High-level Parliamentary Seminar at the OECD

Janina Andersson vieraillessaan OECD:ssä. Kuva: Pia Nykänen Ms. Janina Andersson visiting the OECD. Photo: Pia Nykänen

- Events like these inspire and give fresh ideas, said Janina Andersson at the OECD's High-level Parliamentary Seminar that took place in Paris 4th of October.

Topics of the event included innovation, growth and equality. Participants represented 19 countries, including some non-Members. In the secretariat's presentations on innovations, Finland was presented in a positive light, which pleased Andersson.

- Discussion in the seminar was vivid and interesting. These discussions, together with the conversation over lunch, were the highlight of the seminar, Andersson said.

This was the first time Andersson took part in an OECD event and she knew the organization only by its reputation.

- When something on Finland is published, I read it from the newspapers. Otherwise I don't use OECD sources in my work, Andersson told. Members of Parliament receive more information than they are able to read, thus Andersson's assistant passes on only the most relevant material.

Even though Andersson does not actively use the OECD sources herself, she admits that OECD might have a role in the background through the information service of the Parliament or civil servants.

- Maybe now that the OECD is more familiar, I might use its sources more, Andersson concluded.