistical Publications

Documentation:	CES/1995/R.18 and Addendum

The Conference was informed that the report submitted to the ECE Commission on the review of ECE's statistical publications (ECE/CES/46) had not yet been considered by the Commission. The original mandate given to the Conference by decision O (45), states that the Conference should review periodically ECE's statistical publications.

B.	New ECE statistical publications

Documentation: sample of the yearbook

The Conference was informed that a pre-publication sample of the Yearbook "Trends in Europe and North America" had been presented to the annual session of the ECE Commission for verification by member countries. To minimize response-burden to countries, Eurostat had been used as a source for European Economic Area countries as agreed at the 1994 plenary session. For the other countries, samples of the country pages had been circulated to national statistical offices for completion or revision. In spite of this, several countries found their data incomplete or incorrect for certain indicators and it was agreed that national statistical offices should have an opportunity to update the "country profile" data.

Concern was also expressed about some of the data in the second section, which is largely based on existing international publications. In future editions, some of the more relevant definitions should be included and more attention should be drawn to problems of data comparability. The publication should include a disclaimer to emphasize that the data in the second part do not come directly from the national statistical offices.

The Conference was informed that work on the preparation of the ECE-INSTRAW-Eurostat-Statistics Sweden joint publication on gender statistics "Women and Men in Europe and North America, 1995" is at an advanced stage and that the secretariat anticipated that it would become available in time for the September 1995 World Conference on Women.

VI.	THE ANALYTICAL USE OF NATIONAL STATISTICS AT THE INTERNATIONAL LEVEL: A PRESENTATION BY THE ECE SECRETARIAT

Documentation: CES/1995/R.19 and sample ECE publications

Under this agenda item Mr. Paul Rayment, Deputy Director of the ECE's Division for Economic Analysis and Projections, informed the Conference of the work his Division does annually on the preparation of the Economic Bulletin for Europe and the Economic Survey of Europe. The Conference noted that these publications are disseminated to a wide range of users both in the public and private sectors as well as in academic circles. It also noted that they are intended to present independent analysis which reflects in an authoritative and competent manner the economic and political changes taking place in the region. This analysis is based on a wide range of statistics that national statistical offices, finance ministries and banks provide to the ECE secretariat. In recent years these publications have tended to concentrate mainly on economies in transition.

The Conference recalled that the ECE Statistical Division is responsible for data support for those publications and for the coordination of statistical work throughout the ECE. It was therefore stressed that all data that is to be supplied by national statistical offices be co-ordinated by the ECE Statistical Division. One participant also recommended that, to the extent possible, data requests directed at institutions other than the national statistical office should use the statistical office as an intermediary, so that the quality and adequacy of the data could be assured.

The delegate of Iceland regretted the absence of data for his country in the Survey and the Bulletin and was assured that this omission would be corrected in the future.

VII.	THE STATISTICAL TREATMENT OF PERSONS ON LEAVE

Documentation:	CES/1995/R.20

The Conference was informed by the ILO that transition countries applying international standards in labour force statistics had experienced some problems regarding the classification of persons on leave, notably on maternity and child care leave. Consequently, ILO had agreed to examine these issues and was now preparing draft guidelines for submission to a future International Conference of Labour Statistics. For information, they had prepared document CES/1995/R.20 and countries were invited to communicate any observations they may have to ILO by the end of July. These would then be considered at a meeting planned in Prague for 16-17 November 1995.

VIII.	POSSIBILITIES TO DESCRIBE STATISTICALLY THE EFFECTS OF ONGOING INTEGRATION PROCESSES IN THE UN/ECE REGION

Documentation:	CES/1995/R.12 and addenda 1-4

This item of the agenda is intended for 'substantive discussion'. It is in the form of a short seminar which is based on several papers that are contributed by countries. The topics chosen for substantive discussion are of particular interest to heads of national and international statistical offices.

The topic of substantive discussion at the 1995 plenary session WAS "Possibilities to describe statistically the effects of ongoing integration processes in the UN/ECE region". A valuable discussion of it took place on the basis of papers by Eurostat, Canada, Hungary, New Zealand and Poland. A brief summary of the papers and of some points made in discussion is given below. The general introduction was made by Mr. Ryten of Canada

a)	Summary of the paper by Eurostat

The paper by Eurostat discussed the impact of integration/disintegration processes in the region on statistical measurement. Examples included the erosion and disappearance of traditional data collection systems, decline in quality and relevance of business statistics, and changes in the volume, nature and meaning of international transactions. Integration gives rise to new requirements with regard to statistics needed for example to measure cross-border links. Moreover, statistical data should be more harmonised, comparable and synchronized, and dissemination of data should be broad and timely. There is a growing conflict between national/supranational/international needs and priorities in statistics and available resources. The paper provided examples of means for statistical description of the integration process within the European Union: in economic statistics - harmonisation of the CPI, adoption of ESA, harmonisation of balance of payments methodologies and money and banking statistics, development of "green accounts"; in social statistics - comparable employment/unemployment and social indicators data, the European Communities Household Panel for collection of longitudinal data; in environment statistics - comparable data to describe links between environment and economic and leisure activities of people, statistics on transnational pollution and transborder movements of hazardous goods. The need to assess the impact of the Single Market gives impetus to the development of comparable statistics on business behaviour, globalisation of the market, price/employment patterns, R&D and innovation, public procurement, transport and telecommunications at national and regional levels. Lessons from the EU experience have shown that often there is no time allowed for early adaptation of statistical systems as changes come unexpectedly. It is important that there be partnership among individual countries and between them and international organisations as well as clearly defined objectives, flexible implementation, and effective use of information society opportunities. All these enable quicker progress in adjusting statistical systems to new circumstances.

