TNAG-2752-FCO40-3967-Organisation-for-Economic-Co-operation-and-Development-(OECD-1994 — Page 284

27-JAN-1993

15:46

Economic Relations FCO

MEDIUM-TERM STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES

071 270 3443

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C(93) 2

1.

In its Resolution of 25th October 1990 (C(90)142/FINAL] amending the procedures for the preparation and consideration of the Programme of Work and Budget of the Organisation, the Council provides that the Secretary-General shall, in December each year, submit to it for discussion a brief paper setting out medium-term strategic objectives for the Organisation. This paper is the outcome of discussions in the Council on

It sets out for committees

and working parties general indications on the main lines of the Organisation's activities.

2.

In

It will be up to the committees and working parties to consider and propose, as precisely as possible, how in their individual spheres they would organise their work in the light of these medium-term strategic objectives, September, taking account of committee discussions and the results of the meeting of the Council at Ministerial level, triennial priorities will be incorporated in the draft Programme of Work and Budget and submitted to the Council for decision. The Organisation's budget, like those of Member countries, is subject to severe constraints, so it is essential that, under the final authority of the Council, every OECD body should strive to focus on priority issues and regularly strike out of programmes subjects that have received adequate attention or are of lesser importance. It is also essential that committees take great care to rank the activities they wish to pursue in descending order of priority. This is of valuable assistance to the Council when the necessary compromises have to be reached on during the budget discussions. In this connection, committees should bear in mind that Member country governments are anxious that increasing use should be made of the Organisation as a forum for discussing interdisciplinary questions, which implies co-operation between a number of committees. The degree of priority of these questions should not be underestimated.

3.

This paper describes briefly the major changes taking place in the world, recalls the characteristics of the OECD, and then identifies the objectives themselves.

I.

The fundamental changes

4.

1992 brought no spectacular changes in the trends already perceptible at end-1991 in the three areas chosen to serve as a backdrop to the Organisation's medium-term objectives.

5.

A. Trends in OECD non-Member countries

Far-reaching changes continue to take place outside the OECD area and will probably result in still greater differences in rates and levels of development. Many countries are saying that they want to move closer to the "OECD model" (pluralist democracy, respect for human rights and market economy); for some, the question is beginning to arise as to the possibility of their joining the Organisation or, at any rate, having lasting and institutionalised relations with it.

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