Ukraine Accelerates Path Toward OECD Membership Amid Deep Reforms

Ukraine is preparing to join the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) as early as next year, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal announced during the opening of the OECD Ministerial Council Meeting in Paris, The Gaze reports.

“Despite the war, Ukraine continues implementing reforms across all sectors to strengthen the economy and lay the foundation for joining the club of developed countries,” Shmyhal said. “We expect to join the OECD next year.”

According to the Prime Minister, Ukraine’s cooperation with the OECD has intensified since launching its country program two years ago. So far, 23 joint initiatives have been implemented, and Ukraine has joined eight legal instruments of the organization.

Among the key achievements highlighted by Shmyhal:

• The creation and implementation of a robust anti-corruption infrastructure, with Ukraine’s national program now meeting 80% of OECD standards.

• The expansion of digital governance tools like the open data portal, the public procurement system Prozorro, and the DREAM platform for transparent reconstruction.

• Sweeping deregulation efforts, with nearly 2,000 outdated instruments abolished to ease business operations and align with EU standards.

• Strong performance in privatization and corporatization, with revenues exceeding expectations by 2.5 times and the introduction of independent supervisory boards in state-owned enterprises.

The OECD’s Economic Survey of Ukraine and Integrity Review acknowledged tangible progress in state investment management and anti-corruption reforms. One major milestone: everyday corruption experienced by citizens has decreased from 70% to 15% in recent years.

“We highly value the OECD’s role as a key platform for dialogue, policy shaping, and knowledge exchange,” Shmyhal said, thanking Secretary-General Mathias Cormann for his leadership and support.

Ukraine’s upcoming membership bid is supported by numerous OECD members, including Australia, Canada, Lithuania, and Costa Rica, which currently chairs the OECD Council.

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