b)	Summary of the paper by Statistics Canada

The paper by Statistics Canada suggested a systematic description of the implications of globalisation for the system of economic statistics. Economic globalisation processes raise questions from the policy-making point of view, such as the quality and stability of new jobs, type of production (low or high value added) allocated to a country, effects on a country's state of technology, and impacts on the labour market. To answer these and other questions a statistical framework is proposed in which the concepts of "domestic" and "foreign" are based not on residence but on the ownership of the factors of production. This framework suggests the compilation of an "extended" GNP measure, which could be used in addition to the traditional GDP/GNP aggregates and which would include all of the production-related activity carried out anywhere by domestically owned firms. The estimation of ownership-based GNP at the aggregate level implies its estimation at the level of the firm. The framework also implies a consistent set of concepts, definitions and methodology, irrespective of the number of countries it spans, and their application in a synchronous manner.

c)	Summary of the paper by Hungary

The paper by the Hungarian CSO considered a number of possibilities for statistical description of the effects of integration processes. The System of National Accounts, ICP/ECP and models with mixed sets of variables were identified as particularly useful tools to reflect various aspects of integration. Trade, labour, capital transfers, prices, finance, enterprise statistics and welfare were pointed out as key areas for statistical investigation of integration. A formal measure of the degree of integration was also suggested.

d)	Summary of the paper by New Zealand

The paper by Statistics New Zealand focused on problems of integrating statistical sources and systems at the level of one country affected by globalisation. An integrated national statistical infrastructure should allow the relationships between the process of international integration (tariff reduction, removal of subsidies and foreign exchange controls, relaxed foreign investment regulations, labour market de-regulation, tax reform, etc.) and national economic and social processes to be better understood and discussed. International economic integration brings about changes in overseas trade data (changing patterns of exports and imports), industry and agriculture statistics (changing contribution of industries to the economy and changing investment and ownership patterns), household statistics (changing patterns of employment and well-being), and regional statistics (changing patterns of industry and household activity at a sub-national level). Statistical integration requires consistent and balanced conceptual frameworks, standard classifications and definitions, a common geographic referencing system, an integrated business register, and a common approach to data management.

e)	Summary of the paper by Poland

The paper by the CSO of Poland suggested and explained a set of statistical indicators which could be used for description of integration processes in the region and their effects. These statistical indicators should relate to the following spheres: economy (general economic situation, commodity markets, labour markets, finance); culture (production and distribution of cultural goods, knowledge of the European cultural heritage and present cultural development); education (level of education, educational systems and profiles); social security and health; and democracy and law.

f)	Some points made in discussion

It was stressed in the discussion which followed that internationalisation of enterprises' activities in many countries, political and regulatory developments like the appearance of supranational structures and abolition of impediments to free flows of goods and services, and the increased capacity to move people, goods and capital have created important problems for statistics. The increased involvement of enterprises, which in the past were only concerned with the production of goods and services, in financial services adds to the difficulties of describing adequately their behaviour . Traditional splitting of the world by geographical regions becomes irrelevant because of changing patterns of international integration. Processes of regional and cross-border integration become very important and demand for comparable statistics on local regions increases. Harmonisation of territorial identification systems at local and sub-regional levels may become essential.

Integration processes reduce the availability of some of the existing statistical measurements. The abolition of administrative controls in the economies creates problems of statistical coverage based on administrative sources. The increased role of multinational companies gives rise to the question of whether they should be excluded from some sectors to arrive at real picture of domestic activities. In identifying companies which really count for the economy, face-to-face interviews with them may give useful and relevant information, notably on their shareholders and economic and financial interconnections.

The combination of integration and globalisation with the information society represents a challenge for statistical offices which have professional autonomy to take best advantage of the wealth of available information and existing sources and to present it in a coherent way. National statistical offices should be ready to work together and with international organisations in the development of new concepts and methodologies and in harmonising the statistical outputs internationally. The ability of effective use of new information technologies was regarded as an important asset in meeting this challenge.

IX.	DATA PROTECTION

Documentation: CES/1995/R.24

The Conference was informed of the work being undertaken by the Council of Europe's Project Group on Data Protection on the preparation of a set of recommendations on the protection of personal data. The Conference noted that the work is still in progress, and that current plans foresee the possibility of the work being completed on the draft new set of recommendations within the next year.

Several delegations expressed concern about recent developments that have taken place in the Council of Europe project. They also asked the Bureau to provide scope for the issue to be included as a substantive agenda item of the 1996 plenary session if the situation appeared to warrant it.

The Conference asked the Bureau, with the assistance of countries participating in this work, to keep abreast of developments on the preparation of the planned new recommendation, and if the Bureau deemed it appropriate, to submit a declaration to the Project Group on behalf of the Conference.

