site.btaDeputy PM Karadjov Convinced Bulgaria Will Become Full-fledged OECD Member Next Year

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport and Communications Grozdan Karadjov expressed confidence that Bulgaria will become a full member of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in 2026. He attended a business breakfast organized by the British Bulgarian Business Association, held here on Thursday.

“I am convinced that through consistent efforts by the executive and legislative branches, and in close partnership with you—the private sector—Bulgaria will become a full member of the OECD in 2026,” Karadjov said during the event, titled “Partnering for Progress: Government and Business in Bulgaria’s OECD Journey.”

“This membership will allow us to fully participate in shaping global solutions on key issues—from innovation and digital transition to climate policies, education, and sustainable development,” the Deputy Prime Minister added.

According to Karadjov, over the past 15 years Bulgaria has made significant progress toward joining the OECD, carrying out extensive reforms in all areas of public life. 

He noted that as of October 2025, Bulgaria has successfully completed 16 out of a total of 25 OECD committee reviews and is actively participating in discussions and technical meetings. 

“Our political goal is to complete this technical phase in the next few months so that we can take the final decisive step toward full membership in 2026,” he said, emphasizing that joining the OECD is not only a strategic foreign policy priority for Bulgaria but also a key domestic economic and social priority. 

“Being part of the OECD sends a very clear signal to the entire world and the global economic community that Bulgaria now offers a stable and predictable business environment. This membership guarantees more effective public policies, higher economic growth, a better international credit rating, and a higher quality of life for our citizens—which, ultimately, is our shared goal,” Karadjov stated. 

He pointed out that the experience of countries such as Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, and the Baltic states shows that OECD membership leads to a significant increase in foreign direct investment and a doubling of trade flows, particularly in the transport sector. 

Karadjov also acknowledged that the accession process comes with challenges but expressed confidence that the government has the determination to overcome them in partnership with the business community. 

“In this room, we in the government see partners who understand that our acceptance into the OECD is not just another institutional objective—it is a national cause,” Karadjov concluded. 

The event, “Partnering for Progress: Government and Business in Bulgaria’s OECD Journey,” is part of a series dedicated to the 10th anniversary of the British Bulgarian Business Association. Today’s business breakfast was attended by government representatives, including Minister of Justice Georgi Georgiev, Deputy Minister of Economy Doncho Barbalov, and others.