Eurostat supports the European Community's development cooperation activities in Asia, Central and South America by providing advice on statistical issues. The aim is to help them achieve the goal of regional economic integration, as well as to provide support for individual countries in Asia and Latin America.
Eurostat's activities assist those European Commission services that are directly concerned with development cooperation: RELEX and EuropeAid.
Statistical cooperation in Asia and Latin America is governed by the Development Cooperation and Economic Cooperation Instrument (DCECI). The importance of data as an essential tool in Asian and Latin American development is seen in various ways:
- Accurate, timely, relevant and comparable statistical data provides important input when making informed decisions on economic, social and environmental policies and can strengthen public accountability.
- Reliable Indicators can be used to measure progress towards agreed goals as part of macroeconomic or sectoral budget support programmes.
- Statistical data support negotiations in international trade, regional integration and economic growth and social inclusion objectives.
Eurostat works in regional and sub-regional activities as well as with individual countries. The former are, when possible, implemented in partnership with regional organisations.