X.	ELECTION OF BUREAU MEMBERS

Documentation: CES/1995/R.11

In accordance with the rules of procedure adopted by the Conference at its 1993 plenary session, the election was organized by Mr. Malaguerra of Switzerland, who was the most senior previous Chairman of the Conference present at the plenary session.

The Conference elected the following members of the Conference as bureau members for 1995/96 and 1996/97, based on proposals put forward by Mr. Malaguerra: Mr. I. Fellegi (Canada)(re-elected as Chairman for a second term); Mr. P. Garonna (Italy)(re-elected for a second term); Mr. S. Longva (Norway); Mr. D. Murphy (Ireland); Mr. J. Olenski (Poland)(re-elected for a second term); and Mr. Y. Yurkov (Russian Federation).

The Conference thanked Mr. Malaguerra for the task he performed in this process.

The Conference also thanked all the persons who had served on the bureau during 1993/94 and 1994/95, including Messrs. Guvenen (Turkey), Guzhvin (Russian Federation), Vukovich (Hungary) and Zeuthen (Denmark), all of whom have retired or assumed other duties in their countries.

XI.	OTHER BUSINESS

The secretariat informed the Conference that in order to enable countries to obtain documents for the 1996 plenary session and for other meetings in the CES calendar of meetings more quickly, they are placed on INTERNET (World Wide Web) so that countries with access to this facility in Internet would be able to access them directly. The documents for the 1995 session are already available in this way. The "address code" (URL) to be used for this is as follows: http://www.unicc.org/~unece/. The Conference noted that for the time being this facility will be able to be used only for accessing English language versions of the documents.

XII.	ADOPTION OF THE REPORT

This report was adopted by the Conference on 15 June 1995.

ANNEX I

INTEGRATED PRESENTATION OF PROGRAMMES OF INTERNATIONAL

STATISTICAL WORK IN THE ECE REGION, 1995/96 AND 1996/97

Note

The integrated presentation of the statistical work programmes of the Economic Commission for Europe (ECE), the European Communities (EC), the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and other international organizations working in the ECE region is presented in documents CES/1995/R.25 and addenda 1-6, as indicated below: The integrated presentation shown in these documents, which collectively constitute Annex I of the report of the plenary session, is too large to issue as part of this report or as a single document.

CES/1995/R.25: Programmes of international statistical work in the UN/ECE region, 1995/96 and 1996/97: An integrated presentation - Introduction and overview

CES/1995/R.25/Add.1: Sub-programme 1: Organization and operation of statistical services

CES/1995/R.25/Add.2: Sub-programme 2: Technical infrastructure and other cross-cutting issues

CES/1995/R.25/Add.3: Sub-programme 3: Economic statistics

CES/1995/R.25/Add.4: Sub-programme 4: Social and demographic statistics

CES/1995/R.25/Add.5: Sub-programme 5: Natural resources and environment statistics

CES/1995/R.25/Add.6: Dissemination and support for secretariat activities

Annex II. Priority menu of the CES for 1995/96 and 1996/97

a) Priority menu for 1995/96

WORK PROGRAMME OF THE CONFERENCE OF EUROPEAN STATISTICIANS

PRIORITY MENU FOR 1995/96

Programme element Substantive action required by the ECE secretariat Major coordination required Output for the plenary session 1996 1.1 Issues of Statistical Policy - Preparation of CES plenary session

- Organization of substantive discussion

- Organization of Bureau meetings

- Preparation of Portugal Seminar -

-

- Eurostat, OECD, UNSD, IMF, World Bank

-

- CES Annual Report

- Discussion papers

- Bureau's reports; minutes of meetings

- Report

1.2 Transition countries - Taking full account of the needs of countries in transition in the CES work programme, provision of guidance and advice to transition countries by the Regional Adviser

- Participate in inter-agency coordination activities

- To manage, as the executing agency, the UNDP regional project for the development of social and demographic statistics in transition countries

- Eurostat, OECD, UNSD, IMF, World Bank, ILO, etc.

- Eurostat, OECD, UNSD, IMF, IWG.COORD

- UNDP, Eurostat, UNSD

- Progress report

- Progress reports, as required

- Progress report

1.3 Promotion and coordination of international statistical work - Preparation of integrated presentation of international statistical work programmes

- Prepare Joint Programme Review meeting(s)

- Preparation of resource inventory on statistical work in ECE region

- Various intersecretariat working groups

- Eurostat, OECD, UNSD, IMF, World Bank, Specialized Agencies, etc.

- Eurostat, OECD

- All organizations

- Various organizations - Draft Integrated presentation

- Report

- Inventory

1.4 Developing countries - Preparation and provision of relevant CES documents to the Statistical Commission, UNSD and the Regional Commissions - UNSD, Regional Commissions - Progress reports, as required 2.1 Management of statistical information technology - Organization of ISIS'96

- Report

2.2 Statistical data collection and processing

- Preparation of methodological materials on statistical data editing

- Preparation of the work session on statistical data editing - Methodological materials on statistical data editing

- Conclusions of the work session on statistical data editing

2.3 Dissemination of statistical information - Preparation of methodological materials on statistical metadata

- Preparation of the work session on statistical output and dissemination to information media

- Participation in the development of EDISTAT (Western European EDIFACT Board - group MD6)

