Estonia welcomed into OECD

  • 2010-05-28
  • Oskars Magone

Estonia was one of four countries to be welcomed into the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.

TALLINN - A ceremony was held Friday to welcome Estonia and three other countries into the OECD ahead of the country's expected official accession on June 3.

Estonian Prime Minister Andrus Ansip met with OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurría and Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, chair of this year's ministerial Council meeting, in a welcoming ceremony held in Paris.

"For a long time, Estonia has had two important policy goals: joining the OECD and becoming part of the euro area. Today, we can say that the first goal has been achieved, and the second one is within our reach," Ansip said in a speech during the event.

"We are confident that OECD membership will contribute to the further development of Estonia," he said.

The OECD now has 35 members after welcoming Israel, Slovenia, Estonia and Chile.

Estonian prime minister Andrus Ansip and finance minister Jürgen Ligi. The OECD defines itself as a forum of countries committed to democracy and the market economy, providing a setting to compare policy experiences, seeking answers to common problems, identifying good practices, and co-ordinating domestic and international policies of its members.