Rules for the Structure and Activities of the Scientific-Expert Council in the NSI

 

 

 

I. GENERAL PROVISIONS

 

Art. 1. These rules regulate the structure, activities and the organization of work of the Scientific-expert council (SEC) in the National Statistical Institute (NSI), hereinafter referred to as the Council.

Art. 2. The SEC is a collective consultative body to the President of NSI.

Art. 3. (1) The President of the NSI determines the members of the SEC by an ordinance.

Art. 4. The SEC assist the President of the NSI in the activities related to the adoption of methodologies and methods for all new surveys, adoption of methodologies and methods for existing surveys, adoption of good statistical practice and in organising and conducting of trainings for the experts-statisticians in the NSI.

Art. 5. While carrying out their activities, the members of the SEC shall apply the principles of professional independence, loyalty, openness, accessibility, coordination and efficiency in their work.

Art. 6. The SEC works according to an annual plan-programme approved by the President of the NSI and submits annually activity reports to the President of the NSI.

 

 

Art. 7. The Council shall carry out the following activities:

1. adopt a draft of the annual plan-programme which is to be approved by the President of the NSI;

2. give opinions and recommendations in providing methodological uniformity in statistical surveys for the entire National Statistical System;

3. consult and give an opinion on the approval of changes in the methodologies and statistical tools of the surveys included in the National Statistical Programme;

4. give opinions and recommendations in providing methodological and methodical assistance and propose measures to improve the quality of statistical surveys, conducted by the statistical authorities in accordance with the Code of Practice;

5. consult, give opinions and make suggestions during the preparation of plans, guidelines and content of training programs aiming to enhance the professional competence of the employees-statisticians of the NSI;

6. make proposals and methodologically assist the conduction of thematic discussions and conferences with the participation of recognized experts from international and national scale, including academics and the NSI;

7. make a proposal to the President of the NSI for the status and composition of the editorial board of "Statistics" magazine, including the chief editor;

8. adopt an activity report which is to be submitted to the President of the NSI.

 

                                                                 

Art. 8. As members of the SEC shall be appointed individuals from the academic community, as well as leading experts from the NSI.

Art. 9. (1) The SEC consists of a chairman, deputy chairman, secretary and members.

(2) The maximum number of members of the council shall not exceed 17 persons. The specific number of the members of the council shall be determined by an ordinance of the President of the NSI according to art. 3.

(3) The chairman, deputy chairman and secretary of the SEC shall be elected at a meeting of the council by a qualified majority of two-thirds of its members.

(4) The chairman of the SEC:

1. manages, organizes and coordinates the overall activities of the SEC;

2. proposes to the President of the NSI to approve the annual plan-program and the activity report of the SEC;

3. if necessary, shall make a reasoned proposal to the President of the NSI for changes in the composition of the SEC;

4. establishes contacts and interaction with other statistical authorities, scientific institutions and organizations on matters of competence of the SEC.

(5) The functions of the chairman of the SEC in his absence shall be performed by the deputy chairman of the SEC.

Art. 10. (1) The secretary of the SEC assists the chairman of the SEC in:

1. preparing the agenda and distributing of materials for the meetings;

2. keeping the minutes of meetings;

3. maintain an electronic register of the decisions of the SEC;

4. implementing the overall coordination and communication on the educational and methodological issues with external experts, researchers, institutions and organizations.

Art. 11. (1) Mandate of the council members is four years, with no limit to the number of mandates.

(2) Mandate of the members of the council shall be terminated early:

1. upon their written request;

2. in the case of actual inability to perform their duties for more than nine months;

3. not participating in three consecutive meetings of the council without valid reasons;

4. upon entry into force of a judicial act for intentionally committed indictable offense or deprivation by a court of law to occupy the respective position;

5. upon entry into force of an act by which a conflict of interest is established under the Conflict of Interest Prevention and Ascertainment Act;

6. In case of death.

(3) Upon early termination of the mandate of a member of the council, the President of the NSI may assign another person for the rest of the mandate.

Art. 12. For participation in the council meetings external experts shall receive remuneration foreseen in these Rules.

 

 

Art. 13. (1) The sessions of the SEC are regular and extraordinary.

(2) Regular sessions shall be convened by the chairman of the SEC at least once every three months.

(3) Extraordinary sessions of the SEC shall be convened by the chairman of the SEC in case of necessity or at the request of at least one third of the council members.

(4) For each session minutes are compiled. The minutes shall be signed by the chairman and the secretary of the council.

(5) the minutes shall be submitted to the members of the SEC for information, and before the signing of the minutes, they shall be cohered in advance by e-mail with the members of the council.

(6) the SEC shall meet regularly at pre-announced agenda drawn up by the secretary of the council, approved by the chairman and sent to the members of the SEC at least ten days before the meeting.

(7) materials on the agenda of regular sessions shall be sent to the members of the council by its secretary no later than two weeks before the relevant meeting.

(8) The sessions shall be considered valid only if attended by two thirds of the SEC members. Decisions are taken by simple majority, except for those under art. 9, para. 3.

(9) The decisions of the SEC shall be notified to the interested parties within three days from the date of the meeting.

 

 

Art. 14. (1) Resource provision the work of the SEC is entirely implemented by the NSI.

(2) The costs for the regular functioning of the SEC are part of the NSI’s budget and include:

1. operational and technical expenses for the sessions of the SEC;

2. remuneration for the work of members of the SEC, who are not employees of the NSI.

(3) For their participation in the sessions of the SEC the members who are external experts shall be remunerated as follows:

1. the chairman of the SEC - 300 BGN a session;

2. the deputy chairman of the SEC - 200 BGN a session;

3. the secretary of the SEC - 200 BGN a session;

4. the members of the SEC - 100 BGN a session.

 

 

§ 1. The mandate of the first members of the council begins to run from the date of the issuance of the ordinance of the President of the NSI under art. 3.

§ 2. The rules were adopted unanimously by the members of the SEC on the session held on 21.11.2014, for which was compiled Protocol № RD 18-10/26.11.2014, and were approved by Ordinance № RD 07-416/16.12.2014 of the President of the NSI.