- Coordination of EDISTAT implementation with transition countries

- EUROSTAT

- methodological materials

- Conclusions of the work session

- Progress report

- Trial EDI applications 2.6 Geography - Preparation of the work session on GIS - EUROSTAT - Conclusions of the work session

3.1 System of national accounts: implementation of revised SNA - Preparation of the ECE-Eurostat-OECD meeting on national accounts - Eurostat, OECD - Report 3.4 Transport statistics - Preparation of the 46th session of the Working Party

- IWG.TRANS - Report 3.9 Price statistics, including PPP - Preparation of the ECE-ILO meeting on consumer price indices

- Preparation of the ACSO-ECE-Eurostat-OECD Consultation on the European Comparison Programme within Group II

- ILO, Eurostat

- ACSO, Eurostat, OECD - Report

- Report 3.10 Agriculture statistics - Preparation of the twenty-second session of the FAO/ECE Study Group on Food and Agricultural Statistics in Europe - IWG.AGRI - Report 3.12 Energy statistics - Preparation of the joint meeting of the energy statistics Working Group

- IWG-EN - Report 3.14 Business registers - Preparation of the joint meeting

- Eurostat - Report 4.2 Gender statistics - Joint publication - Eurostat, UNSD - Publication 4.5 Population and housing censuses - Preparation of the work session on housing censuses

- Publication on census costs - Eurostat, UNSD

- - Report

- Publication 4.8 Education and training statistics - Preparation of the work session - UNESCO - Report 4.11 Demographic statistics (projections, migration, fertility, ...)

- Preparation of the annual migration matrices

- Participation in review of UN recommendations on international migration statistics

- Preparation of work session on fertility and family surveys - Eurostat, UNSD

- UNSD, Eurostat, OECD, etc.

- - Matrices

- Progress report as required

- Report 4.13 Household income statistics - Preparation of the work session - Eurostat - Report

5.1 Standards and frameworks for environmental data and indicators - Continuation of the joint ECE/CEC work on the development of a single European Standard Statistical Classification of Wastes and Recycling

- Revision of the Draft ECE Standard Statistical Framework for Fauna, Flora and Habitat Statistics

- Organization of the joint ECE/CEC work session on methodological questions of environment statistics - Eurostat

- Eurostat

- Eurostat

- Report

- Report

- Progress report

5.2 Natural resources and environmental accounting - Organization of a project for the comprehensive development of a scheme for physical environmental accounting - UNSD - Progress report 5.3 Environmental database development and dissemination

- Publication of the statistical monograph on road transport and the environment

- Respond to user requests for internationally comparable environment statistics in the framework of the International Environmental Data Service (IEDS)

- Further maintenance and development of the environmental statistical database

- Dissemination, upon request, of updates of the ECE environmental statistical database to national statistical offices - UNEP, CEMT

- International Environmental databases under the responsibility of other international organizations - Publication

- Progress report

6.1 Dissemination of statistical data - Preparation of annual publications in the fields of energy (3), transport (2) and housing (1)

- Preparation of the ECE Statistical Yearbook

- Preparation of Statistical Journal

- Eurostat, OECD/IEA as required

-

-

- Annual publications

- Annual publication

- 4 issues of Statistical Journal per year 6.2 Statistical support for ECE secretariat activities

- Preparation of statistical tables and analysis as required

- Eurostat, OECD, UNSD, CIS STAT, other ECE PSBs - Progress report (to the CES Bureau)

- Collection of macroeconomic data from transition countries

- Maintenance of the database on macroeconomic statistics for transition countries

- OECD, ILO, IMF, UNIDO, UNSD, CIS STAT

- Progress report (to the CES Bureau)

b) Priority menu for 1996/97

WORK PROGRAMME OF THE CONFERENCE OF EUROPEAN STATISTICIANS

PRIORITY MENU FOR 1996/97

Programme element Substantive action required by the ECE secretariat Major coordination required Output for the plenary session 1997 1.1 Issues of Statistical Policy - Preparation of CES plenary session

- Organization of substantive discussion

- Organization of Bureau meetings

- Preparation of Portugal Seminar -

-

- Eurostat, OECD, UNSD, IMF, World Bank

-

- CES Annual Report

- Discussion papers

- Bureau's reports; minutes of meetings

- Report

1.2 Transition countries - Taking full account of the needs of countries in transition in the CES work programme, provision of guidance and advice to transition countries by the Regional Adviser

- Participate in inter-agency coordination activities

- To manage, as the executing agency, the UNDP regional project for the development of social and demographic statistics in transition countries

- Eurostat, OECD, UNSD, IMF, World Bank, ILO, etc.

- Eurostat, OECD, UNSD, IMF, IWG.COORD

- UNDP, Eurostat, UNSD

- Progress report

- Progress reports, as required

- Progress report

1.3 Promotion and coordination of international statistical work - Preparation of integrated presentation of international statistical work programmes

- Prepare Joint Programme Review meeting(s)

- Preparation of resource inventory on statistical work in ECE region

- Various intersecretariat working groups

- Eurostat, OECD, UNSD, IMF, World Bank, Specialized Agencies, etc.

