Estonia to collaborate with Team Europe to jumpstart Ukrainian statistical system reforms

Launched last week on the 28th of May in Kyiv, the EU4Statistics Ukraine Programme will enhance the ability of the State Statistics Services of Ukraine (SSSU) to produce and disseminate high-quality statistics.  

Over the next three and a half years, the SSSU will draw on the expertise of Statistics Estonia, which has similar experience with the EU accession process, and Statistics Sweden, one of the world's oldest national statistical agencies. This collaboration will help improve the reliability, relevance and usability of Ukraine’s national statistics. Aligning the SSSU's work with European standards will support informed policymaking, transparency and European integration. 

"The State Statistics Service of Ukraine is undergoing profound transformational change. We are building a statistical system that meets the highest European standards and provides statistics users with quality data for evidence-based decision-making. The support of the European Union, Sweden and Estonia, and our future collaboration under the EU4Statistics Ukraine Programme, will allow us to accelerate these changes, strengthening institutional capacity, modernising methodology and developing a new generation of statistical professionals," said Arsen Makarchuk, the chairman of the SSSU. 

Statistics is a key reform area, as it is essential for progress and for monitoring the advancement of Ukraine’s EU integration process. The Estonian Centre for International Development (ESTDEV) will focus on the institutional framework for statistics to ensure the necessary reforms can be made. 

“Ukraine is rebuilding its institutions under very difficult circumstances. A functioning statistical system is essential both for reconstruction and for moving towards the European Union. Through ESTDEV, we are working with Ukrainian and European partners to strengthen the use of reliable data in decision-making,” said Eva-Maria Liimets, ESTDEV’s programme manager for Democracy and Rule of Law. 

Statistics Estonia and the SSSU will build on the cooperation initiated last year to support the institutional transformation of Ukraine’s statistical system, focusing on governance, organisational development, improved cooperation with data providers in Ukraine, and revising statistical legislation to comply with EU requirements. 

"Through our cooperation in recent years, we have witnessed the professionalism, commitment and determination of our Ukrainian colleagues. Statistics Estonia is proud to continue this collaboration and support the development of a statistical system that serves both Ukraine’s recovery and its European future,” said Urmet Lee, Statistics Estonia’s director general. 

Sweden will focus on enhancing the production and dissemination of high-quality data and improving professional competencies through training programmes, expanding on previous cooperation between Statistics Sweden and the SSSU.  

“The EU4Statistics Ukraine Programme has a strong Ukrainian ownership and close cooperation within Team Europe, and Sweden is proud to take on the role as the lead implementing agency for the programme,” said Christina Danielsson, the head of Development Cooperation at the Embassy of Sweden to Ukraine.  

“This is a partnership we can truly be proud of. I see how the opportunity to support Ukraine in its efforts to move closer to the EU is something that engages our entire organization. And I am convinced that as we share our knowledge and experience with our Ukrainian colleagues, we will also have much to learn ourselves,” said Eva-Lo Ighe, Statistics Sweden’s director general. 

EU4Statistics Ukraine Programme is co-funded by the European Union, Sweden and Estonia. The EU will provide 5 million euros to fund the programme. The Swedish International Development Agency (Sida) will contribute approximately 1.8 million euros, and ESTDEV will add over 300,000 euros. The total programme budget is about 7.1 million euros. 

’’With EU4Statistics, Ukraine is strengthening key institutions and aligning its statistical system with the EU acquis, building a system that speaks the same language as the rest of Europe. We are proud to support this work because credible numbers are the foundation beneath every reform, every reconstruction decision, and every step of Ukraine's path to EU membership," said Stefan Schleuning, the head of Cooperation at the EU Delegation to Ukraine.