State Statistical Office of the Republic of Macedonia

This Law specifies the position of the State Statistics in the State administration and its area of work, the methodological and organisational bases of statistical surveys, statistical data collecting, processing, presenting, issuing, storing, confidentiality and protection, and providing of statistical data.

Article 2

The State Statistics is an independent expert activity which, conducted on the scientific bases, for the state administration bodies; local self-government units; trade companies; public enterprises; public services; the public and other users, provides information on conditions and movement of the national economy, human resources, demography and protection of the environment and nature and other areas.

Article 3

Specific terms and expressions used in the context of this Law shall have the following meaning:

- “statistical survey” shall mean preparing, collecting, processing, storing and archiving statistical data, analysis and presentation of statistical data covering areas specified in Article 2 of this Law;

- “reporting units” shall mean data files bearers, legal (i.e. individuals and institutions or enterprises) and natural persons that have been identified as providers of data;

- “statistical data collecting” shall mean concentration of: completed statistical questionnaires and forms, survey materials, information consisted in other media with data from areas specified in Article 2 of this Law.

- “data file” shall mean registers established by law, records specified by law or by general provisions on the basis of the law, databases and databanks kept on the basis of public and other authorizations;

- “database” shall mean data files arranged in compliance with specified rules and standards with a prescribed manner of maintaining, updating and terms of keeping by the bearer of the database;

- “identification data” shall mean individual data enable the direct identification of the reporting unit by the name, address or an officially allocated number;

- “individual data” shall mean information relating to a legal or natural person that is considered as a reporting unit;

- “personal data” shall mean individual data relating to persons;

- “specific categories of personal data” shall mean personal data that reveal racial and ethnic origin, political, religious and other type of affiliation, membership in syndicate organization and data referring to criminal offences and pronounced penalties for committed criminal offences, health condition and sexual lifestyle.

- “data user” shall mean every legal and natural person that needs statistical data.

- “Programme of Statistical Surveys” shall mean an act that establishes the statistical surveys for a multi-annual period in accordance with this law.

- “dissemination of data” shall mean activities for presenting the results from the statistical production and providing access to the statistical data in a form and manner suitable for the data users.

- “statistical registers” shall mean nominal lists of reporting units that are continually updated from all available sources and are used exclusively for statistical purposes.

- “authorized bearers” shall mean and refer to: the State Statistical Office, the National Bank of the Republic of Macedonia and other entities listed in the Programme of Statistical Surveys, which during the data collection, processing and dissemination apply statistical standards, methods and techniques.

- “bearers of administrative data collections" shall mean legal and natural persons that keep those data collections on the basis of specific legal acts and they use them for establishing the rights and obligations of the legal and natural persons.

- “use for statistical purposes only” shall mean use of statistical data exclusively for the development and production of statistical results and analyses,

- “confidential data” shall mean data that enable the direct or indirect identification of a statistical unit, thereby revealing individual information,

- “direct identification” shall mean inferring the identity of a statistical unit through its identification data,

- “indirect identification” shall mean inferring the identity of a statistical unit in any way other than through direct identification.

- “passive confidentiality” shall mean that no measures are taken to protect confidentiality, unless explicitly requested by reporting units when they feel that their interests may be harmed by the dissemination of data.

Article 4

The state statistics shall implement its activities following the principles of professional independence, neutrality, objectivity, reliability, statistical confidentiality and rationality.

Article 4-a

The principles in Article 4 of this Law shall have the following meaning:

- “professional independence” shall mean that matters of official statistics must be carried out based on expert and scientific methods and findings and must be protected from any kind of influence, as well as the time and contents of all forms of dissemination,

-"neutrality" shall mean that the methods and definitions of collecting, processing and disseminating statistical data must be established in an objective and professional manner, unaffected by any influence, in which all users must be treated equally,

- “objectivity" shall mean that statistics must be developed, produced and disseminated in a systematic, reliable and impartial way, by implementing professional and ethical standards, and information on the policies and practices used are publicly available to users and data providers.

- “reliability” shall mean that statistics measure and describe reality in an accurate and consistent manner, by applying scientific criteria for selection of sources, methods and procedures.

- “statistical confidentiality” shall mean that data collected from reporting units through statistical surveys or indirectly, from administrative or other sources, are confidential and shall be used for statistical purposes only, which prohibits the use of data for non-statistical purposes and their illegal disclosure.

- “rationality” shall mean that the costs of production of official statistics should be proportional to the importance of the results and expected benefits, at the same time minimizing the burden on reporting units and achieving optimal use of existing resources.

Article 4-b

The State Statistical Office and other authorized bearers shall develop and disseminate statistical data in accordance with the following quality criteria: relevance, accuracy, timeliness, punctuality, accessibility and clarity, coherence and comparability.

