CYIL vol. 15 (2024)

EDITA FILADELFIOVÁ CYIL 15 ȍ2024Ȏ Like all OECD Member Countries, the EU also has a permanent delegation to this organization, composed of an ambassador 9 and diplomats. The ambassador collaborates on shaping the work program, and together with other diplomats, participates in various specialized OECD committees that monitor the secretariat’s work in line with the work program. Today, the OECD has 38 members, 10 of which 22 are EU Member States, which in itself demonstrates the representation of European interests in the institution. At the same time, the EU, or its representation, has a special position in that its EU Member States (which are also OECD members) have entrusted it with the right of last word on their behalf and the right to decide in areas where the EU has exclusive competence. 11 As for the EU’s influence on the OECD, the EU is the main contributor to the overall OECD budget through voluntary contributions, with EU funds accounting for one-third of all voluntary financial resources provided to the organization in 2020. Additionally, the financial contribution of EU countries to the total budget exceeds 40 percent for the year 2023. 12 Last but not least, we should not forget the area in which close cooperation takes place, namely development aid. The EU is a member of the Development Assistance Committee (DAC), through which the OECD deals with issues related to cooperation with developing countries. However, to avoid being overly optimistic, it must be said that many authors express a more skeptical view of the cooperation between these organizations and emphasize that it is not always straightforward. Despite the efforts of both parties, the fact remains that we are still dealing with two different entities that have their own institutions and sometimes function more alongside each other than together. 13 1.2 Current Cooperation between the EU and OECD Let’s briefly shift away from the purely abstract and theoretical level and take a look at an example of current cooperation between the EU and OECD. We’ll just outline what this project entails and what the purpose of this cooperation is. A project to strengthen competitiveness and sustainability in the Western Balkans and Turkey was recently launched under the auspices of the EU and OECD. This is a quarterly project in the Western Balkans (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo*, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia) and in Turkey. Its aim is to reinforce economic governance and integration while also enhancing resilient and competitive markets in line with the 9 OECD, 2024. KOKKINAKIS, CH. European Union: Ambassador, Permanent Representative to the OECD. (cit. 2024-02-26). Available online: https://www.oecd.org/eu/european-union-ambassador.htm. 10 OECD, 2024. Our global reach . (cit. 2024-02-27). Available online: https://www.oecd.org/about/members-and partners/. 11 HADJIISKY M., 2016. La better regulation entre coordination européenne et relations triangulaires : OECD, États membres et Union européenne. In: Revue française d’administration publique , 2016/2 (N° 158) , pp. 564– 565 and 561-575, Available online: https://www.cairn.info/revue-francaise-d-administration-publique-2016-2 page-561.htm. 12 OECD, 2024. Member Countries’ Budget Contributions . (cit. 2024-02-27). Available online: https://www.oecd. org/about/budget/member-countries-budget-contributions.htm. 13 ZEIGERMANN, U., 2020. International Public Administrations of the EU and the OECD and the Identification of Policy Coherence as a Problem for Global Cooperation. In: Transnational Policy Entrepreneurs. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. pp. 63–92, Available online: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-44893-6_3.

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