Transport Study Center for the Western Mediterranean
FOLLOW-UP OF MEDSTAT PROGRAMME
MEDSTAT is the regional statistical co-operation programme between the European Union and the 12 Mediterranean Partners, which EFTA has decided to join. It was the first regional project raised from the Barcelona Process, of which it is still one of the most important examples in budgetary terms (20 MioEuro). In management terms, the Relex DG monitors its adequacy with the objectives of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership : the idea is to improve its statistical tool from the point of view of the future common economic zone (free trade, economic transition, private investment). Eurostat is responsible for the organisation and follow-up of the agencies and experts involved in the project, coming from the European and Mediterranean statistical systems.

The programme will last from 1996 until 2004. It aims at promoting the exchange of statistical data amongst the various partners (EU, its Member States, the 12 Mediterranean countries and EFTA) as well as their harmonisation in order to improve comparability.

Nine activity fields are concerned. There are seven sectors of statistical production (External Trade, Tourism, Transport, Migration, Environment, Non observed economy, National accounts) and two horizontal sectors that interact with the previous ones (Training, Information system).

A periodical publication enables the collecting and dissemination of a certain number of Euro-Mediterranean statistical indicators.

During the third Directors’ Committee meeting (Athens, November 1999), the orientations of a subsequent MEDSTAT II programme were clearly sketched : they comprise, amongst other things, the promotion of sub-regional projects and a greater concern for the request of main users of Euro-Mediterranean statistics.

In addition to these regional activities (common to the 12 Mediterranean countries), it is also foreseen to grant specific bilateral assistance to partners which have too important gaps in one or more fields, provided it is permitted by the national indicative programmes of these countries.

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