Article 4-c

The criteria in Article 4-b of this Law shall have the following meaning

- “relevance” denotes the degree to which statistics meet current and potential user needs,

- “accuracy” denotes the degree of closeness of statistical calculations to real values,

- “timeliness” denotes the time period between the occurrence of an event and the publication of data describing the event,

- “punctuality” denotes the divergence from the dissemination time schedule according to the Advance Release Calendar,

- “accessibility and clarity” denotes that official statistics must be presented in a clear and understandable manner, disseminated adequately, made available and accessible on an impartial basis and accompanied by relevant metadata,

- “coherence and comparability” denotes that statistics should be consistent internally, over time and comparable between regions and countries; it should be possible to combine and make joint use of related data from different sources.

The quality criteria in Paragraph 1 of this Article are applied in keeping with the European regulations for different statistical areas regarding the structure and periodicity of the quality reports.

Article 4-d

As official data in the Republic of Macedonia, for the surveys envisaged in the Programme of Statistical Surveys, are considered the data that, in accordance with the Programme, are published by the State Statistical Office and authorized bearers.

II. ORGANISATION OF THE STATE STATISTICS

Article 5

The basic tasks in conducting the state statistics activities are performed by the State Statistical Office (hereinafter, the Office) in cooperation with the reporting units, as well as through undertaking statistical data from data files.

Certain statistical surveys are conducted by:

-The National Bank of the Republic of Macedonia and

-other entities listed in the Programme of Statistical Surveys

Statistical surveys conducted by authorized bearers, mentioned in Paragraph 2 of this Article, shall be specified in the Programme of Statistical Surveys.

Article 6

While conducting Statistical Surveys specified in the Programme of Statistical Surveys (hereinafter, the Programme), the authorized bearers perform the following tasks:

- prepare the methodological bases for statistical surveys in accordance with Article 15 of this Law;

- prepare the instruments needed for the realization of the survey in question;

- process and publish results obtained from the statistical surveys;

- perform other tasks in accordance with this Law.

II.1. THE STATE STATISTISTICAL OFFICE

Article 7

The Office shall be an expert and independent administrative organization with competencies established by this Law and other acts.

The Office shall be the coordinator of official statistics of the statistical system of the Republic of Macedonia.

The Office shall organize regional offices on the territory of the Republic of Macedonia.

The number of the regional offices shall be established by the Act of organization and work of the Office.

The Office shall have the status of a "legal person".

Article 8

Within the frames of its basic functions, the Office shall perform the following expert activities:

- it shall prepare the instruments needed for the conducting of statistical surveys;

- it shall collect and process statistical data;

- it shall conduct analyses of statistical data obtained and interpret the results of statistical surveys;

- it shall meet relevant international obligations;

- it shall identify the needs for statistical data;

- it shall store, present and mediate while providing statistical data;

- it shall co-operate with authorized bearers which, in frames of their competencies perform statistical surveys in the area of state statistics;

- it shall present its opinion on methodological basis to the authorized bearers in accordance with Article 17 of this Law;

- it shall present its opinion to authorized bearers while introducing of new statistical surveys, enhancing of the contents of the existing statistical surveys and can be used as a source of data for the State Statistics;

- it shall set organizational and technical measures for individual data protection;

- it shall present initiatives and suggestions to enhance the contents of the existing records and Registers that, according to the Programme of Statistical Surveys, are to be used for statistical surveys;

- it shall prepare statistical forecasts , trends and models;

- it shall perform services for users upon their request;

- it shall establish, keep and maintain statistical data files;

- it shall develop methods and techniques used to protect the confidentiality of individual data and to present the results of statistical surveys;

- it shall prescribe, develop and harmonize methodological basis of statistical surveys;

- it shall implement projects in the area of State Statistics, independently or in co-operation with other bearers;

- it shall establish, keep and maintain statistical registers and databases;

- it shall popularize the statistics and

- it shall perform other tasks specified by this Law and by other relevant acts and provisions.

Article 9

The State Statistical Office is managed by a Director, appointed and dismissed by the Government of the Republic of Macedonia for a period of four years, with a right to be re-appointed.

The Director of the Office has a Deputy Director, appointed and dismissed by the Government of the Republic of Macedonia for a period of four years.

As a Director, or a Deputy Director, can be appointed a person who fulfils the following requirements:

- to be a citizen of the Republic of Macedonia

- to be a distinguished expert and scientific worker in the field of statistics and economy, with at least five years of working experience and

- not to be legally prohibited from performing their profession, activity or duty.

The Director's and Deputy Director's function may end with their dismissal or in case of death.

