Minister Lehtomäki: OECD meeting opportunity to discuss WTO negotiations
Press release 115/2004
12 May 2004
Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Paula Lehtomäki will participate in the Ministerial Meeting of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development OECD in Paris on 13-14 May.
The meeting will focus on current issues in international economy and trade such as the effects of the ageing population on economic growth and employment in the OECD countries and the situation of the negotiation round in progress of the World Trade Organisation WTO. The current state and future of the negotiation round are going to be discussed between the representatives from the OECD countries as well as ten ministers from non-OECD countries. The European Union will be represented by Commissioner Pascal Lamy and the United States by Trade Representative Robert B. Zoellick.
"All progress in the WTO negotiations is welcome," Minister Lehtomäki states. "The Paris meeting is held at a suitable moment as new openings have just been made which I believe will accelerate the negotiations. This is an opportunity to untie the worst knots."
The OECD has just published its most recent economic outlook according to which world economy has moved towards strong and sustainable growth but the large European countries are lagging behind. "Strengthening domestic demand is a key concept of economic growth. The enlargement of the European Union and the, therefore, larger internal market provide an excellent opportunity for such strengthening," Minister Lehtomäki describes.
At the meeting in Paris, the aim is to accept a package on reforming the OECD. Currently, the organisation has 30 member states and there are 16 states seeking membership. However, the purpose of the meeting is not to make any decisions on enlargement but only to discuss the principles and future steps.
Simultaneously, OECD health ministers will meet at a separate conference in Paris. Finland will be represented by a delegation lead by Minister of Health and Social Services Liisa Hyssälä. At a joint dinner the health ministers and the ministers of finance and economic affairs will discuss the financing of health care which has become a problem in all OECD countries.
In connection with the Ministerial Meeting a forum will be organised for participants from civil society, the media and government. The theme of the forum is the "Health of Nations".
Additional information: Counsellor Tarja Reponen, tel. 09 160 55 741, Press Attaché Anna Tonttila, tel. 040 5131 669 and on the OECD website www.oecd.org.