Between 11–12 September 2025, representatives of the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) are participating in the High-Level International Conference "EU Enlargement: The Role of Comparable and Credible Official Statistics", organized in Burgas, Bulgaria, by the National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria and Eurostat. The event also marks the 145 years anniversary of the establishment of official statistics in Bulgaria and highlights the countries over a century- of statistical history and the vital role of data in its development.

The conference aims to highlight the role of official statistics in the EU accession process, with a particular focus on Chapter 18, "Statistics," emphasizing the importance of statistics in society and their role in the process of European integration.

In this context, the event brought together representatives of Eurostat, Directors General of the national statistical offices from EU candidate countries (Moldova, Ukraine, Albania, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Turkey, and potential candidates (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo)), as well as from EU member states (Bulgaria, Romania, Greece, Slovenia, Poland, Croatia). The event provided a platform for discussions on the challenges and priorities of the EU enlargement process, promoting strengthened cooperation and the exchange of experience in the field of statistics.

The conference was opened by Dr. Atanas Atanasov, President of the National Statistical Institute (NSI) of the Republic of Bulgaria, and Dr. Mariana Kotzeva, Director General of Eurostat, who emphasized the importance of statistics and their fundamental role in evidence-based informed decision-making, particularly in the EU enlargement process.

The sessions addressed key topics such as: (1) Main challenges in the EU accession process in the field of statistics; (2) Official statistics as a reliable reference point for information – effective communication "with users, for users"; (3) Adapting official statistics to the future – new data sources and unconventional methods for producing statistical information; (4) The global and regional assessment exercise – an important tool for improving national statistical systems; (5) The South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP).

During the event, Oleg Cara, General Director of the NBS, presented the NBS's experience in using new data sources and innovative methods in the production and dissemination of official statistics, including the national legal framework, data protection, and partnerships that currently provide NBS access to more than 45 alternative data sources (administrative and private), contributing to the expansion of statistical data availability and the streamlining of statistical processes, including reducing the reporting burden on respondents. Particularly, Mr. Oleg Cara highlighted the use of administrative sources in conducting the 2024 Population and Housing Census (PHC 2024), ensuring for the first time the implementation of the combined census method, in line with advanced practices of other countries, thereby contributing to improving the coverage and overall quality of the PHC.

The Burgas conference provided a platform for dialogue and exchange of views among candidate and potential candidate countries and EU member states. It reaffirmed the importance of cooperation and mutual support on the path towards European integration.

The event reconfirmed that comparable and reliable official data are fundamental for strengthening public confidence, as well as for the shared commitment to developing a robust, modern, and innovative statistical system that supports the development of national statistical systems, including the objectives related to the EU accession process of candidate countries.