The main international economic organizations. International economic organizations: goals, functions, activities. The system of international economic organizations International economic organizations value

(MEO) - a system of various types of entities created on the basis of agreements between governments or state bodies, economic organizations of interested countries to coordinate economic activities, cooperate or joint production and economic activities in certain areas of the economy, science and technology. MEOs are created from equity contributions, operate on the basis of the charter, have governing bodies with equal representation of the participating parties.

Currently, there are more than 4 thousand international organizations, of which more than 300 are intergovernmental. The key and most universal of them are organizations that emerged almost simultaneously in the late 40s. and appear today as the most important forums for coordinating economic policies between countries:

International Monetary Fund (macroeconomic policy) -  It is a compact international organization that, among others, performs the function of overseeing the development of the international economy as a whole and the macroeconomics of each of the 184 countries, which is a member in particular.

World Bank Group (Structural Policy) -consists of five organizations: the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (184 members), the International Development Association (163 members), the International Finance Corporation (178 members), the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (167 states) and the International Center for Settlement of Investment Disputes (134 members ) Their main task is to provide loans to developing countries and countries with economies in transition to implement structural policy measures, such as financial sector reforms, labor market support, improving the environment, improving the education system, etc.

World Trade Organization (trade policy), of which 149 states are members, concentrates on regulating a key area of \u200b\u200bthe international economy - trade in goods and services.

United Nations system (social policy)itself is a system of many organizations, which is in the process of reorganization. Officially, the UN system includes: UN programs  (UN Children's Fund, UN Development Program, World Food Program, etc.). Specialized Agencies(International Labor Organization, Food and Agriculture Organization, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), World Bank, International Monetary Fund, United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), etc.). UN Autonomous Organizations(International Atomic Energy Agency, International Tourism Organization).

Among the international organizations responsible for monitoring and regulating certain areas of the international economy, the following main functional groups can be distinguished:

1. Country advisory groups -relatively permanent mechanisms for coordinating the economic policies of countries, usually not formalized as a permanent international organization, but often having their own secretariat, made available to them by a member country or some permanent international organization. For example: The Group of Seven (G5 + Canada and Italy) united before Russia was admitted to it in 1997.

2. Universal international organizations -  unite the vast majority of countries, collect information and regulate specific forms of international economic relations. Among them are the IMF, the World Bank Group, the UN system, the WTO, the International Labor Organization.

3. Industry International Organizations -  regulate certain sectors of the production of goods or services and their trade in the international arena. The most significant of these is the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (ORES), which is a forum of 12 oil-exporting states whose main task is to establish and monitor compliance with quotas for oil production, which is considered a mechanism for maintaining world oil prices.

4. Regional international organizations -numerous associations of small groups of countries that have not entered into an integration form and serve as a forum for them to discuss regional issues of mutual interest, coordinate regional policies on production and foreign trade, and collect and generalize information about this region.

5. Banking international organizations -include organizations such as the Bank for International Settlements, the Scandinavian Investment Bank ... A separate group here are international development banks - the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the African Development Bank (ADB), the West African Development Bank (EADB), etc. d. A characteristic feature of development banks is that they are regional in nature and their activity is aimed at jointly with other banks financing projects in member countries.

Classification of international economic organizations:

1. By the nature of membership and the legal nature of the participants:

· Interstate  (intergovernmental) - an association of states established on the basis of an international treaty to achieve common goals;

Non government  - are created on the basis of the union of individuals or legal entities in the form of associations, federations and acts in the interests of members to achieve specific goals (Association of International Law, League of Red Cross Societies).

2. In the circle of participants:

· Universal  - open to the participation of all countries (UN and its specialized units);

· Regional  - created at the regional level, members can be members of one region (Organization of African Unity, Organization of American States).

3. The terms of reference:

· General competence organizations  - cover all areas of relations between member states: political, economic, social, cultural (UN, Council of Europe);

Special Competency Organizations  - carry out cooperation and regulation in one area (IAEA - International Atomic Energy Agency, International Labor Organization (ILO)).

4. By the nature of authority:

· Interstate  - include almost all MEOs whose purpose is the implementation of interstate cooperation;

· Supranational  organizations - integrating, their decisions apply directly to individuals and legal entities of the Member States (EU).

5. According to the conditions of participation in membership:

· Open  - any state can become a member at its discretion;

· Closed  - where the reception is made at the invitation of the original founders (NATO).

Main functions.1. Assistance  - the organization of international conferences, the collection and analysis of statistical and factual materials, the publication and dissemination of statistics and studies, the provision of premises and a secretariat for multilateral and bilateral negotiations.

2. Observation - assistance with the possibility of formulating and publicizing the official point of view of the organization on certain problems, which is a way of creating public opinion and thereby exerting influence on the economic policy of the country. The most typical example of an organization that performs the monitoring function is the UN; the UN does not have any real levers of influence, other than the power of persuasion.

3. Supervision  - a more stringent form of observation related to the obligation of countries to report on a regular basis and in the prescribed form data on their economic situation and listen to recommendations on the merits of the current economic development. A typical example is the IMF, whose main function is to strictly monitor the economic policies of member countries in order to provide recommendations based on international experience to prevent potential macroeconomic imbalances and most effectively resolve existing problems.

4. Regulation  - supervision based on coercion of countries to implement the recommendations of the international community through the development of relevant international standards and mechanisms for coercion to implement them. An example is the WTO, within the framework of which certain rules of international trade are established, with which more than a hundred countries have agreed, as well as stringent anti-dumping and other procedures that are applied against violators of the agreed rules.

The goals and functions of the International Economic Relations, both at the global and regional levels, are:

Studying and taking measures on the most important problems in the field of international economic organizations; - Adoption of resolutions and recommendations in the field of regulation of world economic relations; - Promotion of reconstruction and development of the economy in developing countries; - Ensuring stabilization of currencies; - Promoting the elimination of trade barriers and ensuring wide commodity exchange between states; - Allocation of funds in addition to private capital to assist technological and economic progress; - Stimulating the improvement of working conditions and labor relations.

International economic organizations in the field of foreign trade began to develop in the 20th century. During this period, the productive forces of society, the social division of labor go beyond national borders, the importance of international economic relations is growing.

The growth of international trade after the Second World War (from 1950 to 1947 the world outward trade turnover increased 10 times) led to the creation of new international organizations (both at the UN and outside it), the main direction of which is the search for ways to achieve a universal settlement international economic relations, and especially international trade, in view of their special significance. The number of international organizations reached three thousand by 1977.

International organizations are a stable institution of multilateral international relations created in most cases by at least three states and having goals, competence and their permanent bodies agreed upon by its participants, as well as other specific political and organizational institutional norms, including the charter, procedure, membership, decision making, etc.

Among international economic organizations, one should distinguish: interstate (intergovernmental), of which the states are members; non-governmental, whose members are certain domestic organizations or bodies, public organizations or private individuals.

In addition, international economic organizations should distinguish between:

by the nature of their activities: permanent (such organizations are created on the basis of economic agreements); temporary (i.e., operating in the process of convened conferences, meetings);

by level of competence: organizations competent in general issues of international trade; organizations competent in certain types of goods.

The main permanent intergovernmental organization is the UN (founded in 1945). According to the charter, the UN is called upon to carry out international cooperation to resolve global economic problems (Article 1) “with the aim of creating conditions of stability and prosperity”, with the goal of “promoting an improvement in living standards economic development and progress in the world. "

The issues of economic cooperation are dealt with by the highest organ of the United Nations - the General Assembly and the ECOSOC (Economic and Social Council) led by it.

