Background Reading: Meeting of the OECD Council at Ministerial Level

1. Essential Reading

2. Further Reading

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1. Essential Reading

A. Official Documents Submitted to Ministers

• Policies for a Strong and Sustainable Expansion 
  [ref: C/MIN(2004)3]
• Strengthening Growth and Public Finances in an Era of Demographic Change 
  [ref: C/MIN(2004)4]
• Background Paper: Strengthening Growth and Public Finances in an Era of Demographic Change 
  [ref: C/MIN(2004)5]
• Ensuring the Financial Sustainability of Health Systems
  [ref: C/MIN(2004)6]
• Statement from the Business and Industry Advisory Committee to the OECD (BIAC) to the OECD Council Meeting at Ministerial Level
  [ref: C/MIN(2004)9]
• Trade Union Statement to the OECD Ministerial Council and Sea Island G8 Economic Summit, May-June 2004
  [ref: C/MIN(2004)10]
• Summary Report by the Chair on the Joint Consultations Held on 13 May 2004 between the Bureau of the Council Meeting at Ministerial Level and BIAC and TUAC
  [ref: C/MIN(2004)10] (forthcoming)

B. Brochures

• Revision of the OECD Principles of Corporate Governance

The governments of the 30 OECD countries have approved a revised version of the OECD's Principles of Corporate Governance adding new recommendations for good practice in corporate behaviour with a view to rebuilding and maintaining public trust in companies and stock markets.

• Implementing Sustainable Development: Key Results 2001-2004

The brochure summarises the main results of a 3-year project on sustainable development. OECD research examined the “interface” between the environment and the economy on the one hand, and between the economy and society on the other. The work focused on indicators and peer reviews; on obstacles to reducing environmentally harmful subsidies and to the further use of environmentally related taxes; on social aspects of sustainable development; and on policy coherence and integration.

• Meeting of the OECD Council at Ministerial Level 2004 - Key information

This brochure provides Ministers, senior officials, the media and the public with the latest information on OECD work pertaining to the issues that will be discussed during the Ministerial Meeting.

=> Download the complete pdf file or

=> Download the following individual chapters:

Preface

Economic Outlook and Agenda for Growth

• World Economic Prospects
• Preparing for an Era of Demographic Changes
• OECD Statistics Reform

The Multilateral Trading System

• International Trade and Investment: Strengthening the Multilateral Trading System and Moving Ahead in the DDA
• Agricultural Trade
• Global Value Chains, Outsourcing and Employment
• Strategies for Resolving Sectoral Industry Problems: Steel and Shipbuilding
• Promoting a Global Tax Environment for Government and Business

Good Governance and Security

• Managing Major Risks of the Future
• OECD Work on Corporate Governance
• Fighting Bribery and Corruption
• Financial Markets, Private Pensions and Insurance
• Information Technology and Security
• Public Governance and the Role of the State

Sustainable Development

• Implementing Sustainable Development
• Co-operative Activities with Partner Countries
• Health Systems: Measuring and Improving Performance
• Ensuring Equity of Access in Education
• Making Development Co-operation more Effective
• Environment: Recent Progress and Future Challenges

2. Further Reading

More information on the topics discussed during the meeting:

• OECD work on the economic outlook
• OECD work on ageing
• OECD work on corporate governance
• OECD work on health
• OECD work on growth
• OECD work on trade
• OECD work on development
• OECD work on sustainable development

General information about the OECD:

• OECD Annual Report - 2004
• Getting to Grips with Globalisation - The OECD in a Changing World