How to better communicate on statistics was the central question that the participants discussed during the two days of the meeting. They considered different but related dimensions of the question in a very lively debate, fed by concrete experiences from EU (Eurostat, INE-Portugal) and MED statistical offices.

The first dimension addressed data visualisation and the way using infographics and other visualisation tools may help give more attractiveness to statistics, taking into account new audiences and new channels of communication such as the social media. After having considered the costs attached to these tools, it was decided to join forces among the MED countries and to share the necessary investments through an exchange of experiences.

The second dimension targeted the communication with the journalists, as a relay for a large dissemination of key statistical data. Both journalists and statisticians produce information but they do it under totally different modalities and goals. For the statistician it is important to know better how the journalists work in order to establish a “win-win” relationship based on mutual trust. Each statistical office developed its own and genuine approach to journalists according its country context and there are thus a lot of experiences to share in this area. Identifying the best practices and making them available to all the partners will be the task of the project for 2018.

The MEDSTAT IV project provides expertise and technical support to promote the harmonisation of statistics in line with EU and international standards in 6 domains: business register and business, trade and balance of payments, energy, labour market, migration and transport. It follows on the previous phase implemented over the period 2010-2013.

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MEDSTAT IV