Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha held a meeting in France with the Secretary-General of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Mathias Cormann. The negotiations focused on enhancing cooperation between Ukraine and the OECD, as well as the prospects for deepening engagement with the organization.
This is reported by Finway
Deepening Cooperation with the OECD and Regional Challenges
During the meeting, the parties discussed strengthening cooperation and addressed current regional events, including the impact of the conflict in the Middle East on global security and economic resilience. Special attention was given to the strategy for Ukraine’s integration into the OECD, with an emphasis on the aspiration to obtain candidate status as early as 2026.
“Ukraine is steadily advancing towards OECD membership and aims to obtain candidate status this year. We are ready to move to the next stage. Our integration into the OECD will contribute to Ukraine’s recovery and secure our place in the community of developed democratic states,” said Sybiha.
Ukraine’s Role in Cooperation and Recognition of Partners
Andrii Sybiha emphasized Ukraine’s growing role as a platform for fostering cooperation with Eastern partners. He noted that the opening of an OECD office in Kyiv will create a regional center for implementing the organization’s standards and policies, which will further support the country’s development and its integration into the global economic community.
During the visit, Sybiha presented the Order of Merit to Mathias Cormann on behalf of the President of Ukraine, recognizing his contribution to supporting Ukrainian reforms and the principled leadership that has helped strengthen Ukraine’s resilience.
In response, Mathias Cormann expressed satisfaction with the results of the cooperation and noted that combined efforts will ensure a strong and successful future for Ukraine.
It is worth recalling that in June 2025, then-Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal stated that Ukraine plans to join the OECD in 2026.