The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) was founded in 1961. It is an established international organization with a leading role in developing and implementing the highest standards in all key areas such as governance, tax policy, transport infrastructure, agriculture, education, digital economy and innovation, climate, etc. The OECD has 38 members, including the most developed economies in Europe, North America, South America and Asia.
Along with Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia, Brazil, Argentina, Peru, Indonesia, Thailand are also accession candidates for OECD membership.
The official start of Bulgaria’s membership talks with OECD was set on 10 June 2022, when at the annual ministerial meeting in Paris, Bulgaria received its Roadmap for accession. The roadmap sets the parameters, stages and conditions of the accession process.
A permanent Inter-institutional Coordination Mechanism (ICM) for Bulgaria’s accession to OECD was established. In 2022, in connection with the start of the accession talks, the coordination mechanism was strengthened with the adoption of Decree No. 242 of 11 August 2022 on the organization and coordination of the process of talks and preparatory activities for the accession of the Republic of Bulgaria to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) (Decree of the Council of Ministers No. 242/11.08.2022). The measures for the preparation of our country are included in triennial Roadmaps containing specific actions for joining OECD.
In accordance with Decree No. 242/11.08.2022, the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy was designated as a leading institution regarding the implementation of the technical review by the OECD’s thematic committee - the Employment, Labour and Social Affairs Committee (ELSAC), as well as a partner institution in the work of Committees to other institutions, e.g. Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health, etc.
The ELSAC Committee meets twice a year and brings together senior officials from all OECD member countries and observers from key partner countries. It provides a forum for member countries to share views and experiences, collects and publishes comparable data between countries, and promotes cooperation among the member countries, as well as with key partners. The Committee reports directly to the OECD Council and holds meetings of the Ministers for Employment, Migration and Social Policy. The Committee has three working bodies: Working Group on Employment, Working Group on Migration and Working Group on Social Policy.
The final phase of the technical review of the current labour market, social and migration policies of Bulgaria was held within the 145th meeting of the ELSAC Committee on 10-11 April 2024 in Paris, France, at which the review report for Bulgaria was presented. The Committee prepared a formal opinion with recommendations. The technical inspection was successfully completed, and no re-examination for Bulgaria will be necessary.
Learn more at: OECD website; OECD Directorate for Employment, Labour and Social Affairs; Information on OECD area of activity “Employment”.