PM Glavchev: Joining OECD is a top foreign policy priority for Bulgaria

The process of Bulgaria's accession to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) is helping us to align national policies with the highest global standards. As a future member of the Organisation, we will do our utmost to disseminate OECD best practices and policies in South-Eastern Europe, Bulgaria’s caretaker Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dimitar Glavchev, said in his speech at the OECD Council Meeting at Ministerial level in Paris on May 2.

On the sidelines of the meeting, Glavchev also held talks with OECD Secretary-General Mathias Cormann. Glavchev said that Bulgaria is ready for intensive negotiations.

"Bulgaria has the ambition to go through as many OECD committee reviews as possible this year and I hope the accession process will be finalised as soon as possible. We strive to implement the recommendations addressed to us," Glavchev said at the meeting with Mathias Cormann, the government press office said.

The Bulgarian caretaker Prime Minister pointed out that at the second session of the OECD Global Parliamentary Network held in April, Bulgaria confirmed its commitment to form a special parliamentary committee responsible for discussing and adopting legislation related to the process of the country’s accession to the Organisation.

Caretaker Prime Minister Glavchev also focused on Bulgaria's support to the regional initiatives of the OECD and in particular to the Regional Programme for South Eastern Europe. It promotes reforms in the region in order to strengthen the private sector, attract investments and prepare the countries for EU membership and the implementation of OECD standards.

Glavchev also highlighted Bulgaria’s readiness to make a voluntary financial contribution in support of Ukraine by signing an Agreement on Participation in the OECD Programme for the country. The Agreement was ratified by the National Assembly on 23 April this year.

At the meeting in Paris, the Prime Minister reaffirmed the accession to the OECD as a top foreign policy priority for Bulgaria, alongside the accession to the euro area and full membership of the Schengen area, including by land.

In his words, the work on all the priority policies for the country at national level and within the EU - education, digitalization, green transition, circular economy, will give additional guarantees and impetus for the successful finalisation of the negotiations on accession to the OECD.

"The process of preparation and Bulgaria's accession to the OECD will contribute to our efforts to pursue better policies for better lives," the caretaker Prime Minister added.

He said it was now particularly important for Bulgaria to ensure favourable conditions for fair, transparent and free elections and added that this is the commitment that the current caretaker cabinet has made.

Glavchev noted the consistent and predictable foreign policy of our country, permanently defined by Euro-Atlantic values. In his speech, the Prime Minister also focused on Russia's war against Ukraine.

"We should continue to deepen our cooperation in order to respond to the pressing challenges and opportunities of our time. Together we must do more to ensure peace, stability and prosperity regionally and globally, including through our support for Ukraine," he said.

According to Glavchev, an integrated approach and joint, coordinated efforts are needed to tackle the new challenges that are creating obstacles to the development of the global economy and ensuring world peace and security.