Practical problems of implementing metadata standards in official statistics

Metadata are information standards. In the era of the globalization of information systems there is a need for metadata-driven standardization of infrastructural information systems. An effective strategy for the standardization of official information systems of countries and of international organizations is the introduction of official standards based on metadata. Statistical metadata are predestined to play a leading role in that process. However, statistical agencies are not ready to take that role and responsibility. The prerequisites of the statistical metadata-driven standardization and practical problems and approaches to the development and implementation of metadata driven standardization are discussed in the paper. General considerations are exemplified by practical experiences of the countries of the European region and of transition countries