The political goal of the Government is for Bulgaria to achieve full membership in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) by the end of 2026.
This was stated by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport and Communications, Grozdan Karadjov, during the forum “Partnership for Development: The State and Business in Bulgaria’s Accession Process to the OECD,” organised by the British – Bulgarian Business Association. The event brought together representatives of more than 70 companies, institutions, and international organisations.
“OECD membership is a clear signal to the global economic community that Bulgaria offers a stable and predictable business environment. It is a guarantee of more effective public policies, higher economic growth, an improved international credit rating, and a better quality of life for citizens,” emphasised Karadjov.
He recalled that at the heart of the creation of the organisation 78 years ago stood U.S. Secretary of State George Marshall – the architect of Europe’s post-war recovery.
“Since Bulgaria’s first official expression of interest in joining the OECD in 2007, the country has carried out large-scale reforms in all areas of public life – from tax policy and labour legislation to combating corruption and promoting fair competition,” the Deputy Prime Minister noted.
Bulgaria has already successfully completed 16 of the 25 technical reviews conducted by OECD committees and is actively participating in their meetings and policy discussions. According to Karadjov, the experience of countries such as Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, and the Baltic States demonstrates that membership leads to a significant increase in foreign direct investment and a doubling of trade flows, particularly in the transport sector.
“Thebenefitsof the process are felt even before accession – becausethe preparation itself serves as a driver for internal reforms and the modernisation of state systems,” Karadjov added. He stressed that the National Assembly plays a key role in successfully completing the process by adopting the necessary legislative amendments as a top priority.
“At the same time, the private sector must respond to the new standards and turn them into a competitive advantage,” the Deputy Prime Minister stated.
