Government Communications Department
Press release
386/2014
16.9.2014 9.22

Finnish and Estonian permanent secretaries make joint visit to the OECD in connection with a comparative review of the countries’ governance policies

On Thursday, 16 September, the permanent secretaries of all of Finland’s and Estonia’s ministries will visit the OECD in Paris. The visit is in connection with a simultaneous review of the governance policies of the two countries under preparation in the OECD. The rare comparative country review will be directed at the development needs of policy decision-making, the strategic steering of ministerial governance, and e-government. It is the first time in the OECD’s history that the systems of two countries will be examined on a comparative basis in this way.

The OECD provides Finland with a useful cooperation forum not only for sector-specific reviews, but also for the comprehensive review of society as a whole. The OECD is in many areas, for example in taxation and corporate responsibility issues, the most important setter of global ground rules and standards. The focus of the organisation’s activities in economic policy has shifted from assessment of economic analyses and macro-economic policy towards structural policy. For Finland, the organisation does useful cross-sectoral work relating to knowledge capital and the green economy, for example.

During the visit, the permanent secretaries intend to discuss development needs with their Estonian colleagues and the OECD Secretariat, particularly in relation to e-government and the strategic planning of public governance. The OECD Secretariat is preparing a report comparing Finland and Estonia on these two topics.

In addition to the themes of the review, in Paris the permanent secretaries will discuss with Estonian colleagues and the OECD Secretariat challenges relating to the two countries’ education policies and young people’s wellbeing, the lessons of the economic crisis, and development work on economic analysis and policy recommendations. The permanent secretaries of all of the ministries of two countries have never before visited the organisation together. The two countries’ permanent secretaries will be welcomed by OECD Secretary General Angel Gurría.

Further information: State Secretary Olli-Pekka Heinonen, tel. +358 295 160 280, Prime Minister’s Office

OECD