Division 2.3 Technical cooperation with third countries

The interaction between the EU and neighbouring countries and other regions and countries throughout the world requires reliable official statistics about economic and social conditions in those countries. Comprehensive technical cooperation takes place in order to build the statistical capacity of those countries and provide the statistics needed for the management of EU policies. This is especially the case for candidate countries. That cooperation involves the expertise of many partners in the ESS.

The objective in the programme period is to:

• prepare and implement regional development programmes and to ensure a close link between statistical actions and the wider objectives of EU programmes.