Ukraine submits updated OECD accession bid and hopes to gain candidate status this autumn
According to the statement, the updated membership application was submitted by Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko.
"I am pleased to welcome OECD Secretary-General Mathias Cormann to Kyiv and to receive the results of three OECD reviews of Ukraine in the areas of infrastructure, public governance, and justice," the head of government said.
According to her, all of the comprehensive reviews recognize the results of many years of consistent reforms.
"In addition, the OECD report on anti-corruption and integrity presented yesterday showed that Ukraine scores above the OECD average in areas such as corruption prevention, judicial integrity, political party financing, and several other fields. This is also the result of systematic work carried out over many years," the Prime Minister emphasized.
The President also held a meeting with OECD Secretary-General Mathias Cormann.
According to the Head of State, the next stage of cooperation will be the approval of a roadmap toward OECD membership.
"I held a meeting with OECD Secretary-General Mathias Cormann. Ukraine's membership in the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development is very important to us. Today, we are taking another step in that direction: the Prime Minister has submitted Ukraine's updated official application for membership to the OECD.
We hope to obtain candidate country status as early as this autumn. The next stage is a roadmap toward OECD membership. We discussed this during our meeting," Zelenskyi wrote.
The President noted that particular attention during the talks was paid to:
In addition, the participants discussed the implementation of the EU's financial support package, strengthening sanctions pressure on Russia, and cooperation with international partners.
"I am grateful to Mathias Cormann and the OECD for supporting our people on the path of reforms and toward achieving peace," the President added.
Ukraine's European integration was also a separate topic of the discussions. According to Zelenskyy, Kyiv expects the remaining five negotiation clusters with the European Union to be opened in the coming weeks.
The Head of State emphasized that it would be a symbolic step if such a decision were adopted by July 15 — Ukrainian Statehood Day.
For his part, OECD Secretary-General Mathias Cormann stressed that the organization supports Ukraine's efforts to implement reforms, which continue even under wartime conditions.
"We want Ukraine to achieve a just, secure, and lasting peace. That is priority number one. But beyond that, it is a real honor for me to support your government in its reform and modernization efforts, as well as your broader initiatives," Cormann said.
Background
The OECD (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development) is an international economic organization that brings together 38 of the world's most developed countries. It is often referred to as the "club of wealthy nations," as its member states account for more than two-thirds of global gross domestic product (GDP).
Ukraine's accession to the European Union
As Rubryka previously reported, on September 30, 2025, Ukraine and the European Commission completed bilateral meetings as part of the official screening process assessing the compliance of Ukrainian legislation with the EU acquis (EU law).
On March 17, 2026, the European Union provided Ukraine with the final accession requirements, covering three key negotiation clusters and completing the process of defining the necessary conditions.
On June 15, during the European Union Intergovernmental Conference in Luxembourg, EU member states agreed to open the first of six negotiation clusters for the accession of Ukraine and Moldova to the European Union. The cluster, called "Fundamentals," is considered the core chapter of the accession process, as it covers the areas of justice and fundamental rights. Its opening marks the beginning of substantive and formal negotiations on Ukraine's membership in the EU.
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25 of June 2026
