Foreign relations of Estonia originates in the Nordic countries (principally Finland and Sweden), to which Estonia sends 42% of its exports (as compared to 6.5% going to Russia, 8.8% to Latvia, and 4.7% to Lithuania). On the other hand, the Estonian political system, its flat rate of income tax, and its non-welfare-state model distinguish it from the other Nordic states, and indeed from many other European countries. Estonia is a party to 181 international organizations, including the BIS, CBSS, CE, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EU (member since 1 May 2004), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, International Maritime Organization, Interpol, IOC,
Oil shale in Estonia increasing the use of other energy sources such as renewable energy and natural gas. In 2016, 73% of oil shale mined in Estonia was used for power generation, and about 90% of Estonia's electricity was generated from oil shale. About 15% of produced electricity was exported to Finland and Latvia. Eesti Energia owns the largest oil shale-fuelled power stations (Narva Power Stations) in the world. In addition, a new 300 MW station, which will use circulating fluidised bed boiler technology, is under construction in Auvere. In 2010, 11.4% of the heat supply in Estonia was generated by direct combustion of