The Acting Director of the Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia, Branko Josipović, participated in the 74th plenary session of the Conference of European Statisticians, held from 24 to 26 June 2026 in Geneva, Switzerland.
As part of the CES Thematic Discussion on the Impact of Technological and Societal Changes, Acting Director Josipović took part in a panel discussion chaired by Marleen Verbruggen from the Netherlands, together with Patrick Lusyne from Belgium and Francesca Kay from Ireland.
In his contribution, Acting Director Josipović emphasized that the “North Star” for national statistical offices should remain their role as methodological integrators of all data sources — both traditional and new. He underlined that the Statistical Office must continue to safeguard its position as the methodological authority and trusted point within the data ecosystem.
He stressed that no new data source should enter official statistics unless it has undergone a rigorous methodological process and can be clearly explained to users. In this context, trust, transparency and methodological soundness remain essential foundations of official statistics, especially in a period marked by rapid technological innovation, digitalization and the growing use of alternative data sources.
Acting Director Josipović also supported the discussion on how small and medium-sized statistical offices can respond to an expanding role within the data ecosystem while operating with limited resources. He noted that this issue is particularly important for ensuring that modernization remains sustainable, realistic and aligned with the core principles of official statistics.
The participation of the Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia in this high-level discussion confirms its active role in international statistical cooperation and its commitment to strengthening the quality, credibility and relevance of official statistics in a changing data environment.
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