site.btaPM Borissov, OECD Deputy Secretary-General Knudsen Discuss Bulgaria's Road to OECD Membership

Sofia, January 29 (BTA) - Bulgaria's road to membership in the
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
was the key topic of discussion during a video conference
meeting on Friday between Prime Minister Boyko Borissov and OECD
 Deputy Secretary-General Ulrik Knudsen, the government's
information service said.

The talk took place shortly before the official presentation of
the economic assessment of Bulgaria prepared by the OECD.

During the talk Borissov and Knudsen dwelled on the priorities
on which Bulgaria works together with the OECD. 

Borissov said that as a EU member state Bulgaria meets a
considerable portion of the OECD standards and best practices
and that the country is ready to a great extent to assume the
obligations for OECD membership. The PM noted that implementing
the action plan and the national three-year road map, a number
of measures have been undertaken in the past years to intensify
Bulgaria's cooperation with the OECD. On 1 January 2021,
Bulgaria became the 34th member of the OECD Nuclear Energy
Agency (NEA) and its Data Bank, the PM said.

Borissov noted Bulgaria's high commitment in respect of the
necessary steps for starting negotiations on membership in the
OECD. In the contacts with representatives of the OECD
Secretariat and of OECD member states, it transpired that one of
 the most important challenges looming for Bulgaria in its
preparation for membership at the moment, is stepping up the
participation in committees, working groups, and joining more
and more legal instruments of the OECD. The PM said that this is
 precisely the focus of the new three-year road map for
2021-2023, adding that the document is almost finalized and is
expected to be moved for adoption by the Council of Ministers.
Expanding the cooperation with the OECD in all important areas
also entails a concrete financial commitment by Bulgaria which
amounts to 5,962,452 leva in 2021-2023.

Borissov stressed that the joint cooperation with the OECD needs
 to continue and that this country is taking the next important
steps towards membership.

The OECD Economic Assessment of Bulgaria says that the COVID-19
pandemic hit the country as its economy was performing well.
Along with continued support to help households and firms
weather the crisis, reforms to modernize the economy, improve
the business environment and enhance skills in the workforce
would help to strengthen the country's recovery.

The recovery will take time, the report says. As an open economy
 specialized in manufacturing exports, Bulgaria remains exposed
to further shocks to external demand, even though prudent
management of public finances has put the country in a solid
position to provide continued support. There is also room for
investment in areas like transport, energy and digital
infrastructure, which would invigorate the recovery.

At the virtual launch of the report, Prime Minister Borissov
said, as quoted by the government's information service:
"Bulgaria had considerable impressive economic growth prior to
the pandemic, and I see that this is recognized in the Economic
Assessment."

"Thanks to a prudent fiscal policy, Bulgaria currently has
Europe's lowest external debt, and we have a state budget
deficit of no more than 3 per cent , which is allowed by the
Maastricht criteria," Borissov said. He added that the fight
against corruption and smuggling has contributed to the good
financial indices.

"Thank you for your good assessments of Bulgaria," the Prime
Minister said. "We also read the recommendations very carefully
and we will take them into account. We will do everything to
ensure that they are fulfilled promptly."

OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurria congratulated Bulgaria on
its fruitful and deepening engagement with his organization.
"You are one of our most active partners," he said in a video
message at the virtual launch of the report. He noted that the
report shows the OECD's excellent cooperation with Bulgaria.

Gurria underscored the country's major achievements,
particularly in the economy, and the challenges which Bulgaria
continues to address. He said the COVID-19 pandemic has had a
strong economic impact, but Bulgaria's robust fiscal position
enabled it to respond boldly and the government's wage subsidy
system prevented a steep rise in unemployment.

The Secretary-General expressed his conviction that growing
COVID-19 vaccination rates will be conducive to economic
recovery. He said he is looking forward to Bulgaria and the OECD
 making further progress together by working out and
implementing better policies for better living in Bulgaria. He
stressed that everything will be done to ensure consensus in the
 OECD Council about the country's expected accession to the
organization. RY/ZH, VE