OECD
1. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), which was founded in 1961, replaced the Organisation for European Economic Co-operation (OEEC), which had come into being in the wake of the Marshall Plan. The OECD consists of 34 countries having a number of principles in common: a market economy, a pluralist democracy and respect for human rights. In addition, it is a unique forum to exchange ideas, and to outline and adjust policy lines.
2. From the moment it was founded, the OECD’s task was to provide the economy of its members with a sturdier foundation, improve its efficacy, promote the market economy and contribute towards the growth of the developed and developing countries.
For this reason the Organisation comparatively analyses forms of policy, in which it follows the lessons learnt from its members’ experience and from an every-increasing number of non-member countries. The OECD assists countries in developing solutions for common sticking points and in co-ordinating national and international policy lines.
Its operations are related in particular to financial issues, compiling statistics, the environment, development, government management, international trade, financial, tax and business matters, science, technology and industry, social policy and agriculture, regional subject matter and co-operation with non-members. This work is done on committees and subordinate bodies.
Two specialised organisations deal with energy issues: the International Energy Agency (IEA), an independent organisation which was founded after the first oil crisis in 1974, to co-ordinate energy policy; and the Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA), which was founded in 1958, the aim of which is to promote safety when using nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.
3. For approximately ten years now the OECD has been making efforts to expand its field of analysis to all countries which are in favour of a market economy and it makes its expertise available to up-and-coming market economies (in particular, countries switching from a planned economy to a liberal system). It also continues its efforts to develop dialogue with the dynamic Asian and Latin-American economies.
Course of events and prospects
1. Globalisation, speedy innovation and the development of the Internet have brought about fundamental changes and create great challenges for political and economic stability factors. The OECD must adjust to these new horizons and work out what its position is in the international architecture. Work is currently being done to reassess OECD operations, while duly taking globalisation challenges into account and offering the prospects of a platform for a wide-ranging and modernised debate that is open to significant new actors.
2. Against the background of ever-increasing globalisation, the OECD had to explore new areas such as sustainable development, the information society, a number of immigration aspects, the consequences of the ageing population and serious risk analysis.
Some operations were moved up to a higher position on the Organisation’s agenda due to the 9/11 terrorist attacks. They were particularly focused on the consequences terrorism had on the economy, on protecting communication and on nuclear power plants.
It is important to note that Prime Minister Verhofstadt presided the general ministerial meeting and, in doing so, contributed to reinforcing the developmental dimension of the OECD’s operations in the spirit of the Doha Development Agenda and of the Millennium Conferences. He also joined in the commitment to include the NEPAD (New Partnership for Africa’s Development) and Africa as one of the actors in a constructive dialogue in the schedule of activities.
At the same time, issues concerning global, government and entrepreneurial management were placed in the forefront:
- structured dialogue between the OECD and the NEPAD (cf. above);
- operations on the leading principles applicable to multinationals.
The following aims must be pointed out regarding challenges facing the Organisation:
- to open windows of opportunity in accordance with the prospects of developing relations with non-members, without allowing this to compromise the quality of the Organisation’s operations and standards. Finalising a global strategy to open up was approved pursuant to the 2004 ministerial meeting;
- to continue work on health care.
In 2007, the OECD initiated the accession process for 5 new members (Estonia, Russia, Slovenia, Israel and Chili). In 2010, Estonia, Slovenia, Israel and Chili acceded. The accession process for Russia is continuing.
The policy regarding more intensive commitment with China, India, Indonesia, South Africa and Brazil has resulted in these countries’ stronger participation in the Organisation’s various committees and in their becoming more involved in the decision-making process.
As regards the extension, everyone is familiar with the problem of the weighting of the customary basic criteria (important actors, mutual benefits, like-mindedness and diversity). When it comes to diversity, it looks as though a certain regional equilibrium is inevitable. While some members see operations with third countries as being separate from membership expansion, Belgium and many others see the opening-up and preparation of the expansion as an interactive process which will lead to mutual benefit.
As far as reform is concerned, a new decision-making method which derogates from the consensus model was approved for certain specific cases at the 2004 ministerial meeting.
Further information:
OECD web site
International Energy Agency (IEA) web site
Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) website
The web site of Belgium’s Permanent Representative to the OECD