The UN General Assembly is usually convened once a year, and as necessary for special and extraordinary sessions, the GA organizes studies and makes recommendations to states to promote international cooperation in the economic, social and other fields (Article 13 of the Charter). The GA exercises leadership functions In relation to ECOSOC, its recommendations to the council are subject to mandatory sipu (Articles 60, 66 of the Charter). ECOSOC consists of 54 members, one third of whom are re-elected by the GA annually; ECOSOC meets twice a year at its sessions. ECOSOC is called upon to solve specific tasks of international economic cooperation. According to the UN Charter, the functions of ECOSOC include carrying out various kinds of studies and reports on international issues in the areas of: economic, social, culture, education, healthcare and similar issues. In the framework of the Council, draft international agreements and conventions are being developed, which are subsequently submitted for approval by the General Assembly. The functions of ECOSOC also include coordinating the activities of specialized UN agencies with which it enters into special agreements, as well as leading regional economic commissions.

The activities of ECOSOC are carried out through a number of its supporting organizations, committees and commissions.

The following regional economic commissions are led by the Economic and Social Council:

The Economic Commission for Europe (Economic Commission for Europe) was created in 1947 for a period of 5 years to provide effective assistance to the European countries devastated by World War II. Then the term of activity of this commission was extended for an indefinite period. The highest body of the commission are plenary sessions (convened once a year). The permanent body of the Commission is the Secretariat. The secretariat has departments: plans and studies, industrial, transport, trade and intermediary. Within the framework of the Commission there are ten committees: on ferrous metallurgy; on coal; on electricity; for industry and inland transport; labor force; on housing issues; foreign trade development and others.

Economic Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), established in 1947 as an interim organization. In 1952, the commission was reorganized into a permanent one. The highest body in the Commission is plenary sessions (convened once a year). The permanent body is the Secretariat, consisting of departments of industry and trade, transport and communications, social affairs, research and plans. ESCAP includes: Committee on Industry and Natural Resources, Committee on Inland Transport and Communications Committee on Trade. With the participation of ESCAP, the following projects were developed and (work is coordinated on their implementation): construction of a Trans-Asian railway, construction of a Trans-Asian highway through 15 countries;

The Economic Commission for Latin America (ECLA), established in 1948, was registered in 1951 as permanent. Its members are 20 countries of Latin America. The highest and permanent bodies of the Commission are, respectively, plenary sessions and the Secretariat. The Secretariat has six divisions. With the participation of ECLA, the Latin American Economic System (LNPP) was created;

Economic Commission for Africa (ECA). Created at the XXV session of ECOSOC (1958) by decision of the UN General Assembly (XII session November 26, 1957) Functions, supreme and permanent bodies are similar to other economic commissions. ECA has developed a number of trans-African, trans-Saharan and East African motorway construction projects;

The Economic Commission for Western Asia (EXA) has focused on a research form of activity, summarizing and predicting trends and development prospects of individual countries in the region. In particular, the practice of TNCs in the oil industry of the region is being investigated.

An important subsidiary body of the UNGA is the International Trade Commission (UNISTRAL), which works to promote and unify international trade rights. In particular, she developed the Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods, adopted at a UN conference in 1980.

One of the most significant UN bodies dealing with issues of economic cooperation is UNCTAD - the UN Conference on Trade and Development was established in 1964 as an organ of the UN General Assembly. Created as a subsidiary body of the GA, it has long grown into an independent autonomous organization with numerous subsidiary bodies. The supreme body of UNCTAD are the sessions of the conference (meets once every three to four years). Between sessions, the conference operates in the form of the Trade and Development Council (meets twice a year). The Council has seven standing committees: on commodities; for industrial goods; by preferences; on invisible items and trade-related finance; for shipping; technology transfer and economic cooperation of developing countries, as well as four working groups.

In a UNGA resolution that established UNCTAD, its functions were worded as follows:

1) the promotion of international trade, especially in terms of accelerating economic development, in particular trade between countries at different levels of development ...;

2) the establishment of principles and policies related to international trade and related problems of economic development;

4) consideration and facilitation of coordination of activities of other agencies within the UN system ...;

5) taking, if necessary, measures in cooperation with the competent UN bodies to negotiate and approve multilateral legal acts in the field of trade ...;

6) coordination of policies of governments and regional economic groups in the field of trade ...;

7) consideration of any other issues within the competence:

The very first Conference (UNCTAD-1) adopted the “Principles of International Trade Relations and Trade Policy” prepared by the USSR, Poland and Czechoslovakia. This document was extremely important for the development within the framework of UNCTAD of the “Charter of Economic Rights and Duties of States” (1974)

UNCTAD VI adopted a resolution on non-enforcement of economic coercion, which condemned the policies and practices of trade restrictions, the embargo, embargo and other economic sanctions.

UNCTAD-IV has developed and adopted international agreements on natural rubber, cocoa, sugar, tropical wood, jute, tin. An Agreement on the Establishment of a General Commodity Fund has been developed and adopted.

UNCTAD conferences were held: in Geneva - in 1964 (UNCTAD-I), New Delhi - 1968 (UNCTAD-II), Santiago de Chile - 1973 (UNCTAD-III), Nairobi - 1976. (UNCTAD-IV), Manila - 1979 (UNCTAD-V), Belgrade - 1983 (UNCTAD-VI), Geneva - 1987 (UNCTAD-VII).

The nature of the activities of UNCTAD, its structure, universality, the scope of competencies, the nature of the documents adopted give every reason to consider it as a “permanent international organization”.

The headquarters of UNCTAD is located in Geneva.

UNIDO, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, was established in 1956 to promote the industrialization of developing countries. In 1985, acquired the status of a specialized agency of the UN. The supreme body of UNIDO is the General Conference, convened once every four years, the governing body is the Industrial Development Council, which meets once a year. The Council consists of 45 members, elected by the General Conference for a term of three years on the basis of equitable geographical representation. The Standing Committee, which is a subsidiary body of the Council, meets twice a year in its sessions. Secretariat - The administrative authority of UNIDO is located in Vienna (Austria). The Secretary-General of UNIDO, upon proposal by the Council, shall be approved by the General Conference for a period of four years. The governing bodies also include the Program and Budget Committee. Since 1981, an information bank on industry and technology has been operating.

The fundamental documents of the organization - the Lima Declaration and the Action Plan for Industrial Development and Cooperation, adopted in 1975, contain important provisions aimed at implementing such principles of the New Economic Policy and international economic law as the assertion of sovereignty over their own natural resources and all economic activity, etc. d. At the 1980 UNIDO General Conference in Delhi, a Declaration and Action Plan for Further Industrialization were developed and adopted as part of the United Nations international development strategy for the third decade.

The establishment of equal international economic cooperation in the field of science and technology should be promoted by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), which aims to assist developing countries in establishing national systems for the protection of industrial property and copyrights.

In addition to the above, the following UN specialized agencies can also be called: International Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).

Among the monetary institutions of the United Nations stand out: the International Monetary Fund (IFAC) and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), as well as the International Finance Corporation - IFC and the International Development Association - IDA. All these organizations are intergovernmental in nature, have the status of specialized UN agencies, i.e. The UN cannot make recommendations regarding policies and their main areas of activity.

