OECD countries welcomed four new members during their annual Council meeting at ministerial level: Chile, which joined the Organisation on 7 May 2010, and Estonia, Israel and Slovenia, which OECD countries agreed on 10 May 2010 to invite as members.

Angel Gurría, OECD Secretary-General noted that accession to the OECD is an extremely rigorous and demanding process. Over the last three years the new member states have undergone in-depth reviews by up to 20 OECD Committees into their policies from investment to anti-corruption, from environment to fiscal affairs, from public governance to science and technology. The candidate countries have changed some parts of their legal framework, and improved practices to comply with OECD high standards.

Full details of the accession are available at http://www.oecd.org/document/4/0,3343,en_2649_34487_45335108_1_1_1_1,00.html