site.btaBulgaria Eyes OECD Membership in 2026, Linking Accession to Economic Growth and New Opportunities

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport and Communications Grozdan Karadjov expressed confidence that Bulgaria will become a full member of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in 2026. He attended a business breakfast organized by the British Bulgarian Business Association, held here on Thursday.

“I am convinced that through consistent efforts by the executive and legislative branches, and in close partnership with you - the private sector - Bulgaria will become a full member of the OECD in 2026,” Karadjov said during the event, titled “Partnering for Progress: Government and Business in Bulgaria’s OECD Journey.”

He noted that as of October 2025, Bulgaria has successfully completed 16 out of a total of 25 OECD committee reviews and is actively participating in discussions and technical meetings. 

“Our political goal is to complete this technical phase in the next few months so that we can take the final decisive step toward full membership in 2026,” he said.

The event, “Partnering for Progress: Government and Business in Bulgaria’s OECD Journey,” was part of a series dedicated to the 10th anniversary of the British Bulgarian Business Association. It was attended by government representatives, including Minister of Justice Georgi Georgiev and Deputy Minister of Economy Doncho Barbalov, among others.

Membership of OECD will align Bulgaria with the world’s most advanced economies, providing increased investor confidence through enhanced governance and transparency, stronger economic growth prospects driven by structural reforms and innovation, improved business environment aligned with OECD’s best practices, and greater integration into global trade and investment networks, BBCC says on its website.

Bulgaria’s aspirations for OECD accession and the implications for young people and more specifically for innovation in education and youth entrepreneurship, were in the focus of a forum in Burgas organized by Diplomatic Institute under the Foreign Minister. It provided a platform for exchanging ideas among representatives of state institutions, academia, businesses, and the NGO sector on topics related to quality education, digital transformation, and youth entrepreneurship.

There, Tanya Mihaylova, Director of the Diplomatic Institute, said that Bulgaria must prepare its young people for the opportunities that its future membership of OECD will bring. Mihaylova emphasized that the focus on young people is natural, as they will be the generation to benefit from the country’s future OECD membership. She also highlighted the importance of contemporary challenges—artificial intelligence, the digital economy, and cybersecurity—as key areas for developing young people’s skills.

Ivanka Tasheva, Director of the Directorate for Foreign Economic Relations and Development Cooperation at the Foreign Ministry, said that OECD membership is not only a foreign policy priority but also an opportunity for the success and future of young people in the country. According to her, joining the OECD will strengthen the country’s image as a stable and predictable partner and will bring practical benefits—improving the investment climate, higher international rankings, and recognition for implementing high standards in governance.

The effect of Bulgaria's accession to the OECD is expected to be comparable, and even more significant, than the one the country achieved after its membership in NATO, said Burgas Free University Rector Prof. Milen Baltov. "In 2004, after NATO accession, a real investment boom occurred in Bulgaria, as English, Dutch, Swedish, and later Russian investors massively bought properties and started projects in the country. This was the effect of it being perceived as a secure and predictable partner," Baltov recalled, pointing out that accession to the OECD will have a similar, and probably even greater, effect, as it will encourage new investments and will lead to the implementation of additional projects by large companies.

Beatriz Moutinho of the Youth Advisory Board to the OECD, who participated via a video link, said the use of technology and AI has a transformative role in society and can be a driver for social development and inclusion. She presented her experience in working with young people and vulnerable communities in Cape Verde. Her company, Semear Futuro, supports schools and training centres with digital infrastructure, trains students and adults at risk, as well as teachers, with the aim of improving the quality of education and promoting sustainability, she emphasized.

Burgas Deputy Mayor Mihail Nenov said that joining the OECD is not a political move for Bulgaria, but an effort of the entire community, and Burgas can serve as a good example in this direction. "The core values ​​of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development - cooperation and development - are not just a goal, but an orientation towards the future that belongs to young people," Nenov emphasized, adding that the discussion about Bulgaria's membership in the OECD should be conducted through the prism of youth policies and the conditions of the ecosystem that is being created today.

David Halabisky of the OECD Centre for Entrepreneurship, SMEs, Regions and Cities emphasized in an online address that youth entrepreneurship programmes need to be carefully designed and targeted toward specific groups to be effective. He noted that broad, one-size-fits-all entrepreneurship initiatives rarely deliver meaningful results, while programmes tailored to the needs of particular groups—such as young farmers, students, or those not in education or employment - tend to achieve much greater impact.

Nirajit Syamal, a member of the OECD Youth Advisory Board Youthwise and founder of the platform Careerview, said in a video address from Australia that young people need broader access to information, mentorship, and professional networks in order to develop entrepreneurial skills and realize their potential. He emphasized that the OECD plays an important role in promoting the exchange of good practices and supporting policies that empower young people to be active participants in the economy. It is not only about starting a business, he noted, but about cultivating a mindset that combines creativity, critical thinking, and resilience.