The IMF and IBRD - the largest international monetary organizations - were created on the basis of agreements adopted by the Bretton Woods Conference (USA) in 1944. As of January 1, 1990, 151 states were members of each organization; At present, the Russian Federation is also a member of these organizations. The IMF and IBRD are specialized agencies of the UN; they have agreements on relations with the UN (since 1947)

The objectives of the IMF are to coordinate the monetary and financial policies of member states and the provision of loans to them to regulate balance of payments and maintain exchange rates.

The main objective of the IBRD is to facilitate the reconstruction and development of the territories of the Member States by encouraging investment for production purposes.

IFC (established in 1956 as a branch of the IBRD; as of 01.01.90 - 133 members) is financing mainly multinational projects in which local and foreign capital is involved, provides loans on concessional terms and without government guarantees.

IDA (established in 1960 as a branch of the IBRD, as of 01.01.95 - 137 members) provides interest-free loans (to developing countries) on more favorable terms than IBRD. The loan term is 40 years for the least developed countries (according to the UN official list) and 35 years for the rest.

The General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) - this is the largest intergovernmental trade agreement was adopted in 1948 as an interim agreement. Initially, the participating countries worked on the draft Charter of the Trade Organization (MTO), which remained un ratified.

The set of rules that make up the multilateral trading system, known as the GATT, consists of the General Agreement itself (38 articles), and also the GATT concluded later is the settlement of international trade disputes.

GATT members are 110 states, the Russian Federation has observer status.

GATT headquarters is located in Geneva (Switzerland). The supreme body of the GATT is the annual session of the Contracting Parties.

As part of the GATT, 7 rounds of multilateral trade negotiations were held, during which sequential customs tariff rates of the participating countries were implemented, agreements were developed on issues of standards and other non-tariff measures to regulate foreign trade, government procurement, trade in civil aircraft and textile products.

The outcome of the GATT Uruguay Round negotiations is the General Agreement on Trade and Services - GATS. The largest economic and political organization in Europe is the European Union (EU), created on the basis of the European Communities: European Economic Community (EEC); The European Coal and Steel Association (EUSC) and the European Atomic Energy Community (EURAATOM), established in accordance with the Paris (1951 - EEC) and two Rome Treaties (1957). In 1987, these treaties were supplemented by the Single European Act, and on February 7, 1992 the member states of the European Community signed the Treaty on the European Union (Maa Treaty), and on November 1, 1993 it entered into force.

The European Union includes 12 countries: Germany, France, Italy., Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg (founders), Great Britain, Denmark, Ireland, Greece, Portugal, Spain, (entered into 1973-1986).

One of the objectives of the Treaty is to ensure the effective operation of EU mechanisms and institutions.

In accordance with the Treaty, the main objectives of the Union are the following:

to promote economic and social progress by creating a space without internal borders ...;

approve your status and appointment in the international arena;

to strengthen the protection of the rights and interests of citizens of states by introducing citizenship of the Union;

develop close cooperation in the field of justice and internal affairs;

maintain and, if necessary, review and improve the system of relations and relations.

The most important features of the cooperation procedure is the transition to the coordination of positions through the passage of the project "shuttle" between the commission. The Council, the EP and the provision of the EP (European Parliament) the right to veto on a set range of issues (Article 189 of the Charter of the EEC).

The main executive body of the Council is the EU Commission. The highest body of the EU is the European Council, consisting of the heads of state and government of the member states of the Community.

The European Parliament is directly elected by the citizens of the EU member states on the basis of universal and direct voting. Based on the above, international economic organizations can be classified on the following grounds:

1. The form of a constituent act (on the basis of treaties; international acts other than treaties (UNCTAD, established by the UNGA); not having a single formal legal act (GATT);

2. The scope of authority - ordinary and supranational (EU);

3. The order of access - limited (for reasons of a regional or other nature) and unlimited ("open").

An important factor characterizing international economic organizations (MEORGs) is the “nature of membership”, showing the differences between MEORGs with the same status of UN member states and MEORGs with different categories of member states (FAO, GATT, OPEC). Art. II of the Constitution, the FAO distinguishes between plenipotentiary and associate members, the latter can not occupy any posts and participate in the vote (Article III).

The species diversity of the MEORG is seen in the analysis of the subject of their activity. The subjects of competence distinguish:

1. Organizations of general competence involved in economic matters (UN, OEA);

2. Organization for Economic Integration (EU);

3. General economic organizations coordinating the economic policies of member states in all major areas of economic cooperation;

4. Specialized MEORG:

(a) Trade organizations (UNCTAD); international commodity organizations (International Cocoa Organization); Organization of Exporting Countries (OPEC);

b) monetary and financial organizations (IMF, IBRD);

c) investment bodies (International Center for the Settlement of Investment Disputes);

d) organizations in the field of agricultural cooperation (FAO);

e) industrial cooperation organizations (UNIDO);

(e) Transport and communications organizations (Universal Postal Union);

g) other organizations carrying out activities of an economic nature (World Intellectual Property Organization).

Modern MEORGs use various decision-making procedures:

The classification allows, from various points of view, to see a false organized system of MEORGs, to distinguish their general and specific properties that determine species diversity.

Conclusion:

The growing importance and complexity of international economic relations make it necessary to strengthen their management of the joint efforts of states through international organizations, which leads to an increase in the number of international organizations and their role in the development of economic interstate cooperation. As a result, international organizations are important subjects of international economic law.

International organizations operating in the field of economic relations, as if can be divided into two groups. The first includes organizations that, by their action, cover the entire sphere of economic relations; the second group includes organizations operating within separate sub-sectors of international economic law (for example, trade, financial, investment, transport and others).

Conclusion

The complexity of the object of regulation of international economic law lies in the fact that it covers diverse, differing in content content types of relations associated with various aspects of economic relations. These include trade, transport, customs, financial, investment and other relations. Each of them has its own specific content, giving rise to the need for special legal regulation, as a result of which the sub-sectors of international economic law have been formed: international trade law; international transport law; international customs law; international financial law, international investment law, international technological law.

Each sub-sector is a system of international legal norms governing interstate cooperation in a specific area of \u200b\u200beconomic relations. All of them are united in a single branch of international law - international economic law - as a common subject of regulation, common goals and principles. In addition, a number of institutions of international economic law are elements of other branches of international law: the rights of international organizations, the rights of treaties, the rights of the peaceful resolution of international disputes, etc.

The vital interests of Russia depend on solving economic problems. Approved by the Presidential Decree, the “State Strategy for Economic Security of the Russian Federation” reasonably proceeds from the need to effectively realize the advantages of the international division of labor, the sustainability of the country's development in the conditions of its equal integration into world economic relations. Without ensuring economic security, it is practically impossible to solve any of the tasks facing the country, both domestically and internationally.

See: Grabar V.E. Materials for the history of literature of international law in Russia (1647 - 1917). M.: Publishing House of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR, 1958.

Nigerian professor T. Elaeyes writes that modern international law “originates from the end of World War II, especially with the advent of the United Nations”. The American professor J. Kuntz, the Indian supreme judge R. Patak and others wrote about the same thing.

Yakovlev V.P. Social time. Rostov-on-Don, 1980.S. 96.

See Art. 6 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; see art. 6 International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; see art. 8 of the Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families 1990

In-situ conservation means conditions in which genetic resources exist within ecosystems and natural habitats, and in relation to domesticated or cultivated species, in the environment in which they acquired their distinctive characteristics.

Ex situ conservation means the conservation of components of biological diversity outside their natural habitats.

