2016 Annual Review of Labour Relations and Social Dialogue Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania MA. ELZA UNGURE AND DR. AIJA LULLE February 2017  In 2016 Latvia became a full member of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development(OECD) following Estonia, which became a member of OECD member in 2010. Lithuania still has candidate status at the OECD.  At the macro level, all three Baltic States demonstrated slight economic growth in the third quarter of 2016 with GDP growth of 0.2 per cent in Estonia, 0.8 per cent in Latvia, and 0.1 per cent in Lithuania.  Estonia’s economy is expected to grow by 2.3 per cent in 2017 and 2.6 per cent in 2018, Latvia’s by 2.8 per cent in 2017 and 3.0 per cent in 2018, and Lithuania’s by 2.7 per cent in 2017 and 2.8 per cent in 2018.  On 3 October 2016 Estonia elected a new State president, Kersti Kaljulaid. Both Estonia and Lithuania had governmental changes in late 2016; Estonian government is led by Prime Minister Juri Ratas, as of 23 November 2016, and the Lithuanian government by Prime Minister Saulius Skvernelis as of 22 November 2016.  T here have not been significant changes regarding trade union and employers’ organizations. Trade union density, in particular, remains rather low in all three Baltic States. There are also signs that practices of collective negotiations and bargaining, as well as of social dialogue, albeit exercised by trade unions, other organizations and general public, often do not have the desired impact and effect on the policymaking process as they can be easily disregarded by policy-makers and legislators.  From 2011 until 2016 Norway allocated € 8.1 million of the Norway Grants to promote decent work and tripartite dialogue in 13 beneficiary countries, including Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. Norway involved its social partners in the implementation of a variety of projects to strengthen cooperation across national borders and transfer knowledge and experience from Norway, where a commitment to tripartite dialogue has helped to safeguard jobs and labour standards. Several such projects were carried out in Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.