Finance minister Pierre Gramegna (DP) SIP/LUC DEFLORENNE

Finance minister Pierre Gramegna (DP) SIP/LUC DEFLORENNE

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development held its 60th meeting on 5 and 6 October in Paris, chaired by the United States, with Luxembourg and South Korea taking up the vice-presidential spots.

Luxembourg was represented by foreign affairs minister Jean Asselborn, finance minister Pierre Gramegna and economy minister Franz Fayot. In his remarks at the introductory session Gramegna welcomed the enlargement of the OECD and the continued inclusion of countries that share its fundamental values. He highlighted the importance of multilateralism and the need to cooperate when it comes to green transition, digital transition and social inclusion.

Gramegna also chaired a session on Green finance for carbon neutrality aiming to define the role of the OECD in supporting convergence and interoperability of sustainable finance standards. Later on, the finance minister reiterated Luxembourg’s support for the framework agreement on international tax reform dedicated to address the tax challenges linked to the digitalisation of the economy

Asselborn and Gramegna had a bilateral meeting with John Kerry, the United States’ special envoy for climate. They took stock of efforts by both countries to combat climate change. In particular, they touched on financing and the role of the private sector in mobilising necessary investments.

Participating in the first plenary session on “shared values” Asselborn warned against the rise of populism, the challenges linked to disinformation, corruption and attacks on judicial independence.

"Protecting the rule of law and the principles of good governance are not only noble objectives, but are an integral part of any credible exit strategy from the current crisis," said the foreign affairs minister.

(from l. to r.) Franz Fayot, Minister of the Economy; John Kerry, Special Envoy of the President of the United States of America for Climate Change (chairing the council meeting at ministerial level) SIP/LUC DEFLORENNE

(from l. to r.) Franz Fayot, Minister of the Economy; John Kerry, Special Envoy of the President of the United States of America for Climate Change (chairing the council meeting at ministerial level) SIP/LUC DEFLORENNE

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(from l. to r.) Franz Fayot, Minister of the Economy; John Kerry, Special Envoy of the President of the United States of America for Climate Change (chairing the council meeting at ministerial level) SIP/LUC DEFLORENNE
(from left to right) Christos Staikouras, Minister of Finance of the Hellenic Republic; Pierre Gramegna, Minister of Finance  SIP/LUC DEFLORENNE
(from left to right) Pierre Gramegna, Minister of Finance; Mathias Cormann, Secretary General of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD); Jose W. Fernandez, Deputy Secretary of the United States of America for the Economy, Energy and the Environment  SIP/LUC DEFLORENNE
(from left to right) Maurer Ueli, Minister of Finance of the Swiss Confederation; Pierre Gramegna, Minister of Finance SIP/LUC DEFLORENNE

Asselborn also met with South Korean foreign affairs minister Eui-Yong Chung. Their bilateral meeting was an opportunity to take stock of relations between the two countries and to discuss ways of strengthening economic and diplomatic ties.

During the second day of the OECD’s meeting, a session on reducing greenhouse gas emission was held. Economy minister Fayot called on member countries to analyse the costs of adapting to climate change by 2050. He highlighted that an important part of the solution to climate change is the development of new green technologies. "It is also important to encourage private sector investment while changing our production and consumption patterns to make them more sustainable and circular," said Fayot.