Vasilenko V.A. Fundamentals of the theory of international law. Kiev, 1998.S. 10.

History of international law. Baskin, Feldman. 1995.S. 32.

History of international law. Baskin, Feldman. 1995.S. 266.

The eye of all great Russia. M., 1980.S. 28.

A collection of existing treaties, agreements and conventions concluded by the USSR with foreign states. Vol. Xxiii. No. 1138. M., 1970.

In the same place. Vol. Xxxiii. No. 2480. M., 1979.

Ortolan T. Maritime international law. SPb., 1875. S.11.

Higgins and Colombos. International maritime law. M.: From inostr.lit., 1953.P. 49.

Tarkhanov I.E. Freedom of navigation is one of the main components of freedom of the high seas. Proceedings Soyuzmorniiproekt. M., 1973. S. 89-93.

Chronicle of the UN. July 1995.T.XXXII. No. 1. Department of Public Information. New York. S. 9.

The growth of interdependence between countries, the clash on the world market of the interests of numerous subjects of international economic relations, the emergence of global problems of mankind led to the need to regulate international relations by the combined efforts of the countries of the world, i.e. at the multilateral level.

As a result, in the middle of the 20th century, a system of international regulation of world economic relations was formed, which is based on international law.

International regulation of international economic relations is carried out within the framework of international economic organizations.

International organizations are an organizational form of international cooperation that brings together members from different countries.

International Organization -it is an organization established by an agreement of member states, a subject of international law, having goals agreed upon by its participants, competent authorities, charter, membership order and other attributes.

An international organization is created through the conclusion of an international treaty, which is the constituent document of the organization. The date of its signing is considered the date of creation of the organization. An organization ceases to exist by signing a dissolution protocol.

Entering one or another international organization, states lose the right to take actions falling within the competence of the international organization and are obliged to obey its decisions.

Members of international organizations are only sovereign states. They equally participate in the work of the organization and are responsible for its activities, make contributions, forming the budget of the organization. Incomplete (associated) membership is also possible when the country does not have the right to vote and be elected to the executive bodies.

Non-member states may send their observers to participate in the organization, if this is established by the rules.

The main phases of the organization’s activities are discussion, decision making and monitoring of its implementation. Three main types of functions of an international organization follow from this. :

1. Regulatory function  consists in determining the goals, principles and rules of conduct of member countries, which are fixed in resolutions. These decisions (resolutions) of organizations are not binding (that is, they do not create international legal norms), but they have a significant impact on the formation of international law.

2. Control functions consist in monitoring compliance of States with international law, as well as resolutions. For these purposes, organizations have the right to collect and analyze relevant information, discuss it and express their opinion in resolutions. In many cases, states are required to regularly report on their compliance with the organization’s norms and acts in the relevant field.

3. Operational function  is to achieve goals with the organization’s own resources. That is, they provide economic, scientific, technical, consulting and other assistance to member countries.

International organizations classifiedby a number of criteria:

- by the nature of membership and the legal nature of the participants

· Intergovernmental - an association of states established on the basis of an international treaty to achieve common goals.

· Non-governmental - is created on the basis of an association of individuals or legal entities in the form of associations, federations and acts in the interests of members to achieve specific goals (unions of entrepreneurs, the international chamber of commerce, etc.).

- depending on the circle of participants

· Universal (universal) - designed for the participation of all states (UN and its specialized agencies, WTO);

· Of limited composition - may be regional (CIS, Council of Europe, League of Arab States), or depending on another criterion (OECD - only industrialized countries participate, OPEC - countries for which the main export product is oil).

-depending on the nature of competence

· General competence - their activities cover all areas of relations between countries: political, economic, social, cultural, etc. (UN, Council of Europe)

· Special competence - carry out cooperation in one area (Universal Postal Union, International Labor Organization, International Atomic Energy Agency, etc.)

- on an organizational basis

· Members of the UN system (UNCTAD, IMF, WTO)

· Not included in the UN (OECD, ICC, M / n Energy Agency)

· Regional economic organizations

-depending on the scope of international regulation, international organizations that regulate

· Economic and industrial cooperation and the ME sectors (UNDP - UN Development Program, World Trade Organization for Tourism, International Maritime Organization, etc.);

· World trade (WTO, UNCTAD - UN Conference on Trade and Development, IOC - international coffee organization, etc.);

· Monetary and financial relations (IMF, WB group, EBRD);

· Intellectual Property and Science and Technology Cooperation (WIPO)

· Entrepreneurial activity (UN Commission on TNCs);

· Cooperation in the field of certification and standardization of products (m / n organization for standardization - ISO)

· Scope of international investment

· Cooperation in the field of international commercial practice

- by the ratio of the volume of competence transferred by the states of an international organization

· Intergovernmental organizations that perform coordination functions in which redistributed competence remains joint for the state and the organization;

· International organizations that perform certain supranational functions, which have exclusive competence in a number of issues and limit the functions of member states in their decision. An example is the mandatory implementation of the decisions of the IMF and the World Bank in the monetary sphere for member countries.

· Supranational organizations created to formulate rules binding on member states and mechanisms to control and enforce participants to comply with these rules. The supranational bodies of the European Union are endowed with similar functions: the European Council, the European Parliament, etc.

- in accordance with the status

· Formal

· Informal.

The leading role in the system of international economic organizations belongs to organizations included in uN system.

UN - established in 1945. The UN includes 192 states. The headquarters is located in New York (USA).

UN Goals:

Maintaining peace and security through collective action and the peaceful settlement of disputes

The development of friendly relations between countries on the basis of respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples

Implementation of m / n cooperation in resolving international problems of an economic, social, cultural and humanitarian nature, promoting respect for human rights without distinction of race, gender, language, religion;

Acting as a central authority to coordinate the efforts of different countries to achieve these goals.

UN Principles:

Sovereign equality of all members

Resolution of m / n disputes by peaceful means

The provision by UN members of assistance in all its actions.

The UN is a universal international organization, both in membership and in issues within its competence.

The UN system includes:

1) main and auxiliary bodies

2) specialized agencies and organizations

3) autonomous organizations

UN structure:

1. General Assembly   - the main organ of the UN. Consists of representatives of all Member States. It determines the UN policy, its program, approves the budget, and develops the main areas of activity. The Assembly meets at its next annual session from September to December and thereafter as necessary.

The UN General Assembly has special bodies, the most significant of which are:

Ø In 1964 United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) . The headquarters is in Geneva. It is intended to consider issues related to the participation of developing countries in m / n trade, issues of external debt, financing of development projects, transfer of new technologies to them. This organization pays considerable attention to the least developed countries. UNCTAD publishes a number of internationally recognized studies (World Investment Report, etc.)

Ø United Nations Development Program (UNDP)   - established in 1965, headquartered in New York, 166 countries participate. The main task is to assist countries in familiarizing themselves with the knowledge and world experience of development in order to improve socio-economic development. Compiles and publishes a Human Development Report annually.

Ø International Trade Law Commission   (UNCITRAL - UN Commission on International Trade Law) - was founded in 1966. in order to harmonize and unify legal norms in international trade.

Ø Other.

2. Security Council   bears primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security; all UN members must obey its decisions. Five permanent members of the Security Council (Russia, USA, Great Britain, France, China) have the right to veto (i.e. they can block any decision made by the Council).