The Director, or the Deputy Director, may be dismissed:

- if it is on a personal request;

- if convicted of criminal offence to unconditional prison sentence of at least six months and

- in case of unprofessionally, partially and unconscientiously performing their functions and competencies entrusted to them by law.

Article 9-a

The Director of the Office is responsible for deciding on issues concerning expert and methodological issues of the state statistics, and especially:

- the contents and methodology of statistical activities and

- scope and type of data that are collected and disseminated on the basis of the Programme.

The Director of the Office has the right of public announcement in case of misinterpretation and misuse of the statistical data.

The Director of the Office is obligated to protect the professional credibility of official statistics from unprofessional influences of any kind.

II.2. THE STATISTICAL COUNCIL OF THE REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA

Article 10

This Law establishes the Statistical Council of the Republic of Macedonia (further in text: the Council), as an expert advisory body of the state statistics.

Article 11

The Council shall have a President and 14 members appointed and dismissed by the Parliament of the Republic of Macedonia.

The President and the rest of the members are representatives of:

- the Assembly of the Republic of Macedonia from the line of employees, with an occupation of a State Adviser at least - one member;

- the Ministry of Finance - one member;

- the National Bank of the Republic of Macedonia - one member;

- the Association of the Units of Local Self-Government - two members;

- the economic and social council - one member

- the non-governmental organizations - one member;

- the authorized bearers - two members

- the scientific institutions - three members and

- the bodies of the state administration - two members.

The Director of the Office is an ex officio member of the Council.

Members of the Council shall be appointed for a term of four years, with a possibility to be re-appointed.

The Office shall perform the administrative and technical tasks needed for the Council.

The financial means necessary for the Council’s operations are provided from the funds of the Budget of the Republic of Macedonia allocated to the State Statistical Office.

Article 12

The Council shall perform the following duties:

- it shall discuss the guidelines and bases of the Programme of Statistical Surveys;

- it shall present its opinion on the proposal for passing the Programme of Statistical Surveys;

- it shall present its suggestions and proposals on methodological bases of the statistical surveys to the Office and authorized bearers;

- it shall submit to the Office its proposals regarding the amendments and supplements to be implemented to the Programme of Statistical Surveys;

- it shall present its opinion on the proposed amendments and supplements to the Programme of Statistical Surveys;

- it shall give opinion on the Annual Report on implementation of the Programme of Statistical Surveys;

- it shall present its opinion on act proposals and other legal acts referring to the State Statistics;

- it shall advice modernization and rationalization of the State Statistics;

- it shall advice progress in the area of statistical international co-operation;

- the Council shall present the Annual Report of its work to the Parliament of the Republic of Macedonia and

- it shall pass the Guidelines for General Work.

Article 13

The Director of the Office may establish commissions for specific areas (further in text, commissions).

Commissions from Paragraph 1 of this Article shall be comprised of experts and their tasks shall be to ensure scientific advice and assistance in the development of statistical methodologies, nomenclatures and standards.

III. METHODOLOGICAL BASES OF THE STATISTICAL SURVEYS

Article 14

Methodological bases of statistical surveys shall comprise the following terms of reference:

- setting the procedures to select reporting units;

- identifying the obligatory contents of the statistical survey;

- identifying definitions, and standards to be applied in statistical surveys;

- specifying the cases where reporting is to be obligatory;

- identifying the structure and the extent of aggregation of the data obtained from the statistical survey.

Article 15

Methodological bases of the statistical surveys shall be specified by the Office and authorized bearers.

Methodological bases that are not adjusted in accordance with relevant internationally accepted norms and standards are carried out by the authorized bearers, after prior opinion of the Office.

The Office shall be obliged to issue its opinion concerning the methodological bases suggested by an authorized bearer in a period of 15 days following the receipt of the relevant request.

Article 16

The methodological bases of the statistical surveys specified in the Programme of Statistical Surveys shall be published in the "Official Gazette of the Republic of Macedonia".

Article 17

The Government bodies and other bearers of data files, while their establishing or their supplementing with data, if they will be also used for statistical surveys, receive written opinion for the methodological bases from the Office.

In cases as described in Paragraph 1 of this Article, the Office shall provide its opinion in a period of 15 days following the receipt of the relevant request.

Article 18

During the realization of the statistical surveys, uniform standards covering classifications and nomenclatures shall be used.

Standards mentioned in Paragraph 1 of this Article shall be established by the Government of the Republic of Macedonia and published in the "Official Gazette of the Republic of Macedonia".

Article 19

The uniform identifications i.e. references in records and registers shall cover:

- specifying units of records and registers;

- identifications i.e. references;

- methodologies of managing (keeping, updating);

- interrelation function;

- bases of data and information confidentiality protection and

- data on recording units and other.