- Eurostat, OECD

- All organizations

- Various organizations - Draft Integrated presentation

- Report

- Inventory

1.4 Developing countries

- Preparation and provision of relevant CES documents to the Statistical Commission, UNSD and the Regional Commissions - UNSD, Regional Commissions

- Progress reports, as required 2.1 Management of statistical information technology

- Organization of 25th session of the Working Party on EDP

- Report

2.2 Statistical data collection and processing

- Preparation of methodological materials and publication on statistical data editing

- Preparation of the work session on statistical data editing

- Methodological materials and publication

- Conclusions of the work session

2.3 Dissemination of statistical information - Preparation of the work session on statistical metadata

- Participation in the development of EDISTAT (Western European EDIFACT Board - group MD6)

- Coordination of EDISTAT implementation with transition countries

- EUROSTAT

- Conclusions of the work session

- Progress report

- Trial EDI applications 2.6 Geography - Preparation of the work session on GIS - EUROSTAT - Conclusions of the work session

3.1 System of national accounts: implementation of the revised SNA - Preparation of the 1996/97 joint meeting - Eurostat, OECD - Report 3.4 Transport statistics - Preparation of the 47th session of the Working Party

- IWG.TRANS - Report 3.9 Price statistics, including PPPs

- Preparation of the ACSO-ECE-Eurostat-OECD Consultation on the ECP within Group II (Sept. 95) - ACSO, Eurostat, OECD - Report 3.10 Agriculture statistics - Preparation of the report on the 1993 European Comparison Programme

- Preparation of the ECE/Eurostat/FAO/OECD Seminar on environment-related agriculture statistics

- ACSO, Eurostat, OECD

- IWG.AGRI

- Report

- Report 4.4 Registers and administrative records in social & demographic statistics

- Preparation of the work session

- Preparation of draft recommendations for the 2000 round of censuses

- Eurostat

- Report

4.5 Population and housing censuses

- Preparation of the meeting - Eurostat, UNSD - Report, and draft recommendations 4.6 Health statistics

- Preparation of the work session

- WHO

- Report

4.9 Culture statistics - Preparation of the work session - Unesco - Report

4.11 Demographic statistics (including projections, migration and fertility)

- Preparation of the annual matrices

- Preparation of the work session - Eurostat, UNSD

- Eurostat, UNSD - Matrices

- Report 5.1 Standards and frameworks for environmental data and indicators - Organization of the joint ECE/CEC work session on methodological questions of environment statistics - Eurostat - Report 5.2 Natural resources and environmental accounting

5.3 Environmental statistical information

- Organization of a work session regarding development of the conceptual basis for statistics on chemicals and the environment

- Continuation of a project for the comprehensive development of a scheme for physical environmental accounting

- Preparation for the compilation of the compendium of environment statistics and/or statistical monograph

- Eurostat

- UNSD, Eurostat

- Eurostat, European Environmental Agency - Report

- Progress report

- Progress report 6.1 Dissemination of statistical data - Preparation of annual publications in the fields of energy (3), transport (2) and housing (1)

- Preparation of the ECE Statistical Yearbook

- Preparation of Statistical Journal

- Eurostat, OECD/IEA as required

-

-

- Annual publications

- Annual publication

- 4 issues of Statistical Journal per year 6.2 Statistical support for ECE secretariat activities - Preparation of statistical tables and analysis as required - Eurostat, OECD, UNSD, CIS STAT, other ECE PSBs - Progress report (to the CES Bureau) - Collection of macroeconomic data from transition countries

- Maintenance of the database on macroeconomic statistics for transition countries

- OECD, ILO, IMF, UNIDO, UNSD, CIS STAT

- - Progress report (to the CES Bureau)

c) Projects inactive in 1995/96 and 1996/97

WORK PROGRAMME OF THE CONFERENCE OF EUROPEAN STATISTICIANS

PROJECTS INACTIVE IN 1995/96 AND 1996/97 2.4	Industry, commodity and occupation classifications