3. Economic and Social Council  (ECOSOC)  - Carries out the functions of the UN in the field of economic, social, cultural and humanitarian international cooperation. ECOSOC includes:

5 regional commissions - Economic Commission for Europe (ECE), Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), Economic and Social Commission for West Asia (ESCWA), Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean pool (ECLAC). The objectives of the regional commissions are to study the economic and social problems of the relevant regions of the world, to develop measures and means to assist.

6 functional commissions - for social development, on narcotic drugs, on science and technology for development, on development assistance, on statistics, on transnational corporations

ECOSOC coordinates the activities of 18 specialized institutions:

· M / n Telecommunication Union, ITU - 1865

· UPU - Universal Postal Union - 1874

· ILO - M \\ n Labor Organization - 1919

· ICAO - M \\ n Civil Aviation Organization - 1944

· FAO - Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations - 1945

· UNESCO - United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization - 1945

· IMF - M \\ n Monetary Fund - 1945

· WHO - World Health Organization - 1948

WMO - World Meteorological Organization - 1951

· IMO - International Maritime Organization - 1959

· UNIDO - UN Industrial Development - 1966

· WIPO - World Intellectual Property Organization - 1970

· IFAD - M \\ n Fund for Agricultural Development - 1977

· World Bank Group

o IBRD - M \\ n Bank for Reconstruction and Development - 1946.

o IFC - M \\ n Financial Corporation - 1956

o IDA - International Development Association - 1960.

o MTSIUS - M / n center for the settlement of investment disputes - 1966.

o MIGA - M \\ n Agency for Investment Guarantees - 1988.

UN affiliates (autonomous agencies)

ü IAEA - M \\ n Atomic Energy Agency

4. Guardianship Council  authorized to review and discuss reports of the governing authority regarding the political, economic and social progress of the peoples of the wardship territories and progress in the field of education, as well as in consultation with the governing authority to consider petitions coming from wardship territories and arrange periodic and other special visits to wardship territories.

5. International Court of Justice  - The main judicial body of the UN.

6. Secretariat  - This is an international staff working in institutions around the world and performing the diverse daily work of the UN. It serves other major UN bodies and implements their programs and policies. The Secretariat is headed by the Secretary General, who is appointed by the General Assembly on the recommendation of the Security Council for a term of 5 years with the possibility of re-election for a new term. Ban Ki-moon took over as Secretary General on January 1, 2007.

GATT / WTO plays a fundamental role in regulating MT.

GATT - General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade.

The GATT Treaty entered into force in 1948.

On January 1, 1995, the GATT ceased to exist, being modified into the World Trade Organization (WTO).

GATT is a multilateral m / n agreement containing the principles, legal norms, rules of conduct and state. regulation of mutual trade of member countries. It mainly dealt with the liberalization of mutual trade in goods between the participating countries.

The WTO was created as a response to the changing conditions in the global practice of MT: the growth of trade in services, the emergence of a specific segment in the goods market - the market for intellectual products (formally, the basis of the WTO is three councils: Council for trade in goods, Council for trade in services and Council for Trade aspects of collateral intellectual property rights).

The WTO consists of 153 countries, which account for almost 97% of world trade.

The GATT / WTO legal mechanism is based on a number of principles and norms:

Mutual provision of most favored nation treatment (MFN) in trade;

Mutual provision of a national regime (NR) for goods and services of foreign origin;
  - regulation of trade mainly by tariff methods;

Refusal to use quantitative and other restrictions;

Transparency of trade policy;

Settlement of trade disputes through consultations and negotiations, etc.

Over the years of its existence, the GATT / WTO has managed to reduce the level of import tariffs for ORS from 40-50% at the end of the 40s to 8-10% by the beginning of the 70s and to 4-5% at present.

Russia is in talks to join the organization.

UNCTAD  - UN Conference on Trade and Development:

1964 - creation. Headquarters - Geneva. In total - 193 member countries.

The Russian Federation and former USSR countries are members of UNCTAD.

purpose  - contribute to the development of MT and stimulate the development of member countries through MT.

The supreme body - the Conference - meets once every 4-5 years; all members of the organization are represented at it.

UNIDO  - United Nations Industrial Development Organization:

Headquarters - Vienna. 173 member states, including the Russian Federation. 1966 - creation.

Initially, UNIDO is the arena of the struggle for a new economic order, since G-77 was part of it: the countries of the rich North had to voluntarily transfer annually 1% of GDP in favor of developing countries. The USA refused, the USSR - at first they agreed, but then it turned out that the G-77 classifies the USSR as the countries of the "rich North". The Soviet Union followed the rejection of conditions, since it never owned colonies in the south.

purpose - contribute to the industrial development of member countries, as well as assisting in the search for investors.

Structure:

The supreme body is the Conference; going 1 time in 2 years.

The UNIDO Council meets 2 times a year. He examines individual situations in industry, develops recommendations for developing countries, examines the investment attractiveness of projects (+ implements programs to increase the investment attractiveness of states), collects and processes information.

Example: in the Republic of Sakha, UNIDO facilitated the cooperation of foreign capital and the republic and supported several investment projects.

The UNIDO examination system is taken as a basis in many countries, including the Russian Federation.

IMF  - The International Monetary Fund (International Monetary Fund) is an intergovernmental organization designed to regulate monetary relations between member states and provide them with fin. help with currencies. difficulties caused by the balance of payments deficit by providing short- and medium-term loans in foreign currency. currency. The IMF, a specialized agency of the United Nations, was established in 1944 at the Bretton Woods Conference.

Fund capital is formed on the basis of contributions from member countries. The number of votes when making decisions depends on the size of the country's contribution. The largest contributions (subscription quotas) have ORS. The largest peo value: USA, Germany, Japan, France, UK, China, Saudi Arabia.

The IMF carries out all operations (primarily credit) only with the official bodies of member countries.

IMF loans are issued, as a rule, in credit shares (tranches) of 25% of the loan amount, the receipt of which is associated with the fulfillment of macroeconomic obligations recommended by the fund experts (non-fulfillment of them will lead to the suspension of the next tranche).

Russia is a member of the IMF.

World Bank Group  or - an interstate financial institution whose primary purpose is to help developing countries increase productivity and income and combat poverty.

Established in 1944 at the Bretton Woods m / n conference.

Consists of 5 organizations.

IBRD - International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (“World Bank”). It was created in 1944 in 184 countries.

IDA - International Development Association (International Development Association). Created in 1960, 163 countries.

IFC - International Finance Corporation (International Finance Corporation). Created 1956 175 countries.

MAGI - Multilateral Investment Guarante Agency. Created in 1980. 158 countries.

ICSID - International Center for Settlement of Investment Disputes. It was created in 1966 in 134 countries.

Russia participates in all organizations of the World Bank Group except MTSIUS.

Organizations outside the UN system include a very influential organization in the world OECD -The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, which was created in 1961, at the initiative of the United States. Headquarters in Paris.

It consists of 34 countries, primarily countries with developed market economies. OECD countries:

Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Chile, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway , Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States. OECD countries produce about 2/3 of the profit center.

The annual budget is about 328 million dollars. USA. The size of the country's contribution depends on the volume of the country's GDP. The largest contribution is from the USA and Japan.

The condition for joining the OECD is the country's commitment to the principles of democracy and a market economy. Russia has observer status.

OECD is primarily a forum in which member governments have the opportunity to discuss, develop and improve economic and social policies. Within its framework, they exchange experience, look for ways to solve common problems and develop a coordinated domestic and foreign policy. The OECD Secretariat collects data, tracks trends, analyzes and forecasts economic processes, studies on social shifts, the structure of trade relations, the environment, agriculture, technology, taxation, etc.