Uniform identifications i.e. references, records and registers specified by Law or by a general act or provision, shall be used while conducting the statistical surveys.

IV. PROGRAMME OF STATISTICAL SURVEYS

Article 20

The Programme of Statistical Surveys shall be passed by the Government of the Republic of Macedonia.

The proposal to pass the Programme of Statistical Surveys shall be prepared by the Office in co-operation with the authorized bearers.

The Programme of Statistical Surveys shall be approved for a period of five years and it can be changed or supplemented once a year.

The text of the Programme of Statistical Surveys shall be published in "The Official Gazette of the Republic of Macedonia".

Article 21

An Annual Report on the implementation of the Programme of Statistical Surveys shall be prepared by the Office and submitted to the Government of the Republic of Macedonia until the 31st May in the current for the previous year.

The authorized bearers have an obligation to submit data to the Office for preparation of the Annual Report until the 31st March in the current for the previous year.

Article 22

The Programme of Statistical Surveys shall specify:

- the name and identification of each statistical survey;

- the contents of each statistical survey;

- reporting units;

- the critical moment or period of each statistical surveys;

- the term or deadline by which data for each Statistical Survey shall be provided;

- the relevant international standards;

- the name of the bearer conducting the statistical survey;

- the term or deadline by which data for each statistical survey shall be processed and published and

- data that shall be published obligatory.

Article 23

The execution of the Census of Population, Households and Dwellings and the Agricultural Census is regulated by separate laws.

V. DATA FILES

Article 24

In order to rationalize the implementation of the Programme and to successfully meet other requirements in compliance with this Law, the Office shall use data from the data files.

Article 25

The administrative data files may be used as data sources for statistical surveys in all cases, if data protection is provided in accordance with this Law, with the exception of cases where those data cannot be used for statistical purposes when strictly determined by the Law introducing them.

Data files bearers, specified by the relevant act that covers establishing of data files, are hereby obliged to provide the Office with all data contained in data files and also are necessary to the implementation of the statistical surveys.

Following the taking over the data from data files, the Office shall form, store and keep them in its databases together with all data previously collected.

VI. STATISTICAL REGISTERS

Article 25-a

The State Statistical Office uses data from administrative data files, censuses, statistical surveys and data collected through the method of observation and monitoring, for organizing and keeping the statistical registers.

The State Statistical Office has the right to adjust the data gained from the administrative data files for their harmonization with the definitions and standards that are used for the statistical registers which are being kept by the Office.

The contents, the form, and the manner of keeping and use of the data from the statistical registers from Paragraph 1 of this Article, are regulated with a Rule Book enacted by the Director of the Office.

Article 25-b

The data from the statistical registers cannot be given to data users in a form and a manner that enables recognition of the reporting unit the data refer to. "

Article 25-c

The data from statistical registers are exclusively used for statistical purposes.

Under statistical purpose according to Paragraph 1 of this Article is understood use of data from the statistical registers for selection of reporting units for statistical surveys and sample selection.

VII. DATA COLLECTION, PROCESSING AND STORAGE

Article 26

The reporting units shall provide the Office with statistical data established in compliance with the Law and with Programme of Statistical Surveys, free of charge.

Reporting units are hereby obliged to keep adequate records of data they shall provide for statistical surveys.

The Office is hereby obliged to inform the reporting units about the contents and obligation of keeping adequate records mentioned in Paragraph 2 in advance, i.e. before beginning of terms specified.

Reporting units shall apply relevant valid standards in the managing of their administrative data sources, which are also to be used in specific statistical surveys.

Data for statistical surveys specified in the Programme of Statistical Surveys shall be collected by means of statistical questionnaires, forms, direct data acquisition from the adequate reporting units' documentation or from administrative data files.

The data for statistical surveys, besides the manner stated in Paragraph 5 of this Article, can also be collected in an electronic form.

Article 27

The Office and the authorized bearers are hereby obliged to inform the reporting units on certain aspects prior to taking a survey. These aspects include:

- the legal basis for data collection;

- the aim of data collection;

- the name of the body in charge for data collection and data processing;

- the data protection;

- the scope of data and the manner of data collection and

- whether the reporting unit is obliged to present its data.

Article 28

The statistical forms and all other instruments to be used in the conduction of the statistical survey shall contain:

- a reference to the legal basis for the conduction of that particular survey;

- the name of the bearer or institution which is in charge of conducting that particular survey;

- the name and the contents of the statistical survey;

- the obligation for data protection.

Article 29

The Director of the Office shall sign the written authorization to persons who collect data directly from reporting units (interviewers, estimators, enumerators etc.) and to persons who provide control of the data afterwards.

