The International Monitoring Operation (IMO) for the 2013 Population and Housing Census in Bosnia and Herzegovina held meetings on 8 June 2015 with Chairman of the BiH Council of Ministers Dr Denis Zvizdić and the Statistical Offices, regarding the state of the data processing and preparations for publication of the first census results.

The IMO was established by the European Commission in 2012, upon invitation of the BiH Council of Ministers to ensure that the Census preparations and implementation comply with European and international standards. The IMO is comprised of representatives of EUROSTAT, chairing the Management Group, European Commission Directorate-General NEAR, CoE (Council of Europe), UNSD (United Nations Statistics Directorate), UNECE (United Nations Economic Commission for Europe) and UNFPA (United Nations Population Fund).

The IMO, chaired by Pieter Everaers, Director at EUROSTAT and responsible for Statistical Cooperation with Enlargement Countries, urges the BiH Council of Ministers together with the Statistical Offices to finalise the data processing and preparation for publications. Due to the importance of the census results in the context of the European integration of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the recent entry into force of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement, and the initial reform agenda currently under development, the IMO considers the swift finalisation of the population census of utmost importance.

Only if the census operation is swiftly completed in accordance with international standards will it be possible for national authorities and international stakeholders to develop planning and evidence-based policies on the basis of census results. Considering the importance of the census results in this regard, the IMO counts on the continued commitment of the BiH authorities and good cooperation among the Statistical Offices to finalise the census operation in accordance with the Census Law and recommendations of the IMO.

The IMO urges the statistical offices to close now, after the unfortunate delay of several months, the remaining points in the data processing and preparations for publication of the first results. In order to allow for publication of the results the IMO advises the statistical offices to resolve the outstanding methodological issues, notably with regard to the inclusion in the set of valid census forms of certain questionnaires according to the Census Law and agreed methodology, application of appropriate statistical methods to achieve coherence in the information provided, documentation of the work and effects of specific non-core questions like place of work/study, and proper documentation of the steps taken in the processing of the data.

The IMO underlines, in line with its earlier recommendations, that no manual data editing should take place.
In order to facilitate the work of the statistical offices in the remaining parts of census, the IMO considers appointing a senior official responsible for the coordination of the census work as crucial. Considering the delay of the processing during the last months the IMO is of the opinion that finalisation of the publication of the first results should be possible still this year.

The IMO emphasizes that continued efficient cooperation and commitment from the BiH Council of Ministers and Statistical Offices are necessary to realise this timeline, and the IMO is ready to support BiH in this activity.

Note to Editors

Pieter Everaers, Chair of the IMO and Director at EUROSTAT held meetings with the Chairman of the BiH Council of Ministers, the Directors of the Statistical Offices and the EU Delegation to BiH to discuss the state of play regarding the population and housing census and the IMO recommendations on data processing.