Most OECD research and analysis materials are published in open press.

OECD evolution

The OECD arose on the basis of the Organization for European Economic Cooperation, which was created to distribute American and Canadian aid, channeled under the Marshall Plan for the post-war reconstruction of Europe. The main objective of the OECD, which was created as the successor of the OEEC in 1961, is to build a healthy economy in the Member States, improve its efficiency, mutual grinding of their market systems, spread freedom of trade and contribute to the further development of both industrialized and developing countries .

Over the thirty years of the Organization’s existence, the focus of its analytical work has gradually shifted from Member States proper to analysis of the development of countries - currently almost all members of the world community - professing the principles of a market economy. For example, the Organization offers all the experience it has gained to the services of states engaged in building a market economy, especially those that are moving from a centrally planned economy to a capitalist system. The OECD is also involved in an increasingly concrete dialogue on economic policy issues with the dynamically developing countries of Asia and Latin America.

However, the OECD's work profile is expanding not only geographically. From analyzing the development of specific areas of economic and social policy in specific OECD member states, we are moving to studying their interaction, not only within the Organization itself, but also on a global scale. The Organization’s area of \u200b\u200binterest includes such problems as, for example, the impact of social policies on the functioning of the economy, or the impact of globalization processes on the economies of individual countries, which can both open up new growth prospects and provoke a defensive reaction, which is reflected in increased protectionism.

As the OECD expands its contacts all over the world, its sphere of interests expands. The OECD's goal in the upcoming post-industrial era is to closely interconnect the economic ties of member countries with the future prosperous global economy based on scientific principles.

Organization Structure

Committees

Representatives of OECD countries meet among themselves and exchange information within the framework of relevant profile committees. These committees, which are attended by representatives of national governments or the respective permanent missions of member countries located, like the Secretariat, in Paris. All work is carried out under the guidance of a Council vested with decision-making authority. The Council includes one representative from each member country, as well as a representative of the European Commission. The Council holds its meetings on a regular basis at the level of ambassadors of member countries to the OECD, at these meetings the general directions of the Organization's activities are developed. Once a year, meetings of the Council are held at the level of heads of ministries, when foreign ministers, finance, etc. take part in its work, who raise the most important issues and draw public attention to them, as well as establish priorities for the work of the OECD for the coming year. .

Specialized committees hold their meetings to develop new ideas and evaluate the progress achieved in narrower areas, such as trade, public sector management, development assistance, financial markets, etc. The OECD bodies include more than 200 committees, working groups and expert groups. About 40 thousand senior officials of national governments come to their meetings annually to organize, review the results and participate in the work of the OECD Secretariat. Thanks to electronic communications, they have the ability to remotely access Organization documents and exchange information through OECD data networks.

Secretariat

Secretariat staff (1,900) directly or indirectly provide OECD committees. About 700 economists, scientists, lawyers and representatives of other professions who are employees of the respective directorates carry out research and analytical activities.

The work of the Secretariat is led by the OECD Secretary General and his four Deputies. The Secretary General also presides over Council meetings, being the most important link between the national missions to the OECD and the Secretariat.

The official languages \u200b\u200bof the OECD are English and French. The staff is recruited in OECD countries, however, for the duration of their work, they are considered international employees and do not represent the interests of the respective states. When hiring employees, the OECD does not apply any national quotas; the personnel policy of the Organization is the hiring of people with high qualifications in relevant areas, taking into account their work experience and nationality.

Financing

OECD work is funded by contributions from member countries. The size of the annual contribution of Member States to the budget of the Organization is calculated according to a certain formula based on relevant economic indicators. The largest payer is the United States, which provides 25 percent of the OECD budget, with Japan the second largest contributor. With the approval of the Council, member countries are entitled to additional funding for individual programs or projects.

The annual budget, currently equal to approximately $ 300 million, and the OECD annual work plan are determined by member states at Council meetings.

Work results

Unlike the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, the OECD does not distribute funds. The organization is primarily a forum for the development of new ideas on the basis of scientific research and analysis of socio-economic policies and their discussion with the aim of assisting national governments in the development of both a common policy agreed upon within the OECD and national policies of the respective states pursued both in internal affairs, and in other international forums.

Despite the fact that the OECD's role in these matters is not always decisive, it is nonetheless extremely important in the eyes of member governments. Work within the OECD is a highly efficient process that begins with data collection and includes both the analysis phase and the collective discussion stage of various policy areas. The effectiveness of the OECD is based on cross-checking of proposed decisions by national governments, multilateral monitoring of their implementation and the mutual influence of countries in adhering to commitments or implementing reforms. It was the backstage work within the OECD that made it possible to determine the cost of subsidies to agriculture, which subsequently became a decisive factor for concluding agreements on their agreed reduction. Interdisciplinary research on the causes of rising unemployment and the fight against this phenomenon served as the impetus that led governments to develop appropriate measures to combat it. The identification of obstacles to effective work, economic growth and modernization and their consequences often prompts national governments to make tough political decisions aimed at improving the efficiency of the economy. The OECD's analytical work and its efforts to reach consensus on trade in services has contributed to the successful completion of the Uruguay Round of GATT negotiations.

In some cases, discussions initiated within the framework of the OECD lead to full-scale negotiations under the auspices of the organization, as a result of which member countries agree to develop certain rules for cooperation on an international scale. These negotiations can end with the conclusion of formal agreements (for example, on combating corruption, on export loans, capital flows and foreign direct investment), and the development of certain standards and models in international taxation, or recommendations and main directions of environmental policy .

Most of the materials collected and analyzed as part of the OECD work are made public through a wide range of publications: from press releases and regularly published collections of data and forecasts to one-time publications (or monographs) on specific issues, from annual economic surveys for each member country to regularly published reviews on education systems, science, and technology and environmental policy issues. Twice a year a collection of “Economic Outlook” is published, an “Employment Forecast” and a report on OECD policy on international assistance are published annually. OECD publications enjoy well-deserved authority, and, perhaps, it is precisely by these means that the public judges the activities of the Organization.

Secretariat structure

The activities of the Secretariat are structured in accordance with the structure of the committees; Committees are organized into directorates, which also include working groups and subgroups formed by committees. Nevertheless, it should be noted that the work of the OECD is increasingly being built on the basis of interdisciplinary and “horizontal” studies that go beyond individual sectors. For example, in the framework of the OECD's “International Future” program, aimed at proactively identifying new problems in the field of socio-economic policy, a wide range of scientific disciplines is involved. Specialists in the field of macroeconomics, taxation, entrepreneurial activity and technology work together with labor market and social policy researchers on the problems of employment and unemployment. Separate study of environmental problems and economic processes is already unthinkable. The problems of trade and investment are inextricably linked. The development of biotechnology affects policies in the fields of agriculture, industry, science, environmental protection and economic development. Studying the problems of globalization will inevitably require the involvement of specialists from almost all areas of socio-economic policy.

A number of m / n organizations were created by developing countries. The most famous Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)created by oil producing powers in 1960 Members of this organization are countries whose economy is largely dependent on oil export revenues.

OPEC currently has 12 members: Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Venezuela, Qatar, Libya, United Arab Emirates, Algeria, Nigeria, Ecuador, Angola. In 2008, Russia announced its readiness to become a permanent observer in the cartel.

