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On 22 October in Paris, Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Audronius Ažubalis handed over to Angel Gurría, Secretary-General of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), a letter of the Prime Minister of Lithuania Andrius Kubilius expressing Lithuania’s willingness to become a full member of the OECD and requesting the Secretary-General to officially support this strategic goal of Lithuania.

It is expected that the OECD’s next enlargement phase will be announced in mid-2013.

At the meeting, the Minister stressed that when considering formal criteria for the OECD membership, Lithuania was one of the most prepared countries for the membership in the region. After joining this elite club, Lithuania would not only be a beneficiary, but would also be able to use its own relevant experience when productively engaging in activities of the OECD. Lithuania could play an especially active role in the OECD’s debate on the newest technology in the public sector, innovative solutions for the development of new regional transport corridors and responding to the challenges posed by the global financial crisis.

Ažubalis pointed out that the OECD membership remained among the main economic and political priorities of the country. Lithuania began to cooperate with the OECD in 1996, when along with other neighbouring Baltic States submitted a declaration to the OECD stating willingness to join the OECD. Lithuania actively participated in the Baltic Regional Programme of the OECD, which was launched in 1996 and completed in 2005. The OECD experts have hailed it as one of the most successful programmes of the OECD.

Lithuanian Foreign Minister also drew attention to the fact that for a long time Lithuania had been an active observer of the most important committees and working groups of the OECD. Moreover, over the last decade Lithuania has submitted applications requesting to be represented in many important bodies of the OECD. Ažubalis expressed hope that the organisation would take into account Lithuania’s active effort for closer cooperation and would support the country’s goal of becoming a full member of the OECD.