Estonia

About Statistics Publications & Documents Information by Topic

Highlights

Estonia is one of the many non-member economies with which the OECD has working relationships in addition to its 30 member countries. In October 1996, the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania jointly addressed the OECD Council to request the establishment of an OECD Baltic Regional Programme, and stated their intention to seek OECD membership later.  Estonia has regularly engaged with the OECD at the levels of Ministers, Prime Minister and President.  The OECD Council at Ministerial level adopted a resolution on 16 May 2007 to open discussions with Estonia for its membership of the Organisation. On 30 November 2007, the OECD Council approved the 'roadmap to accession' for Estonia, as well as four other prospective new members.

Mutual benefit

Estonia participated in the OECD’s Baltic Regional Programme which from 1998 to 2004 was the OECD’s main vehicle for policy co-operation with Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.  As one of the most successful reformers in Central and Eastern Europe, Estonia not only learned from OECD members’ expertise, but also had important reform experience to share with OECD members and others, e.g. in the field of tax and deregulation. Until end-2006, Estonia also participated in SIGMA, in a programme assisting the new EU members’ decision makers and administrations in meeting the conditions for EU Membership.

How is the co-operation co-ordinated?

The OECD’s co-operation with Estonia now takes place primarily in the context of the country’s accession to OECD membership.  Estonia’s government has appointed a representative to co ordinate the accession process on its side;  on the OECD side, the process is co-ordinated by Deputy Secretary-General Ms Thelma Askey. However, Estonia will continue to participate in the OECD’s global relations programme. The OECD’s Centre for Co-operation with Non-Members develops and oversees the strategic orientation of this relationship and ensures that the dialogue remains focused, forward-looking and mutually beneficial.

Areas of work

Under the aegis of the Baltic Regional Programme, policy reviews of Estonia (or of the Baltic countries together), have been undertaken in many areas, notably education, competition law and policy, investment, labour market policy, bribery, insurance and pensions.

Estonia’s participation in OECD general activities

Estonia signed the OECD Declaration on International Investment and Multinational Enterprises  in September 2001. In December 2004, Estonia acceded to the Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions. Estonia participates in several OECD committees and Working Groups. Estonian Ministers also participate in dialogue sessions of the OECD Ministerial Council Meeting with non-OECD economies. Furthermore, Estonia participates in the Bologna Process, in the International Transport Forum and the Directing Group of the Institutional Management Programme in Higher Education (IMHE).