"Our Government has been working hard to accede this highly reputable organization", said the Prime Minister. "Regular meetings with OECD representatives, the heads of the member states, exchanges and negotiations, as well as Lithuania's economic progress have produced positive results, and we very much hope to hear good news from the OECD regarding the opening of accession negotiations.
Lithuania submitted its official application to the OECD in 2002. The sixteenth Government resumed the process in 2012 and stepped its efforts to become a member of the organization bringing together world's economically strongest countries. The membership in the OECD means long-term benefits, new economic opportunities, increased competitiveness, and investments", noted the Lithuanian Head of Government.
Prime Minister's two-day working visit programme includes a meeting with OECD Secretary General, Angel Gurría, which is expected to discuss Lithuania's preparation for the future accession. The Lithuanian Prime Minister will brief the Secretary General on Lithuania's progress in the fields of state-owned enterprises, innovation policy, economic achievements, youth employment and market openness.
The programme also includes Lithuanian Prime Minister's meeting with Mark Rutte, Prime Minister of the Netherlands, currently holding the Presidency over the OECD Ministerial Council, as well as the representatives of the French business confederation MEDEF.
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) celebrated its 50th anniversary, but its roots go back to the rubble of Europe after World War II. Determined to avoid the mistakes of their predecessors in the wake of World War I, European leaders realised that the best way to ensure lasting peace was to encourage co-operation and reconstruction, rather than punish the defeated. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) was officially born on 30 September 1961, when the Convention entered into force.
Today, the OECD is the forum bringing experts from Member States to discuss, share experiences and develop new economic and social policy guidelines, which then translate into practice. Currently there are 34 OECD countries. The countries currently in the process of negotiations are Colombia, Latvia and Russia. It is expected that June 4 will be the day to open negotiations with Lithuania, and Costa Rica.