Each written authorization from Paragraph 1 of this Article shall contain the following references: the name and family name of the person to which it refers, their Unique Reference Number (i.e. social security number), their permanent address, the name of the statistical surveys of which they have been authorized to, whether to collect or control data, their responsibility for the protection of the confidentiality of data collected i.e. checked and the term of validity of the written authorization itself.

The written authorization from Paragraph 1 of this Article shall be valid only if accompanied with the I.D of the person to which it refers and the person in possession of such an authorization is obliged to present their authorization before the data collecting or checking to the reporting unit.

Article 30

Reporting units, in accordance with the Programme, are obliged to submit complete and accurate data to the Office within the specified deadline.

If the data are not submitted at all, not submitted within the specified deadline, or are incomplete and inaccurate, the reporting units are obliged to submit or supplement the data within a specified period, after being notified in writing by the Office.

The written notification in Paragraph 2 of this Article is delivered by the Office to the reporting unit within ten days of establishing that data have not been submitted at all, have not been submitted within the specified deadline, or that submitted data are incomplete and inaccurate.

Article 31

Data from statistical surveys that are performed according to the territorial principle shall also be published at the level of local self-government units.

During the publishing of data from Paragraph 1 of this Article, provisions concerning data protection, specified in this and other relevant acts, shall be applied.

Article 32

Data collected in accordance with the Programme shall be stored (i.e. archived) at the Office and also at the authorized bearers in compliance with relevant prescribed norms and standards.

The original materials (i.e. documentation) that contain data from reporting units obtained in accordance with the Programme shall be stored for time periods necessary for achieving the purpose for which they have been collected.

The Director of the Office or the person managing the authorized bearer shall determine the time frames from Paragraph 2 of this Article within the framework of their competencies.

Article 33

The final results of all Statistical Surveys specified in the Programme of Statistical Surveys shall be aggregated and, as such, kept i.e. stored permanently, in a manner and procedure defined by the Director of the Office or by the manager of the authorized bearer within the framework of their competencies.

VIII. DATA PROTECTION

Article 34

The Office and other authorized bearers shall collect and exchange individual data for statistical purposes, for statistical surveys specified in the Programme of Statistical Surveys and by other relevant acts.

As an exception to Paragraph 1 of this Article data collected for non- statistical purposes may be used for the needs of statistical surveys specified in the Programme of Statistical Surveys or by Law.

Identification data collected in compliance with the Programme of Statistical Surveys may be used for developing data files to be used for statistical purposes (when selecting a sample etc.).

Article 35

Individual data to be collected, processed and released for statistical purposes shall be used for statistical purposes only. Individually, these data shall not be used either to pass any decision whatsoever regarding the legal person or natural person they refer to, or compiled and placed in other data files which are used for non-statistical purposes.

Article 35-a

In cases when it is necessary to evaluate the methodology or quality of the source of data necessary for the statistical surveys or censuses, the Office and the authorized bearers may conduct pilot surveys even if such surveys have not been envisaged in the Programme of Statistical Surveys.

Data collected by the surveys from Paragraph 1 of this Article shall not be considered official statistical data.

Article 36

In cases when individual data are collected immediately from the reporting unit, the latter shall be informed of the data from Article 27 of this Law.

In cases when individual data are taken over from other data files, the legal person or natural person concerned in the same shall be informed thereupon in a certain manner, except in cases when that information is unavailable or it requires unreasonable effort to conduct.

Article 37

Special categories of personal data that are subject of statistical processing are collected in a form that shall not permit identification of the referring person.

As an exception to Paragraph 1 of this Article is that if for processing of special categories of personal data, identification of the person the data refer to is necessary, then additional measures of protection will be provided including separation of identification data while still in the phase of data collecting, unless this is obviously unreal or impractical.

The Personal Identification Number of the citizen can be used exclusively in the phase of collecting the special categories of personal data for statistical purposes.

The Personal Identification Number of the citizen, after its input in the data collection, has to be separated from the content variables subsequently, and can only be reused for monitoring the same content of variables over time if the Programme of Statistical Surveys explicitly provides for longitudinal data files.

Article 38

All personal data collected for statistical purposes shall be subject to confidentiality protection procedures specified by this Law and the Law on Personal Data Protection ("Official Gazette of the Republic of Macedonia" No.07/05).

In connection with personal data collecting, in accordance with this Law and regarding the rights of data subjects, Article 16 of the Law on Personal Data Protection shall be applied.

Provisions from Paragraph 1 and 2 of this Article shall apply also to the individual data of legal persons that are defined as reporting units.

Article 39

Persons employed at the Office and at the authorized bearers, for a definite or an indefinite period of time, as well as persons engaged in data collection on the basis of working contracts or those who during their work have access to individual data, are hereby obliged to treat these data as confidential during and after the termination of their employment or work contract engagement.

