Article 286. The Parties shall develop and strengthen their cooperation on statistical issues, thereby contributing to the long-term objective of providing timely, internationally comparable and reliable statistical data. It is expected that a sustainable, efficient and professionally independent national statistical system shall produce information relevant for citizens, businesses and decision-makers in Georgia and in the EU, enabling them to take informed decisions on this basis. The national statistical system should respect the UN Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics, taking into account the EU acquis in statistics, including the European Statistics Code of Practice, in order to align the national statistical system with the European norms and standards. Cooperation shall aim at:
(a) further strengthening the capacity of the national statistical system, focusing on the sound legal basis, production of adequate data and metadata, dissemination policy and user friendliness, taking into account various groups of users, in particular public and private sectors, academic community and other users;
(b) progressive alignment of the statistical system of Georgia with the European Statistical System;
(c) fine-tuning of data provision to the EU, taking into account the application of relevant international and European methodologies, including classifications;
(d) enhancing the professional and management capacity of the national statistical staff to facilitate the application of European statistical standards and to contribute to the development of the Georgian statistical system;
(e) exchanging experience between the Parties on the development of statistical know-how, and
(f) promoting total quality management of all statistical production processes and dissemination.
