European statistics bolster crisis preparedness, chief of Ukraine’s State Statistics Service says

European countries are beginning to adapt their statistical systems to respond rapidly to emergencies, including those related to war.

Arsen Makarchuk, head of the State Statistic Service of Ukraine made the remarks during a comment to Ukrinform in New York, where he participated in the annual session of the UN Statistical Commission.

Makarchuk noted that at the end of 2024, amendments were made to the European regulation on official statistics. One key innovation is the “statistical response” to extraordinary circumstances, designed to help national statistical offices react to crises. He explained that this approach incorporates lessons from both the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

“The experience shows how statistical agencies can respond to crisis conditions,” Makarchuk said.

During the UN session, he met with several European colleagues to discuss cooperation. “They sense that countries are preparing for emergencies, and this affects statistics – both in terms of optimizing budgets and addressing new challenges that statistics must be ready for,” he added.

Makarchuk emphasized that the changes to European regulations and government requests aim to improve understanding of socio-economic conditions during crises, which increases the demand for timely and accurate statistical data in emergency situations.

As reported by Ukrinform, according to the State Statistics Service data, Ukraine’s industrial production index fell 14.8% in January compared to December 2025, and 8.1% year-on-year.