Persons from Paragraph 1 of this Article, prior to obtaining access to individual data, shall sign a statement for protection of statistical confidentiality, by means of which they will be informed about their responsibilities with respect to personal data protection.

Article 40

Following the completion of data processing, individual data collected and processed for statistical purposes shall be stored and kept until publishing the final results.

As an exception, the data from Paragraph 1 of this Article may be kept longer in favor of purposes specified in Paragraph 3 Article 34 of this Law, but the longest until accomplishing the purpose for which they are kept.

Article 41

The Office and the authorized bearers from Article 6 of this Law, on the basis of written request, can submit individual data without identification data on the reporting unit exclusively to Scientific Institutions for scientific and research purposes, only if the data user ensures all protection measures prescribed by this Law and by other relevant regulations.

The written request from Paragraph 1 of this Article must contain the purpose, the legal basis of using the individual data and the category of individual data which are requested.

A specific agreement is signed for using data from Paragraph 1 of this Article, on the basis of which the data user is obliged to use the data according to the purpose stated in the request and will not submit them for insight or usage to unauthorized persons, and after the usage to destroy the data.

The data users themselves shall reimburse the data preparation costs from Paragraph 1 of this article.

The specific conditions and the manner of using individual data are prescribed by the Director of the Office or the manager of the authorized bearer.

Article 42

The statistical results will be available for use and shall be published provided that these results shall not be used for identification of subjects (legal person or natural person) the results refer to, unless data subject has given an approval.

Article 43

To provide the protection of the confidentiality of individual data collected for statistical purposes, measures against unauthorized access shall be taken, submitting or any kind of unauthorized processing, as well as measures preventing the destruction, loss, modification, misuse or unauthorized use of data.

The Director of the Office or the manager of the authorized bearer shall establish the measures and techniques for maintaining the safety of data collected according to the Programme of Statistical Surveys.

IX. DATA DISSEMINATION

Article 44

The statistical data, published in accordance with the Programme of Statistical Surveys, are public and made available.

The results of the statistical surveys shall be published by the Office and authorized bearers.

The authorized bearers shall submit to the Office a copy of the results from Statistical Surveys that shall be published in accordance with the Programme.

The Office shall publish integral publications concerning statistical surveys prescribed in the Programme of Statistical Surveys.

Article 45

The Office and the authorized bearers are obligated to prepare, maintain and regularly update an Advance Release Calendar.

The Calendar in Paragraph 1 of this Article contains the name of the release being published and the date of publication, and it is published on the web sites of the authorized bearers and the Office.

Article 46

The Office and authorized bearers may provide their users, upon request from the latter, with certain results of a survey of their own, in a manner not specified by the Programme of Statistical Surveys unless this procedure does not confront the provisions covering the data protection area.

The users themselves, except government bodies, reimburse the total costs of the whole operation of data preparing in accordance with Paragraph 1 of this Article.

Article 47

As an exception, individual data on legal persons collected for statistical purposes may be made public or provided in cases where:

- there is a written approval from the reporting unit to which they relate;

- the data in question have been taken from public (universally accessible) data files such as registers, written records, databases etc.;

- the data have been made publicly available by the reporting unit, and

- the statistical data refer to areas for which, according to international standards, the principle of passive confidentiality is applied.

The written approval mentioned under Indent 1, Paragraph 1 of this Article may be withdrawn at any moment and without any explanation or justification from the reporting unit.

Article 48

The Office shall publish various communications, publications, working documents, analyses, studies and other kinds of publication materials that shall contain the results of their statistical surveys.

Entities that are to be provided with publication material free of charge shall be specified by relevant act approved by the Government of the Republic of Macedonia.

The prices of publication materials from Paragraph 1 of this Article and of services in the preparation of data in a manner as described in Article 46 of this Law - shall be prescribed by the Office.

Prices of publication materials from Paragraph 3 of this Article shall be approved by the Government of the Republic of Macedonia.

Article 48-a

Within the system of official statistics, the Office acts as a coordinator in the frames of international statistical cooperation.

In performing the international obligations, the Office, in cooperation with other authorized bearers, must ensure the comparability of data with other European countries, observe and implement international standards including the European Statistics Code of Practice, and actively participate in the development of official statistics at the international level.

X. INTERNATIONAL STATISTICAL COOPERATION

Article 49

In performing the international obligations, the Office, in cooperation with authorized bearers within the frames and in the context of their statistical surveys, shall cooperate and exchange data with other state and international organizations.

Copies of all data submitted or transferred by authorized bearers within the frames of international statistical co-operation and in compliance with this Article shall be submitted to the Office as well.

