OECD

OECD is the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

The OECD brings together the governments of countries committed to democracy and the market economy from around the world to:

• Support sustainable economic growth
• Boost employment
• Raise living standards
• Maintain financial stability
• Assist other countries' economic development
• Contribute to growth in world trade

The OECD also shares expertise and exchanges views with more than 100 other countries and economies, from Brazil, China, and Russia to the least developed countries in Africa.

Its web site is at http://www.oecd.org

The OECD's members

(sourced from http://www.oecd.org/pages/0,3417,en_36734052_36761800_1_1_1_1_1,00.html)

The 30 member countries of the OECD are: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea, Luxembourg, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovak Republic, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States.

Twenty of these countries became members on 14 December 1960, when the Convention establishing the organisation was signed. The others have joined over the years.

In a Supplementary Protocol to the OECD Convention, the signatory states decided that the Commission of the European Community “shall participate in the work” of the Organisation. This participation goes well beyond that of a mere observer, and in fact gives the Commission quasi-Member status.

In May 2007, OECD countries agreed to invite Chile, Estonia, Israel, Russia and Slovenia to open discussions for membership of the Organisation and offered enhanced engagement, with a view to possible membership, to Brazil, China, India, Indonesia and South Africa. The approval of so-called "road maps" in last December marks the start of accession talks with Chile, Estonia, Israel, Russia and Slovenia.

In contrast to many other international organisations, becoming a member of the OECD is not something that is automatically open to applicant countries. The member countries of the Organisation, meeting in its governing body (the Council), decide whether a country should be invited to join the OECD and on what conditions. This decision is taken at the end of what might be called the accession process