The goal of OPEC is to coordinate activities and develop a common policy regarding oil production among the countries participating in the organization, maintaining stable oil prices, ensuring stable oil supplies to consumers, and obtaining a return on investment in the oil industry.

In the 70's. OPEC has achieved significant success, but in the future its value for several reasons weakened. But, at present, it again plays a crucial role in the world energy market, regulating the volumes of production and trade in oil and oil products by member countries.

A characteristic feature of world economic development is the increasing role informal economic organizations :

1) World Economic Forum  - An international non-governmental organization whose activities are aimed at the development of international cooperation. Forums are held in Davos (Switzerland).

Created in 1971. WEF members are about 1000 large companies and organizations from around the world, including Russia. The permanent executive body is the Board of Directors. The headquarters is located in the suburbs of Geneva - Colony. The budget is formed at the expense of annual membership fees and funds contributed by the participants of the Forum. The membership is reviewed annually.

The founder and permanent leader of the WEF is Professor from Switzerland Klaus Schwab. On his initiative, the first symposium was held in 1971, bringing together about 450 leaders of leading European companies to discuss the prospects of the global economy and develop a common strategy. The first meetings, which took place under the auspices of the Commission of the European Communities (now the European Commission), mainly discussed issues of improving the position of Western Europe in the competition. Over the years, the topic has gradually expanded; political and economic issues affecting other regions, problems of improving the mechanism of world trade, and correct partnership have been included in the agenda. In the mid-70s, influential people from around the world (members of governments and business leaders) began to be invited to Davos, and in the next decade the forum acquired the status of one of the main events of the year.

The WEF's main event is annual meetings, which are traditionally held in the world famous ski resort of Davos in late January - early February (with the exception of the session in New York in 2002, held in solidarity with the United States after the September 11, 2001 attacks).

By tradition, here, in an informal setting, the key issues of our time, prospects for economic development, strengthening stability and peace, and the situation in “hot spots” are discussed. No resolutions or other documents are accepted here, but the Forum provides an opportunity to meet and discuss in an informal setting many key issues for the global economy, establish new business contacts, and hold informal meetings “face to face” and “without ties”.

Since 1979, WEF experts have been compiling the annual Global Competitiveness Report, which evaluates more than 100 countries around the world based on two main indicators - the potential growth index and the competitiveness index. Recently, the WEF has begun to issue additional ratings of individual regions and sectors of the economy. In particular, in 2005 the report “Competitiveness of the Arab World” was published, the first study of its kind for the Arab region; By the 60th anniversary session of the UN General Assembly, the WEF published a report on the partnership between the state and business in solving problems such as the problem of poverty in the world; Within the framework of the Global Governance Initiative, the WEF presented a report on successes in resolving global problems in 2005.

Within the framework of the Forum, professional interest groups or clubs have been created and operate. So, recently formed the association "Pioneers of high technologies" (includes leaders of the most advanced companies in the field of scientific and technological progress), as well as the "Forum of new global leaders", bringing together well-known leaders no older than 40 years, "who have demonstrated their commitment to improving the situation in the world ".

The beginning of cooperation between Russia and the WEF was laid in 1986. Since 1987, Russian delegations have been constantly participating in the annual meetings of the Forum; regularly, visiting meetings of the WEF are regularly held in Russia.

Big eight  - An international club uniting the governments of the seven most industrialized countries of the world and Russia. The G8 is not an international organization, it is not based on an international treaty, it does not have a charter and a secret

The World Trade Organization is an international organization established in 1995 with the aim of liberalizing international trade and regulating trade and political relations of member states. The WTO is the successor to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), concluded in 1947 and for almost 50 years actually acting as an international organization.

The WTO is responsible for the development and implementation of new trade agreements, and also monitors compliance by members of the organization with all agreements signed by most countries of the world and ratified by their parliaments. The WTO builds its activities on the basis of decisions made in 1986-1994 in the framework of the Uruguay Round and earlier GATT agreements. Discussion of problems and decision-making on global problems of liberalization and the prospects for further development of world trade are held in the framework of multilateral trade negotiations (rounds). The so-called Uruguay Round of negotiations, which lasted from 1986 to 1994, was the most successful. The participating countries agreed that within the framework of this organization trade will not only be regulated (which has been the subject of the GATT since 1948), but also in connection with the growing role of services in post-industrial society and their growing share in world trade ( at the beginning of the XXI century - about 20%) the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) was adopted, which regulates this area of \u200b\u200bforeign trade. The Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) was also adopted, which regulates trade issues of rights to the results of intellectual activity and is an integral part of the legal foundation of the WTO.

To date, 8 rounds of such negotiations have been held, including Uruguay, and in 2001 the ninth was launched in Doha, Qatar.

WTO headquarters is located in Geneva, Switzerland.

The head of the WTO (CEO) is Pascal Lamy.

As of July 2008, 153 countries were members of the WTO. Each of them is obliged to provide the other members of the organization with the most favored nation treatment in trade.

The official supreme body of the organization is the WTO Ministerial Conference, which meets at least once every two years. During the existence of the WTO, six such conferences were held, almost each of which was accompanied by active protests from opponents of globalization. The current tasks of the organization between conferences are entrusted to the WTO General Council, which meets several times a year in Geneva. The Council is subordinate to a special commission for monitoring the trade policies of the participating countries, designed to monitor their fulfillment of their obligations under the WTO.

One of the most important tools for resolving disputes between member countries within the WTO is the Dispute Resolution Commission (DSB), a quasi-judicial body designed to impartially and quickly resolve disagreements between the parties.

The main part of trade disputes within the WTO are disputes between the largest subjects of international trade - the European Union and the United States. For example, the conflict was widely publicized over the high duties imposed by the USA in March 2002 on the import of European steel in order to support the American steel industry. The European Union regarded this as discrimination prohibited by WTO rules and challenged these measures with a complaint to the Commission, which recognized measures to protect the US market in violation of WTO rules. The United States was forced to abolish discriminatory duties.

The main tasks of the WTO are the liberalization of international trade, ensuring its fairness and predictability, promoting economic growth and improving the economic well-being of people. WTO member countries, which currently number more than 140, are addressing these challenges by monitoring the implementation of multilateral agreements, conducting trade negotiations, regulating trade in accordance with the WTO mechanism, as well as assisting developing countries and reviewing national economic policies of states.

The fundamental principles and rules of the WTO are: trade without discrimination, i.e. mutual provision of the most favored nation treatment (MFN) in trade and mutual provision of the national regime to goods and services of foreign origin; regulation of trade mainly by tariff methods; refusal to use quantitative and other restrictions; trade policy transparency; resolution of trade disputes through consultation and negotiation.

The most important functions of the WTO are: monitoring the implementation of agreements and agreements of the package of documents of the Uruguay Round; multilateral trade negotiations and consultations between interested member countries; resolution of trade disputes; monitoring national trade policies of member countries; technical assistance to developing countries on issues related to the competence of the WTO; cooperation with international specialized organizations.

According to the WTO, Germany is the leader among exporting countries. In 2008, Germany's exports amounted to $ 1,661.9 billion. China should not follow, with $ 1,428.3 billion. The United States closes the top three. The value of their exports in 2008 amounted to 1287.4 billion dollars.

Figure 1 - The largest exporting countries and the volume of their commodity exports in 2005-2008, billion US dollars

In the developed countries of Europe, the USA, Canada, China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Singapore and others. The main export goods are automobiles and airplanes, machinery and equipment, computers and other electronics, sophisticated household appliances, and clothes.