As an exception to Paragraph 2 of this Article, in cases when data submitted by authorized bearers are to be adjusted to the relevant international statistical norms and standards - prior approval on this matter from the Office shall be required.

While conducting activities from Paragraph 1 of this Article, the Office and authorized bearers shall co-operate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and if necessary with other government administration bodies.

Article 49-a

The transferring of confidential data for which direct identification between the State Statistical Office and the corresponding national institutions of the EU members and the Community's bodies is not permitted, can be done only if that transferring is necessary for producing of specific statistics of the Community.

Any other further data transferring has to be approved by the Office.

Article 49-b

The Office and the other authorized bearers can transfer individual data in other states without identification data on the reporting unit they refer to, on a request by statistical organizations and statistical services of international organizations, for statistical purposes and scientific researches, only if all measures for protection and data transfer are ensured in accordance with this Law and with the procedure defined by the Law on Personal Data Protection.

Article 50

To conduct its activities, the Office may join international organizations and co-operate with them, following previous approval obtained by the Government of the Republic of Macedonia.

Funds to cover the membership fee in cases from Paragraph 1 of this Article shall be provided through the Budget of the Republic of Macedonia.

Article 51

The international statistical co-operation shall include:

- preparing statistical data in accordance with relevant international and inter-state agreements that the Republic of Macedonia has signed and accepted as such;

- cooperation with international and regional organizations and associations that the Republic of Macedonia is a member of;

- participation in the preparing of international publications;

- participation in the implementation of international projects;

- cooperation with statistical bodies and institutions of other countries in the area of statistics;

- preparing and submitting statistical data upon request from foreign users.

Article 52

Regarding data protection in the area of international statistical co-operation, the provisions from this Act and the Act on Personal Data Confidentiality Protection shall be applied in all cases.

XI. STATE STATISTICS FUNDING

Article 53

Funds to cover the implementation i.e. conducting the Programme shall be provided from the Budget of the Republic of Macedonia.

All revenues earned by the Office through its statistical activities shall be transferred onto a separate gyro account - account for own revenues.

XII. OFFENCE PROVISIONS

Article 54

A fine of 1500 to 5000 EUR in MKD equivalent will be imposed for an offence on the legal person that does not have the status of a trade company and that shall fail to submit requested data to the Office in accordance with Article 30 of this Law.

A fine of 1000 to 2000 EUR in MKD equivalent will be imposed on the responsible or official person of the legal person for the offence from Paragraph 1 of this Article.

Article 54-a

A fine of 1000 to 3000 EUR in MKD equivalent will be imposed for an offence on the legal person that does not have the status of a trade company and that shall fail to submit complete and accurate data to the Office in accordance with Article 30 of this Law.

A fine of 750 to 1500 EUR in MKD equivalent will be imposed on the responsible or official person of the legal person for the offence from Paragraph 1 of this Article.

Article 54-b

A fine of 500 to 2000 EUR in MKD equivalent will be imposed for an offence on the legal person that does not have the status of a trade company and that shall fail to submit data to the Office within the time frames specified in Article 30 of this Law.

A fine of 300 to 1000 EUR in MKD equivalent will be imposed on the responsible or official person of the legal person for the offence from Paragraph 1 of this Article.

Article 54-c

For an offence committed by a trade company that shall fail to submit requested data to the Office in accordance with Article 30 of this Law, the following shall be imposed:

- a fine of 1000 to 1500 EUR in MKD equivalent for an offence committed by a micro-sized commercial entity,

- a fine of 1500 to 2500 EUR in MKD equivalent for an offence committed by a small-sized commercial entity,

- a fine of 2500 to 3500 EUR in MKD equivalent for an offence committed by a medium-sized commercial entity,

- a fine of 3500 to 5000 EUR in MKD equivalent for an offence committed by a large-sized commercial entity.

For the offence from Paragraph 1 of this Article, a fine shall be imposed on:

- the responsible person of the legal person – micro-sized commercial entity, in the amount of 250 to 500 EUR in MKD equivalent,

- the responsible person of the legal person – small-sized commercial entity, in the amount of 500 to 1000 EUR in MKD equivalent,

- the responsible person of the legal person – medium-sized commercial entity, in the amount of 1000 to 1500 EUR in MKD equivalent,

- the responsible person of the legal person – large-sized commercial entity, in the amount of 1500 to 2000 EUR in MKD equivalent.