2.5	Statistical methodology

2.7	Regional statistics

2.8	Training

3.2	Money and banking, government finance, and balance of payments

3.3	International trade in goods

3.5	Distributive trades

3.6	International trade in services

3.7	Tourism

3.8	Other marketed services, and non-marketed services

3.11	Industrial statistics

3.13	Science and technology statistics

4.1	Social indicators and frameworks

4.3	Multi-purpose social surveys

4.7	Crime and criminal justice statistics

4.10	Labour statistics

4.12	Human settlements and housing statistics

4.14	Statistics on population groups of special interest

ANNEX III

CES CALENDAR OF MEETINGS, 1995/96 and 1996/97

1995/96 Programme element Meeting Date

3.10	Twenty-second session of the FAO/ECE Study Group

on Food and Agricultural Statistics in Europe	3-7 July 1995

3.12	Meeting on Energy Statistics (with OECD/IEA)

5.1	Work Session on Methods of Environment Statistics (Mèze, France)

(with Eurostat)	11-14 September 1995

3.9	Joint Consultation on the European Comparison

Programme (Vienna) (with Eurostat and OECD)	25-28 September 1995

3.10	Work Session on Agricultural Statistics for Transition Countries

(Ljubljana, Slovenia) (with Eurostat, FAO and OECD))	10-15 October 1995

4.5	Work Session on Housing Censuses (CES/CHS and Eurostat)	24-25 October 1995

1.1	CES Bureau Meeting	2-3 November 1995

3.4	Meeting - Working Party on Transport Statistics	1-3 November 1995

2.2	Work Session on Statistical Data Editing (Athens, Greece)	6-9 November 1995

5.1	Work Session on Fauna, Flora and Habitat Statistics	13-15 November 1995

3.9	Meeting on Consumer prices (with ILO)	20-24 November 1995

4.11	Working Party on Migration Statistics (Luxembourg) (with Eurostat)	15-17 January 1996

4.8	Work Session on Education Statistics (Paris, France)

(with Unesco and OECD)	5-7 February 1996

4.11	Work Session on Fertility and Family surveys	29-31 January 1996

1.1	CES Bureau Meeting	February 1996

3.14	Joint Meeting on Business Registers (Luxembourg) (with Eurostat)	5-7 February 1996

2.3	Work Session on Statistical Output for Dissemination

to Information Media	20-22 February 1996

4.13	Work Session on Household Income (with Eurostat)	4-6 March 1996

5.2	Work Session on Physical Environmental Accounting	13-15 March 1996

2.6	Work Session on Geographical Information Systems

(Washington, D.C., USA)	15-18 April 1996

5.1	Work Session on Waste and Recycling Statistics (Luxembourg)

(with Eurostat)	.. April 1996

3.1	Joint Meeting on National Accounts (with OECD)	30 April-3 May 1996

2.1	Seminar - ISIS'96 (Bratislava, Slovakia)	21-14 May 1996

5.1	Work Session on Fauna, Flora and Habitat Statistics	.. May 1996**

1.1	44th CES Plenary Session (Paris, France)	10-13 June 1996

CES CALENDAR OF MEETINGS, 1995/96 and 1996/97 (Cont'd)

1996/97 Programme element Meeting Date

3.10	Seminar on Environment Related Agricultural Statistics

(with Eurostat, FAO and OECD)	1-4 July 1996

1.1	Seminar for Heads of Statistical Offices

(Lisbon, Portugal)	25-27 September 1996

4.11	Work Session on Migration Statistics (with Eurostat)	30 Sept.-2 Oct. 1996

1.1	CES Bureau	.. October 1996**

2.3	Work Session on Statistical Metadata (Berlin, Germany)	22-25 October 1996

4.4	Work Session on Administrative Registers and

Administrative Records in Social and Demographic

Statistics (Luxembourg) (with Eurostat)	11-13 November 1996**

3.4	Meeting - Working Party on Transport Statistics	13-15 November 1996

5.1	Meeting on Waste and Recycling Statistics (with Eurostat)	.. November 1996**

4.5	Meeting on Population and Housing Censuses

(CEE/CHS and Eurostat)	9-12 December 1996

2.1	25th session of the Working Party on EDP	.. February 1997**

2.6	Work Session on Geographical Information Systems	.. April 1997**

3.1	Meeting on SNA (with OECD and Eurostat)	Spring 1997**

4.6	Work Session on Health Statistics (with WHO/Euro)	Spring 1997**

4.9	Work Session on Cultural Statistics (with Unesco)	Spring 1997**

4.13	Meeting on Household Income Statistics (with Eurostat)	Spring 1997**

1.1	45th CES Plenary Session	9-12 June 1997

ANNEX IV.	Consolidated list of statistical meetings organized by international organizations working in the UN/ECE region, arranged by programme element in the Conference's programme of work, 1995/96 and 1996/97

Principal Sponsoring Organization ECE Eurostat OECD Other organizations 1.1 Issues of statistical policy - 44th and 45th sessions of the CES (June 96 & 97) - SPC-DGINS meetings (4 per year) Annual meeting for heads of NSOs held back-to-back with the CES - UNSD: ACC Sub-Committee on Statistical Activities - 4 meetings of the CES Bureau (annually) - CEIES - 1 plenary, 6 sub-committee, 2 bureau meetings annually - - UNSD - Working Group on International Statistical Programmes and Coordination - Seminar for heads of statistical offices (Sept. 1996) - CIS STAT: Working Group on statistical standards and methods 1.2 Transition countries - Working Group concerning FSU countries - Meeting of donors and recipients of technical assistance in national accounts - CIS STAT: Working Group on computerization of statistics

1.3 Promotion and coordination of international statistical work - Joint Programme Review meeting (with Eurostat and OECD) (Autumn 1995) - Intersecretariat Working Group meetings (misc.) - Joint Programme Review meeting (with ECE and Eurostat (Autumn 1996) - IMF: Committee and task force meetings

- Intersecretariat Working Group meetings (misc.)

- Intersecretariat Working Group meetings (misc.) - CIS STAT: Meetings in specific fields of statistical activity 1.4 Technical assistance to developing countries - Statistical cooperation with developing countries

- Conference of Mediterranean countries

2.1 Management of statistical information technology - ISIS'96 (May 96)

- 25th session of Working Party on EDP (Feb. 97) - UNSD: Expert Group on user access and output systems to UNSD databases (19..)

