site.btaJustice Minister: Bulgaria's OECD Accession Remains Government's Strategic Priority

Bulgaria's accession to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) remains a strategic priority for the government, Justice Minister Nikolay Naydenov said during a meeting in Paris with Janos Bertok, Deputy Director for Public Governance at OECD, the Ministry of Justice said in a press release on Tuesday. Naydenov was accompanied by experts from the ministry's directorate responsible for coordinating Bulgaria's OECD accession process.

The meeting focused on progress in implementing the recommendations of the OECD Public Governance Committee and the Working Party on Public Integrity and Anti-Corruption. Discussions covered reforms in the judiciary, anti-corruption measures, and lobbying regulation, all of which are among the key priorities for Bulgaria's accession to the OECD.

Naydenov briefed OECD representatives on proposed amendments to the Judicial System Act aimed at strengthening the independence, transparency, and accountability of the judiciary, as well as reinforcing mechanisms for the accountability of the Prosecutor General.

The discussion also took place against the backdrop of the OECD's recently published Digital Government 2025 report, which found that Bulgaria remains significantly below the OECD average in indicators related to digital government and open data. Bulgaria scored 0.37 points on the OECD Digital Government Index, compared with the organisation's average of 0.70 points.

The Bulgarian side also presented the latest developments in anti-corruption policy, including the adoption of the new Act on Counteracting Corruption among Persons Holding Public Office and the safeguards envisaged for the establishment of an independent anti-corruption commission. Participants also noted the adoption of the Transparency in Interest Representation Act, which regulates lobbying activities through a public register and clear transparency requirements in line with OECD standards.

At the conclusion of the meeting, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to continuing reforms in close cooperation with the OECD, with the aim of strengthening the rule of law and achieving the highest standards of integrity and good governance, the press release said.