STATISTICS AND COMPONENT AUTHORITIES

- The Republika Srpska Institute of Statistiics, the main competent authority for organizing, producing and disseminating statistics in the Entity of Republika Srpska, in line with the Law on Statistics of Republika Srpska

- Other authorized bodies and organizations for production of statistics from the field they are authorized, determined by the Law on statistics of RS and by the statistical program of Republika Srpska, which are:

Relations between Republika Srpska Institute of Statistics, the Agency for Statistics and Republika Srpska authorized producers

Relations between Entity Institutes and the Agency for Statistics are laid down by The article 18 of the Law on statistics of BiH and also regulated by the Agreement on the implementation of harmonized methodologies and standards in preparing the statistical data of BiH.

Relations between the Institute and authorized bodies and organizations are based on the mutual cooperation as laid down by the articles 22 and 23 of the Law on statistics of Republika Srpska and cooperation agreements:

STATISTICAL COUNCIL OF REPUBLIKA SRPSKA

The law establishes the Statistical Council of Republika Srpska (link to article 15 of the law on statistics of Republika Srpska). The Council, as professional and advisory body for the strategic and development issues of organization and production of the statistics, gives opinion in relation to the preparation and implementation of the Program, functioning and further development of the statistics.

The Council consists of director of the Institute of Statistics and four members that are appointed by the Government of Republika Srpska in accordance with the qualifications, reputation and professional knowledge from the field of statistics.

The Government of Republika Srpska appoints four members of the Council for the period of four year.

Director of the Institute of Statistics is the chairman of the Statistical Council by his function.

STATISTICAL LEGISLATION

Organization of the statistics in Republika Srpska, its scope of work, authorities, responsibilities and other issues of importance for the production of statistics is defined by the Law on Statistics of Republika Srpska.

 Law on Statistics of Republika Srpska

The Law on Statistics stipulates that it is The Republika Srpska Institute of Statistics which determines methodology and standards for the implementation of the Program on the level of Republika Srpska. It also stipulates the use of uniform methodologies and uniform statistical standards, harmonized with BiH standards and standards of the UN European commission for Europe in the production of statistics. Authorized producers of statistics must get the opinion of Institute of Statistics on draft methodologies and standards.

The Law on statistics is based on the UN Principles of Official statistics: impartiality, reliability, transparency, timeliness, professional independence and statistical confidentiality and on quality commitment. The law on statistics of Republika Srpska is harmonized with Law on statistics of BiH.

Other principles are incorporated in strategic documents (mid-term statistical programs, as the values of the three statistical institutions of BIH).

Statistical Program of Republika Srpska Institute of Statistics

Statistical Program of Agency for Statistics of BiH for 2009 - 2012

Statistical Program of Republika Srpska Institute for 2009 - 2012 of Statistics which determines for a four-year period the statistical activities that are to be carried out by the Republika Srpska Institute of Statistics and by other authorized producers of statistics from the field they are authorized.

Implementation of statistical activities, defined by the Statistical Program of Republika Srpska, provides implementation of the four-year Statistical Program of BIH.

Other authorized bodies and organizations defined by the Statistical Programs of Republika Srpska are:

The Work Plan of Republika Srpska Institute of Statistics

The Work Plan of Republika Srpska Institute of Statistics for 2009 includes activities, determined by the four year Statistical Program, defined for each year.

Republika Srpska Institute of Statistics yearly reports to the Government of Republika Srpska on the implementation of the work Plan, that includes all other authorized producers. The Report on the implementation of the Work Plan contains information about the results of statistical activities and problems regarding implementation of the Work Plan.

UN PRINCIPLES OF OFFICIAL STATISTICS AND EU REQUIREMENTS

The United Nations Principles of Official Statistics, a set of 10 principles,  were developed in order to set the role of official statistics and to provide guideliness for the functioning of statistical systems as welll as to help and stimulate the process of development and harmonization of official statistics nationally and internationally. Statistical agencies are obliged to adhere to the principles.The principles also require that the authorised producers of statistics have to organise their statistical activities separately from other activities and fully respect other principles.

Official statistics of Republika Srpska has to take into account  statistical legislation of European Union, as comprised in Statistical Requirements Compendium, international recommendations and other principles and best practices guiding the work of statistical institutions,  in line with current midterm statistical Program of BiH and Republika Srpska and annual Plans of BHAS and Republika Srpska Institute of Statistics.