2.2 Statistical data collection and processing

- Work Session on data editing (Nov. 95)

2.3 Dissemination and interchange of statistical information - Work session on dissemination of statistical data to information media (Feb. 96) - Telematic networks and EDI working group (Oct. 95)

- Work session on statistical metadata (Oct. 96) - SERT Working Party (Dec. 95) 2.4 Industry, commodity and occupation classifications - Customs code -- Combined nomenclature section committee (Sept. 95) - Accounting and statistical coordination task force (Sept. 95) - SPC - NACE committee (Nov. 95) - Customs code -- Combined nomenclature section committee (Nov. 95) 2.5 Statistical methodology

2.6 Geography - Work Session on GIS (April 96, April 97) - Seminar on statistics in eastern and central European countries 2.7 Regional statistics - Regional indicators and economic accounts working:- infra-regional data (Nov. 95) - Steering Group on Rural Indicators (Nov. 95) - Regional indicators and economic accounts working group:- (2 day meetings in 96) 2.8 Training

- UNSD: Misc. group training, seminars, workshops and fellowships

3.1 Implementation of the SNA - Meeting on SNA (with OECD and Eurostat) (Spring 96 and Spring 97)

- GNP management committee (June, Oct., Dec. 95)

- Working Group National Accounts (June, Nov., Dec. 95)

- Seminar on national accounts for CEEC (95/96) - UNSD: Expert group meetings on human resource accounting; SNA under conditions of high inflation; social accounts matrix and satellite accounts; analytical and policy uses of SNA; and links between business and national accounting standards 3.2 Money and Banking, Government Finance, and Balance of Payments - Balance of payments working group (Oct. 95)

- Financial accounts working group (Nov. 95) - Working Party on Tax Analysis and Tax Statistics (Nov. 95; May, Nov. 96) - IMF: Committee on Balance of Payments Statistics (1-2 meetings annually) - Committee of monetary, financial and balance of payments statistics (Jan. and June annually) - UNSC/ACC Sub-Committee on Statistics: Task Force on Finance Statistics (1-2 meetings annually) 3.3 International Trade in Goods - Intrastat (Sept. 95)

- Committee on statistics re trading of goods (Oct, Dec. 95)

- Edicom task force (Nov. 95) - UNSD: Expert Group on revising UN concepts and definitions for international trade statistics (Nov. 95)

3.4 Transport statistics - Working Party on transport statistics (Nov. 95 and 96)

- Training seminar for transition countries (Sept. 95) - Railway statistics (96)

- Statistics on transport of persons (96)

- Transport statistics coordination group (95/96)

3.5 Distributive trade

- Distributive trade working group (Nov. 95)

3.6 International trade in services

- Trade-in services meeting (annually, with OECD)

- IMF: Committee on Balance of Payments (1-2 meetings annually)

3.7 Tourism

- Tourism working group (Nov. 95) - Group for implementation of manual on tourism economic accounts (Oct. 95)

- Statistical working party of the Tourism Committee (Oct. 95)

3.8 Other marketed services, and non-marketed services - Insurance working group (June 95) - Service statistics experts (July 95) - Audio-visual services (Sept. 95) - Coordination committee on services (Nov. 95) - Task force Insurance (Nov. 95) - ICOBS-AS working group (Dec. 95) - Services targeted to persons and collectivity working group (Dec. 95)

3.9 Price statistics, including PPPs - Consultation on the ECP within Group II (jointly with ACSO, Eurostat & OECD) (Sept. 95)

- Meeting on consumer price statistics (with ILO) (Nov. 95)

- Harmonisation of CPIs (June, Dec. 95)

- Price statistics (June, Nov. 95)

- Staff salary weightings working group (June, Nov. 95)

- Seminar on prices for CEEC (95/96) - Final consultation on ECP comparisons for Transcaucasian and Central Asian Republics of the former USSR (end 95) - UN Stat. Comm.: Task Force on price statistics (1-2 meetings per year)

- CIS STAT working group on interstate cost comparisons (1-2 meetings annually) 3.10 Agriculture statistics - 22nd session of Study Group on Food and Agricultural Statistics (with FAO) (July 95)

- Workshop on agricultural statistics for transitions countries (With Eurostat, FAO, OECD) (Oct. 95)

- ECE/Eurostat/FAO/

OECD seminar on environment-related agricultural statistics (July 96)

- Feed balance sheet (june 95)

- Agricultural prices statistics (June 95)

- Forestry statistics (June 95; June 96 ?)

- Agricultural economic accounts (July, Nov. 95; Sept. 96 ?)

- Agricultural statistics Committee (July 95; June 96 ?, Oct. 96 ?)

- Agricultural holdings structure statistics (Sept., Dec. 95; May 96 ?)

- Fisheries statistics (Sept. 95, March 96 ?)

- SPEL working group (Sept. 95)

- Crop statistics (Oct. 95)

- Seminar on fisheries statistics for Baltic states and Poland (3 Quarter 95)

- Animal products statistics (Oct. 95, 1 Quarter 96)

- Agro-industrial statistics (Oct. 95)

- Total income of agricultural households (Jan. 96)

- Milk statistics (Jan. 96)

- Crop products statistics (96)

- Crop products statistics, fruits and wines (March 96 ?)

- Fodder balances (June 96 ?)

