On 30th September 1961, the Paris Agreement to establish the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) took effect. Austria is one of the 18 founding members of the Paris-based international organisation, which now comprises 38 member states.
The OECD is a leading standards maker and broker for international collaboration. We highly value this work as well as the OECD’s central role in the multilateral system. Austria is proud to be one of the 18 founding members of the OECD, and we have also always benefitted greatly from this membership,
explains Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg.
Founded as a secretariat to distribute aid stemming from the Marshall Fund, the “Organisation for European Economic Co-operation” (OEEC) quickly became an important organisation for the economic integration of Europe in the 1950s. In 1961 it became a new international organisation, the current OECD, whose members include the United States and Canada, among others, in addition to the 18 European states.
Today the OECD is an important discussion forum where governments share their experiences and collaborate on solutions for current challenges.
We need strong partners in order to address the climate crisis and fight the effects of COVID-19,
emphasises Foreign Minister Schallenberg.
Thanks to the country specific OECD Economic Surveys and its recommendations in important areas such as taxes, pensions, and education, the OECD influences not just politics and legislation, but also public opinion.
OECD studies like PISA, and the important work of the OECD Development Aid Committee, are not only known to experts. In particular, the regular comparisons with other industrialised nations and the OECD’s push to introduce a global digital tax are very useful for us in dealing with the challenges of a digital world,
says Minister Schallenberg, underlining the important role of the OECD.
The OECD currently has 38 member states, but I believe it is possible to increase this number without compromising the adherence criteria. As with the EU enlargement, Austria will act as an advocate for these countries,
says Minister Schallenberg, referring to the three EU nations Bulgaria, Romania, and Croatia, which are not yet members of the OECD.
The OECD plays a central role in fighting the climate crisis and the effects of COVID-19. This will also be the subject of the annual OECD Ministerial Meeting, taking place on 5th and 6th October, where Austria will be represented by Secretary General Peter Launsky and Federal Minister Margarete Schramböck.
