Organisation Description - International Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)

Website: www.oecd.org/agr/env/indicators.htm
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International Activities - Other



Background information

The OECD brings together 30 member countries that have a commitment to democratic government and the market economy. It intereacts with over 70 other countries as well as with various NGOs generating a worldwide network, best best known for its publications and its statistics. These reflect its work that covers economic and social issues covering aspects such as macroeconomics, trade, education and development as well as science and innovation .

Pursuant to Article 1 of the Convention signed in Paris on 14th December 1960, and which came into force on 30th september 1961, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) shall promote policies designed:

• to achieve the highest sustainable economic growth and employment and a rising standard of living in member countries while maintaining financial stability, and thus to contribute to the development of the world economy;
• to contribute to sound economic expansion in member as well as non-member countries in the process of economic development; and
• to contribute to the expansion of world trade on a multilateral, non-discriminatory basis in accordance with international obligations.

The original member countries of the OECD are Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States. The following countries became members subsequently through accession at the dates indicated hereafter:

• Japan(28th April 1964),
• Finland (28th January 1969),
• Australia (7th June 1971),
• New Zealand (29th May 1973),
• Mexico (18th May 1994),
• the Czech Republic (21st December 1995),
• Hungary (7th May 1996),
• Poland (22nd November 1996),
• Korea (12th December 1996) and the
• Slovak Republic (14th December 2000).

TheCommission of the European Communities takes part in the work of the OECD (Article 13 of the OECD Convention).

The OECD plays a prominent role in fostering good governance in the public service and in corporate activity . It helps governments to ensure the responsiveness of key economic areas with sectoral monitoring. By deciphering emerging issues and identifying policies that work, it helps policy-makers adopt strategic orientations. It is well known for its individual country surveys and reviews .

The OECD also produces internationally agreed instruments, decisions and recommendations to promote rules of the game in areas where multilateral agreement is necessary for individual countries to make progress in a globalised economy. Sharing the benefits of growth is also crucial as shown in activities such as emerging economies, sustainable development , territorial economy and aid.

Dialogue, consensus, peer review and pressure are at the very heart of OECD. Its governing body, the Council, is made up of representatives of member countries. It provides guidance on the work of OECD committees and decides on the annual budget.

Activities are divided into over 30 different topic areas. The more relevant of these in the present context include:

• Agriculture (food and fisheries)
• Biotechnology
• Energy
• Environment

The extent to which these are bound up within the formal structure of the OECD varies from topic to topic. For example, there is a Directorate for Food, Agriculture and Fisheries and another for Science, Technology and Industry while Energy is dealt with through the semi-autonomous International Energy Agency.

Relevant activities include a workshop held in June 2003 by the Policies and Environment Division of the Agriculture Directorate, the title of which was:

OECD Workshop on Biomass from Agriculture