- Expert Group meeting on agricultural statistics (June 95) 3.12 Energy statistics Meeting on Energy statistics (with OECD/IEA) (Sept. 95) 4.1 Social indicators and frameworks

- CIS STAT: Working Group on social and demographic statistics (95/96)

4.2 Gender statistics - UN: World Conference on Women (Beijing, Sept. 95)

4.3 Multi-purpose social surveys - Time-use pilot survey working group (Sept. 95)

- Household panel working group (Sept. 95)

- Workshop on time use pilot survey (Dec. 95)

4.4 Registers and administrative records for social and demographic statistics - Work Session on registers and administrative records (with Eurostat) (1996-97) - UNSD: Workshop on strategies for the improvement of civil registration and vital statistics (3rd Quarter, 1995)

4.5 Population and housing censuses - Work Session on housing censuses (with Eurostat) (Autumn 96)

- Meeting on population and housing censuses (with Eurostat) (1996/97)

- Working Party on censuses (with ECE) (1995/96) - UNSD: Expert group on the 2000 World Population and Housing Census Programme (4th Quarter, 1995) 4.6. Health statistics - Work session on health statistics (with WHO/Euro, 1996/97)

- Health indicators (Nov. 95)

- UNSD (disabled population - See programme element 4.14)

- WHO/Euro: Revision of HFA indicators (4th Quarter, 1995)

- WHO/Euro: Meeting on health service indicators (CEEC, 4th Quarter, 1995) 4.8 Education and training statistics - Work session on education statistics (with Unesco) (Jan. 96)

- Task Force: Statistics and initial vocational training (Sept. 95)

- Task Force: Education statistics (Oct. 95)

- Technical Group for Educ. Statistics and Indicators (Oct. 95)

- Regional Technical Meeting to discuss the Training Statistics Manual (3-5 July 1995)

- Conference on Knowledge Base for Education Policy-Making (Maastricht, 11-13 September 1995)

- Education policy review and advisory group (sept. 95)

- UNESCO: Sub-regional workshop on education statistics for countries of the former USSR (Sept. 95) 4.9 Culture statistics

- Work session on cultural statistics (with Unesco, 1996/97)

- UNESCO: Book publishing statistics (July 95)

- UNESCO: Participation in cultural activities (June 95)

4.10 Labour statistics - Wage statistics working group (Nov. 95)

- Employment statistics working group (Nov. 95) - Workshop on harmonised labour force surveys in transition countries (with Eurostat)

- Working Party on employment and unemployment statistics

- ILO: Meeting of experts on labour statistics on the measurement of underemployment 4.11 Demographic statistics (including projections, migration and fertility) - Work Session on fertility and family surveys (95/96)

- Work session on migration statistics (with Eurostat) (96/97)

- Working Group on population forecasts (Oct. 95)

- Working Group on Demographic statistics (Dec. 95)

- Working Party on Migration statistics (with ECE) (Jan. 96)

- Working Group on Migration (June 95) - UNSD: Expert Group on international migration statistics (3rd Quarter, 1995)

- Council of Europe: Mediterranean Conference on Population, Migration and Development (Sept. 96) 4.12 Human settlements and housing statistics

- UNSD: Expert Group meeting on the 2000 World Population and Housing Census Programme (Autumn 95) (See programme element 4.5)

4.13 Household income - Work session on household income statistics (with Eurostat) (1995/96)

- Meeting on household income statistics (with Eurostat) (1996/97) - Working Group on social protection statistics (Oct. 95)

- Working Group on Family Budget surveys (Oct. 95)

4.14 Population groups of special interest - Task force on statistics of the homeless (Oct. 95)

5.1 Standards and frameworks for environmental data and indicators - Work session on wastes and recycling Statistics (with Eurostat) (Winter 95) - Environment statistics: sub-group on waste (June 95) - Group on the state of the Environment (June 95)

- UNSD: Meeting of the Working Group on the Advancement of Environment Statistics - Work sessions on methodology (with Eurostat) ( Sept. 95) - Environment statistics: sub-group on economic data (Sept. 95) - Work session on fauna, flora and habitat statistics (Nov. 95) - Environment statistics: sub-group on green accounting (Oct. 95) - Environment statistics: sub-group on waste (Nov. 95)

- Environment statistics: sub-group on statistical programme working group (Nov. 95) 5.2 Natural resources and environmental accounting - Work session on physical environmental accounting (March 96) - Environment statistics: sub-group SERIEE (Sept. 95)

- Environment statistics: sub-group green accounting (Oct. 95) - UNEP: Workshop on progress in the development and application of integrated environmental and economic accounting (1995)

5.3 Environmental database development and dissemination

- Group on the state of the Environment (June 95)

6.1 Dissemination of statistical data - Preparation of annual publications in the fields of energy (3), transport (2) and housing (1)

- Preparation of the ECE Statistical Yearbook

- Preparation of Statistical Journal

- Eurostat, OECD/IEA as required

-

-

- Annual publications

- Annual publication

- 4 issues of Statistical Journal per year

6.2 Statistical support for ECE secretariat activities

- Preparation of statistical tables and analysis as required

- Eurostat, OECD, UNSD, CIS STAT, other ECE PSBs

- Progress report (to the CES Bureau)

- Collection of macroeconomic data from transition countries

- Maintenance of the database on macroeconomic statistics for transition countries

- OECD, ILO, IMF, UNIDO, UNSD, CIS STAT

- Progress report (to the CES Bureau)