05.10.2021
Minister of Foreign Affairs Svetlan Stoev reiterated Bulgaria’s determination to join the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) to OECD Secretary-General Mathias Cormann. The discussion that was joined by Atanas Pekanov, Deputy Prime Minister for EU Funds Management, and by Valery Beltchev, Minister of Finance, was in Paris within the MCM 2021 Part II.
Bulgaria fully shares the values and principles on which the OECD global community is based and stands ready to actively participate in the decision-making process about important global agenda items while it promotes the OECD principles and objectives regionally and internationally, Minister Stoev said.
Mathias Cormann congratulated Bulgaria on the visible progress made in its preparation for accession to the OECD and encouraged the country to continue to take energetic steps towards stronger compliance with all OECD standards.
In his statement at the OECD Ministerial Council Meeting earlier in the day the OECD Secretary-General vowed his will to work to create opportunities to push forward the accession process of the six applicant countries, Bulgaria being one of them.
In his keynote address at the opening of the forum the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, as chair of the 2021 meeting, underlined the US support for the consolidation of the OECD on the basis of the values of democracy, open market economy, rule of law and human rights. In his words, the OECD plays a key role in meeting modern challenges – economic post-COVID-19 recovery, climate change, digital transformation and the tackling of inequalities. Any country that shares the OECD’s values and meets the OECD’s standards should pursue a path to membership, Mr. Blinken said.
The MCM participants – ministers of foreign affairs, finance, economy and trade of the 38 OECD member states and of the partner states – joined the 60th anniversary commemoration of the OECD. To mark the anniversary the member states approved a statement – The Vision for the OECD for the Next Decade.
Bulgaria’s accession to the OECD will enable its increasingly active and visible involvement in global economic dialog. Bulgaria’s resolve to contribute to the OECD’s mission to build sustainable and inclusive economies and to address the new challenges was underscored in the Foreign Minister’s special statement that was submitted to the meeting in Paris. Also, the statement stressed the country’s continuing strong political commitment to join the OECD soon.
The MCM 2021 continues on 6 October when Deputy Prime Minister Atanas Pekanov and the Finance Minister will attend breakout group sessions on international tax presentation, trade, transition to net zero emissions, digitalization and building an inclusive future.
Bulgaria officially stated its desire to join the OECD in 2007 and consistently reiterated it over the years. The other applicant countries are: Argentina, Brazil, Croatia, Peru and Romania.
The national preparation for OECD membership is coordinated by a special standing interagency body headed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs while all line ministries and institutions have appointed their representatives.