Figure 2 - The main importing countries of Chinese products and their share in the total exports of China in 2008,%

The United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) is one of the main bodies of the United Nations, which coordinates cooperation in the economic, social fields of the UN and its specialized agencies.

ECOSOC was established by the Charter of the United Nations as the main body responsible for coordinating the economic, social and other related activities of 14 specialized UN agencies, nine functional commissions and five regional commissions. The Council also receives reports from 11 UN funds and programs. The Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) serves as the central forum for discussing international economic and social issues and for making policy recommendations for Member States and the United Nations system. He is responsible for:

Contributing to raising the standard of living, full employment and economic and social progress;

Identification of ways to resolve international problems in the economic and social fields and in the field of health;

Promoting international cooperation in the field of culture and education;

Promoting universal respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms.

He is authorized to conduct or organize research and report on these issues. It also has the authority to assist in the preparation and organization of major international conferences on economic and social issues and related issues, as well as to facilitate the implementation of agreed follow-up actions to these conferences. In accordance with its broad mandate, the Council has over 70 percent of the human and financial resources of the entire UN system.

ECOSOC consists of 54 states elected by the General Assembly for a term of three years. There are no restrictions on re-election: a retiring ECOSOC member can be re-elected immediately. Each member of ECOSOC has one vote. Decisions are made by a majority of the votes of the members of ECOSOC present and voting. Resolution of the UN General Assembly No. 2847 of December 20, 1971 (A / RES / 2847 (XXVI)) established the following procedure for allocating seats in ECOSOC:

Table 1 - the order of distribution of seats in ECOSOC

Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) is an international economic organization of developed countries that recognize the principles of representative democracy and a free market economy.

Created in 1948 under the name Organization of European Economic Cooperation to coordinate European economic reconstruction projects under the Marshall Plan.

Headquarters in Paris.

Secretary General (since 2006) - Jose Angel Gurria Trevigno (Mexico).

The governing body of the OECD is the council of representatives of member countries. All decisions in it are taken by consensus.

In the 1960s, the composition and geographical scope of the OECD expanded, and now the organization includes 32 states, including most EU member states. The organization also takes part in the work of the organization as an individual member of the European Commission (an EU body).

OECD member countries account for about 60% of global GDP.

Discussions held by the governments of OECD member countries are based on information and analytical reviews from the OECD Secretariat based in Paris. The relevant departments of the Secretariat are engaged in data collection, tracking trends, analyzing and forecasting economic processes, studying social shifts, the structure of trade relations, the environment, agriculture, technology, taxation, etc. Most OECD research and analysis materials are published in open press.

Over the long years of the Organization’s existence, the focus of its analytical work has gradually shifted from Member States proper to analysis of the development of countries - currently almost all members of the world community - professing the principles of a market economy. For example, the Organization offers all the experience it has gained to the services of states engaged in building a market economy, especially those that are moving from a centrally planned economy to a capitalist system. The OECD is also involved in an increasingly concrete dialogue on economic policy issues with the dynamically developing countries of Asia and Latin America.

However, the OECD's work profile is expanding not only geographically. From analyzing the development of specific areas of economic and social policy in specific OECD member states, we are moving to studying their interaction, not only within the Organization itself, but also on a global scale. The Organization’s area of \u200b\u200binterest includes such problems as, for example, the impact of social policies on the functioning of the economy, or the impact of globalization processes on the economies of individual countries, which can both open up new growth prospects and provoke a defensive reaction, which is reflected in increased protectionism.

As the OECD expands its contacts all over the world, its sphere of interests expands. The OECD's goal in the upcoming post-industrial era is to closely interconnect the economic ties of member countries with the future prosperous world economy based on scientific principles.

The annual budget, currently equal to approximately $ 300 million, and the OECD annual work plan are determined by member states at Council meetings.

The largest, and perhaps the most well-known structural unit of the OECD is its Directorate for Economic Affairs, working, under the supervision of the OECD chief economist, to monitor and analyze macroeconomic indicators, along with structural or microeconomic issues. Twice a year, in June and December, the Directorate publishes “Economic Prospects”, which assesses the trends that emerged last year, as well as a forecast of economic development for the next biennium. The Directorate of Statistics collects statistics on OECD countries. The data are collected in standardized forms, allowing them to be compared on an international scale and published in both regular and electronic formats.

Trade is the engine of economic development, which in the era of globalization will work at full capacity. The Trade Directorate is developing multilateral rules and an international discipline on trading activities that will become necessary to maintain global trade order in connection with the development and expansion of trade in this new era. The Uruguay round of negotiations held under the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade resolved many issues in this area. Nevertheless, the OECD Trade Directorate, as before, will be involved in the analysis and preparation of new trade negotiations that will touch upon completely new categories of trade rules related to environmental protection, competition policy, industrial and technological policy.

High unemployment, unstable and low earnings, poverty, an insufficient level of education tear the social fabric of society and threaten the destruction of the economy. The Directorate for Education, Employment, Labor and Social Affairs oversees work in many interrelated areas of socio-economic policy aimed at preventing the exclusion of certain groups of the population from the social life of society. The Directorate monitors the dynamics of employment and wage structures, offering an analysis of key trends and main directions of labor market policy. The Directorate’s interests also include studying the effectiveness of healthcare and social security programs, the role of women in the workforce, and the impact of technological factors on workers. Through a separate group, the Center for Research and New Developments in Education, the Directorate is studying new teaching and learning methods.

Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) is the largest economic association (forum), which accounts for over 57% of world GDP and 42% of world trade (as of 2007).

Established in 1989 in Canberra at the initiative of the Prime Ministers of Australia and New Zealand.

APEC is formed as a free consultative forum without any rigid organizational structure or large bureaucratic apparatus. The APEC Secretariat, based in Singapore, includes only 23 diplomats representing APEC member countries, as well as 20 local employees.

Initially, APEC's highest body was annual ministerial meetings. Since 1993, the main form of organizational activity of APEC has been annual summits (informal meetings) of leaders of APEC countries, in the course of which declarations are adopted that summarize the Forum's overall results for the year and determine the prospects for further activities. Sessions of the ministers of foreign affairs and the economy are held more frequently.

The main working bodies of the APEC: the Business Advisory Council, three expert committees (trade and investment committee, economic committee, administrative budget committee) and 11 working groups in various sectors of the economy.

APEC includes 19 countries of the Asia-Pacific region (APR) and two territories - Hong Kong (Hong Kong, which is part of the PRC) and Taiwan, so its members are officially called not APEC member countries, but APEC economies.

In 1998, simultaneously with the admission to APEC of three new members - Russia, Vietnam and Peru - a 10-year moratorium on further expansion of the membership of the Forum was introduced. APEC membership has been submitted by India and Mongolia.

The main goals of the organization are to ensure a free open trade regime and strengthen regional cooperation.

Russia is interested in participating in the integration projects of the Asia-Pacific Region (APR), in which Siberia and the Far East play a special role, primarily in the energy and transport fields. They can become a kind of "land bridge" between the countries of the so-called Pacific Ring and Europe.

In November 2012, the APEC Summit in Russia is planned. The summit should be held in Vladivostok on the Russian island.

Table 2 - Key APEC foreign trade indicators, trillion US $

In 2008, there was a trend towards a decrease in trade quotas. Thus, the export quota of APEC countries decreased by 2.4% compared to the previous year, and the import quota - by 3.4%. Thus, due to the financial crisis, foreign trade turnover decreased by 5.8%.

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