site.btaBill Regulating Status of OECD Officials, Property in Bulgaria Clears First-Reading Committee Stage

The Budget and Finance Committee of Bulgaria's National Assembly on Thursday voted, 11-3 with one abstention, to approve on first reading a Bill to Ratify an Agreement between the Republic of Bulgaria and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) on the Privileges, Immunities and Facilities Granted to the Organisation, signed in Paris on June 3, 2025.

The ratifying bill was presented by Deputy Foreign Minister Nikolay Pavlov, who pointed out that this measure, among other, is required from this country for the completion of its OECD accession process, which may be achieved within 2026.

The Agreement constitutes an integral part of the general obligations assumed by candidate countries and provides conditions for the independent and free discharge of the functional duties of OECD representatives in Bulgarian territory. It regulates the status of the Organisation, the immunity of its officials, the inviolability of its premises and vehicles, the tax concessions and legal protection in a way similar to the immunities and privileges granted to other international organizations in the territory of Bulgaria, the Council of Ministers writes in its reasons to the draft legislation.

The new Agreement replaces and builds on the Agreement between the Republic of Bulgaria and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development on the Privileges, Immunities and Facilities Granted to the Organisation, signed on October 11, 1996 and in force for Bulgaria as from December 19, 1996.