“Estonia, Israel and Slovenia, along with Chile that has just deposited its instrument to become a full member, will contribute to a more plural and open OECD that is playing an increasingly important role in the global economic architecture,” said Secretary-General Angel Gurría in a statement to a meeting of the organisation’s governing Council on 10 May 2010. “The OECD accession process has delivered real policy changes and reform in all candidate countries,” he added. “Once countries become members, this transformational process continues.”

The invitation acknowledges the efforts already made by the three countries to reform their economies, including in such areas as combating corruption, protecting intellectual property rights and ensuring high standards of corporate governance, while looking forward to further reforms.

Meanwhile, all three countries will contribute to OECD work in a number of specific areas, such as e-government and e-commerce, scientific and technological policies and public sector management.

Estonia, Israel and Slovenia were invited to open accession talks in 2007, along with Chile, now a member, and the Russian Federation, with which talks are progressing. In parallel, the OECD is strengthening its growing partnership with major emerging economies, including Brazil, China, India, Indonesia and South Africa.

The OECD will welcome the three future members at a special ceremony during the annual meeting of the OECD Council at ministerial level on 27 May in Paris. The meeting will be chaired by Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.

For more, visit www.oecd.org

©OECD Observer No. 279, May 2010