Action plan for Ukraine’s accession to OECD could be signed in June - PM Shmyhal

That’s according to Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, who spoke in Kyiv, delivering a joint statement to the press alongside OECD Secretary General Mathias Kormann, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

"Membership in the OECD is about certain living standards, which we also strive to meet. Today, we clearly understand the further measures that Ukraine needs to take within the framework of the initial dialogue regarding joining the organization. We are jointly working on the development of a program for Ukraine, the implementation of which will help move to the road map for obtaining membership," Shmyhal noted.

Addressing Kormann, Shmyhal said Ukraine welcomed the proposal regarding "the possibility of signing such a program already in June of this year."

He also emphasized that Ukraine's accession to the OECD will be a powerful signal for investors, contributing to the successful development of Ukraine, well-being of citizens, and its European integration.

Shmyhal noted that the opening of the OECD coordination office in Kyiv, which is scheduled for March 1, will allow coordinating joint work on the reconstruction and recovery of Ukraine, while simultaneously improving the implementation of OECD standards and tools in Ukraine.

"Strengthening cooperation with the OECD is one of the key priorities for the transformation of our economy and promoting its deep integration into international markets. Together, we have already achieved successes and significant important results, such as anti-corruption reform, entrepreneurship, corporate and state management, improvement of the tax system, investments, green economy, competitive economy, education, energy, and decentralization," the head of government said.

In addition, he emphasized that an important step in deepening cooperation with the OECD in the anti-corruption sphere was Ukraine joining the OECD working group on combating bribery in international business transactions.

As reported, on October 5, 2022, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development announced the start of dialogue regarding Ukraine’s accession. Shmyhal then stated that this procedure precedes the discussion of the OECD Council in this regard and the preparation of the corresponding road map.

On behalf of the state, Shmyhal submitted an application for joining the OECD on July 5 on the sidelines of the Lugano Recovery Conference. On September 29, the head of government delivered a speech at the opening of the OECD Council meeting, where the application was considered.