Skopje, 18 September 2025 (MIA) - Environmental and health statistics are key to improving and ensuring sustainable policies in agriculture and public health, as well as to reducing the gap with the EU. Statistics is not just maths and numbers, but the foundation of success and of crucial importance to all of us, as they are closely linked to our lives and concern our health, lifespan and the air we breathe. Therefore, it is particularly important to have data you can trust. 

This was the message at the opening of a conference held as part of the EU-funded twinning project "Improving quality and comprehensiveness of environmental and health statistics", organized by the State Statistical Office and the Italian National Institute of Statistics (Istat) in Skopje on Thursday.

Italian Ambassador Paolo Palminteri said in his welcome address that the project focuses on environmental and health statistics that are important for sustainable development and the creation of evidence-based policies, especially at a time when the country is preparing for full-fledged EU membership.

"Twinning projects help build institutional capacities, adopt new standards and strengthen mutual trust and understanding between countries. Italy is proud to be able to contribute on this path. The Italian government, and especially the Minister of Foreign Affairs, is deeply committed to the European integration of Macedonia, which is evident from today's activity," said Palminteri. 

We are convinced, Palminteri pointed out, that this collaboration will make a lasting impact not only in terms of improved data systems, but long-term connections between institutions and professionals.  

Steffen Hudolin, the Head of Cooperation at the EU Delegation, said he was pleased that the experience of EU member states is being used to build the capacities of candidate countries, and EU experts are providing the expertise needed in North Macedonia on its path to the EU.

"Statistics is not just maths and numbers, it is the foundation of success. These two sectors - health and environment - are of crucial importance to all of us. They are closely linked to our lives, they concern our health, our lifespan, what we breathe and particularly, how important it is to have data you can trust. The numbers are there for authorities to use in building policies to reduce the gap between the EU and the candidate countries and improve the lives of their citizens," Hudolin said. 

According to Hudolin, the benefits of the project will only make sense if it is fully implemented. Otherwise, he noted, it will be just a piece of paper.

"North Macedonia's challenge is not the adoption of laws, but their implementation. That is why I believe that we have the expertise here, the colleagues will provide a lot of knowledge, but only if used appropriately, if policymakers take and base their decisions on this data, will a difference be achieved in the quality of life of citizens," said Hudolin. 

Head of the State Statistical Office, Dejan Stankov, told the opening of the conference that statistics in the area of ​​health and environment is key to improving policies and facing the challenges in terms of ensuring sustainable policies in agriculture and public health.

"At times of rapid change in the environment and health, the need for comprehensive and timely data has never been more critical. The project enables the alignment of statistical data, and we have taken important steps to strengthen our capacities for collecting, analysing and disseminating data in the area of ​​health and environment, making them comparable at the regional and European levels," said Stankov.

The State Statistical Office is a beneficiary of several EU projects. "Improving quality and comprehensiveness of environmental and health statistics" is the fourth project that the State Statistical Office uses for the development of professional skills and alignment with the European statistical system.

Photo: MIA