Slovenia Could Become OECD Member in Two Years

Paris, 17 December

Slovenia could become a member of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in less than two years, OECD Secretary General Angel Gurria said in Paris on Monday after meeting Prime Minister Janez Jansa. He added that quality was more important that speed and that Slovenia had so far implemented "very important changes" in all reform processes.

"I am a Mexican and it took Mexico two years to enter the OECD, the same as South Korea. And both Mexico and South Korea were not as ready as Slovenia is now," said Gurria, adding that it meant that maybe Slovenia would not have to wait that long.
According to him, challenges Slovenia is to face on its way include maintaining a stable fiscal policy, providing a flexible labour and product markets and quality education and health care system, the issue of population ageing, and fiscal impact on pensions.
Jansa meanwhile said that there was strong political will for negotiations on the OECD membership to be wrapped up as soon as possible, and agreed with Gurria that quality was the priority of the process.
"Slovenia will have to adopt in its legislation more than a hundred regulations," said Jansa, adding that those were advanced standards, some them even above the EU standards, as the OECD is a club of 30 most developed countries in the world.
Slovenia also expressed its readiness to share its positive experience with countries receiving aid from the OECD and countries which are to apply for the membership, said Jansa.
The OECD secretary general meanwhile pointed out that no country carried out reforms in order to access the OECD, but because it was good for that country and its society. "Membership of the OECD is an opportunity for boosting the reform process and sharing of best information about best practices in economic policies," concluded Gurria.

Slovenia Could Become OECD Member in Two Years

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