Minister Georg Georgiev: Bulgaria's accession to the OECD is a strategic choice for the future of our country
13 February 2026 News
Bulgaria's accession to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), following its accession to Schengen and the Eurozone, is not just a technical process or a foreign policy goal.
This is a strategic choice for the future of our country, for the way we manage our economy, our institutions, and our public policies, and for our establishment as a modern and prosperous state with a democratic society and a developed market economy.
This was stated by Minister of Foreign Affairs Georg Georgiev during his speech at a public lecture by OECD Secretary-General Mathias Corman, organized by the Diplomatic Institute to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, together with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski”.
Georg Georgiev emphasized the focused efforts of the government to achieve rapid progress on this pivotal foreign policy priority of our country. According to him, Bulgaria has embarked irreversibly and decisively on this path with a clear determination to complete the process, despite the difficulties and challenges accompanying any accession process.
To this end, the efforts of successive Bulgarian governments have been aligned, embracing as a non-partisan cause the establishment of our country as a predictable and reliable partner in the global economic community, the Minister said.
Our top diplomat also expressed satisfaction with Bulgaria's initiative to host the OECD Global Skills Summit in 2028, which, in his words, is further confirmation of our strong and long-term interest in cooperation with the OECD on this important topic.
Minister Georgiev said that the presence of the OECD Secretary-General is a clear sign of the high level of cooperation and personal commitment to the processes of expanding and consolidating the Organisation as a global community of 38 countries from five continents, united by shared values – democracy, good governance, and a sustainable and inclusive economy. “We highly value the vision of an expanding Organisation – one that integrates more nations into higher standards of governance to ultimately secure a better quality of life,” our top diplomat added.
The Secretary-General of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, Mathias Corman, who is visiting Bulgaria on the occasion of the presentation of the third OECD Economic Survey of Bulgaria, delivered a lecture entitled “Bulgaria on the Path to OECD Membership”. He thanked Foreign Minister Georg Georgiev for the progress achieved in the work on Bulgaria's accession to the OECD and for the fact that Bulgaria continues to move in the right direction.
“It is a sincere pleasure for me to be here with you today to discuss Bulgaria's path toward OECD membership – reflecting on the progress we have achieved together, as well as the benefits that this process brings and will continue to bring to the people of Bulgaria and to the Organisation,” the OECD Secretary-General said. Member States share a commitment to preserving individual freedom, democracy, the rule of law, human rights, and the principles of the market economy, Mathias Corman added.
The event was attended by the Rector of Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”, Professor Dr. Georgi Valchev; the Dean of the Faculty of Economics of Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”, Associate Professor Dr. Atanas Georgiev; the Director of the Diplomatic Institute under the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Tanya Mihaylova; as well as representatives of the diplomatic corps, state institutions, the academic community, lecturers, and students.
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