Article 54-d

For an offence committed by a trade company that shall fail to submit complete and accurate data to the Office in accordance with Article 30 of this Law, the following shall be imposed:

- a fine of 500 to 1000 EUR in MKD equivalent for an offence committed by a micro-sized commercial entity,

- a fine of 1000 to 2000 EUR in MKD equivalent for an offence committed by a small-sized commercial entity,

- a fine of 2000 to 3000 EUR in MKD equivalent for an offence committed by a medium-sized commercial entity,

- a fine of 3000 to 4000 EUR in MKD equivalent for an offence committed by a large-sized commercial entity,

For the offence from Paragraph 1 of this Article, a fine shall be imposed on:

- the responsible person of the legal person – micro-sized commercial entity, in the amount of 200 to 400 EUR in MKD equivalent,

- the responsible person of the legal person – small-sized commercial entity, in the amount of 400 to 800 EUR in MKD equivalent,

- the responsible person of the legal person – medium-sized commercial entity, in the amount of 800 to 1200 EUR in MKD equivalent,

- the responsible person of the legal person – large-sized commercial entity, in the amount of 1200 to 1500 EUR in MKD equivalent.

Article 54-e

For an offence committed by a trade company that shall fail to submit data to the Office within the time frames specified in Article 30 of this Law, the following shall be imposed:

- a fine of 300 to 800 EUR in MKD equivalent for an offence committed by a micro-sized commercial entity,

- a fine of 800 to 1500 EUR in MKD equivalent for an offence committed by a small-sized commercial entity,

- a fine of 1500 to 2000 EUR in MKD equivalent for an offence committed by a medium-sized commercial entity,

- a fine of 2000 to 3000 EUR in MKD equivalent for an offence committed by a large-sized commercial entity,

For the offence from Paragraph 1 of this Article, a fine shall be imposed on:

- the responsible person of the legal person – micro-sized commercial entity, in the amount of 100 to 300 EUR in MKD equivalent,

- the responsible person of the legal person – small-sized commercial entity, in the amount of 200 to 600 EUR in MKD equivalent,

- the responsible person of the legal person – medium-sized commercial entity, in the amount of 600 to 1000 EUR in MKD equivalent,

- the responsible person of the legal person – large-sized commercial entity, in the amount of 1000 to 1200 EUR in MKD equivalent.

Article 55

A fine of 1750 to 3500 EUR in MKD equivalent will be imposed for an offence on legal person that shall offence the provisions on protection of individual data provided on the basis of Article 41 or, if it fails to ensure or to implement the data protection measures or, if it uses them not in accordance with the purposes that allowed its provision (Article 46 Paragraphs 1 and 2).

For the offence from Paragraph 1 of this Article, a fine of 700 to 1400 EUR in MKD equivalent will be imposed on the responsible person of the legal person or an official person or sole proprietor.

For the offence from Paragraph 1 of this Article, a fine of 350 to 700 EUR in MKD equivalent will be imposed on an adult natural person that, on the basis of employment or on the basis of working contract, has had access to individual data.

Article 56

A fine of 700 to 1400 EUR in MKD equivalent shall be imposed for an offence on the responsible person in the Office or in the authorized bearer and the person from Article 44 Paragraph 1 of this Law if they fail to implement the measures prescribed on data protection.

Article 57

A fine of 700 to 1400 EUR in MKD equivalent shall be imposed for an offence on the responsible person of the authorized body for maintaining a data file by relevant act specifying its establishing, should they fail to meet the requirement of the Office for specific data (Article 27, Paragraph 2).

Article 58

A fine of 700 to 1400 EUR in MKD equivalent shall be imposed for an offence on the responsible person of the authorized body for maintaining a data file by relevant act specifying its establishing, should they fail to ask for a written approval from the Office prior to introducing any changes and amendments to it whatsoever (Article 19, Paragraph 1).

Article 58-a

The classification of the trade companies in Articles 54-c, 54-d and 54-e of this Law is performed in accordance with article 470 of the Company Law (Official Gazette of the Republic of Macedonia No. 28/2004, 84/2005, 25/2007, 87/2008, 42/10, 48/10 and 24/11)

Article 58-b

For the offences established under this Law, proceedings are carried out by a competent court.

Before submitting a request for initiation of offence proceedings for offences envisaged in this Law, a settlement procedure shall be initiated in accordance with the Law on Misdemeanors.

XIII. TRANSITIONAL AND CLOSING PROVISIONS

Article 59

The Statistical Office of the Republic of Macedonia shall continue to work within competencies specified by this Law and other relevant acts.

General acts on organization and systematization of the work shall be passed by the Director of the Office in period of three months following the entry into force of this Law.

Article 60

By the entry into force of this Law, the following two Laws shall no more be valid: the Law on Statistical Surveys of Interest to the Republic ("Official Gazette of SRM" No. 5/74 and 20/88) and the Law on Statistical Surveys of Interest to the Whole Country ("Official Gazette of SFRY" No. 39/77, 63/86 and 44/89).

Article 61

This Law shall enter into force on the eighth day after its publication in the "Official Gazette of the Republic of Macedonia".