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OECD's 30 members
The 30 member countries of 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 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 OECD and on what conditions. This decision is taken at the end of what might be called the accession process.
Global partners
Over time, OECD’s focus has broadened to include extensive contacts with non-member economies and it now maintains co-operative relations with more than 70 of them.
The Centre for Co-operation with Non-Members (CCNM) develops and oversees the strategic orientations of OECD’s global relations with non-members. 10 Global Forums have been established to address trans-boundary issues where the relevance of OECD work is dependent on policy dialogue with non-members.
Regional initiatives cover Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia; Asia; Latin America; the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). The Sahel and West Africa Club creates, promotes and facilitates links between OECD countries and West Africa.
Helping the transition economies of Central and Eastern Europe improve governance and management is the concern of a special programme, Support for Improvement in Governance and Management (SIGMA). This is a joint venture with the European Union.
Co-operation with Brazil, China and Russia is carried out through individual country programmes.
Civil society, parliamentarians and organisations
OECD has been engaged with civil society since its creation, notably through the Business and Industry Advisory Committee to the OECD (BIAC) and the Trade Union Advisory Committee to the OECD (TUAC).
OECD also maintains close relationship with civil society and parliamentarians in member countries, notably through its close and long-standing links with the Council of Europe and its Parliamentary Assembly, and with the Economic Committee of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly.
OECD has official relations with other International organisations and bodies, such as the International Labour Organization, Food and Agriculture Organization, International Monetary Fund, World Bank, International Atomic Energy Agency, and many other United Nations bodies. OECD also co-ordinates with the International Transport Forum, an independent body linked to OECD that deals with issues of improvement of all forms of transport.
The annual OECD Forum, held in conjunction with the annual ministerial meeting, enables leaders from business, labour and non-governmental organisations to discuss key issues on the ministerial agenda with government ministers and senior officials of international organisations.
OECD also frequently offers online consultations for various pieces of work.
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