Dear Users of the Statistical Yearbook

You have just opened the key publication of the Czech Statistical Office. The Statistical Yearbook of the Czech Republic 2004 has already been the twelfth volume of this edition over the existence of the independent Czech Republic, and since 1 May 2004 of the Czech Republic as an EU Member State, too.

You are sure to notice some changes and alterations in the Yearbook, made in connection with the accession to the EU. For instance, the chapter on international comparisons is brand new – the comparisons of countries use standard structural indicators employed within the EU. But even those of you accustomed to different indicators in this chapter will not get a raw deal. We will bring out comparisons based on these indicators in a separate publication made by the CZSO Information Services after the Yearbook has been issued.

A significant event for statisticians in 2004 was the 85th anniversary of the establishment of Czech independent statistics. On this occasion the Czech Statistical Office organized the international conference “Statistics – Investment in the Future” on 6-7 September, attended by many representatives of statistical institutions and outstanding statistical experts from all over the world.

There was another event occurring between January and April 2004, very significant for the Czech Statistical Office. For after the destruction of the CZSO’s headquarters by the August floods in 2002, the CZSO staff were gradually moving to their new building located at Skalka in Prague 10. I believe that the improved conditions for the work of statisticians will start showing themselves gradually in the quality of their outputs, including the Yearbook.

This year, too, I would like to bring the reader’s attention to rather substantial changes in the contents of the Yearbook. Some new titles of the chapters are expected to better characterize the contents. Chapter 5. National Accounts, which was reduced last year to respond to methodological adjustments recommended by Eurostat, is now appearing in its former extent again. Chapter 13. Science and Technology, Information Society has been enlarged and its contents changed. The information on gross agricultural output in Chapter 14. Agriculture has been replaced with data from economic accounts for agriculture. In Chapter 22. Culture and Sport, sports fans will welcome the results and rankings (up to the 8th place) of the best Czech athletes at Athens 2004 Olympic Games. Chapter 28. Elections gives the results of the first elections to the European Parliament after the accession of the CR to the EU, which were held in the Czech Republic on 11-12 June 2004.

Like every year, thanks for the content and technical preparation of the publication go to the staff teams of the Czech Statistical Office, cooperating ministries and other institutions. SCIENTIA is the traditional publisher of the Yearbook which also distributes it in the Czech Republic and abroad. The subsequent issues of Regional Statistical Yearbooks will follow-up this national one.

The quality of each product is closely tied with the functionality of the user’s feedback, and this also holds for the Yearbook. I would like to ask you for not hesitating to let us know your comments and suggestions at the addresses you will find on the introductory page. I can assure you that they will be paid attention to. I would be pleased most, though, by your communication that you find in the Yearbook data that you need. And this to be so is also up to you.