Within hours of the invasion, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Council strongly denounced Russia’s massive aggression against Ukraine as a flagrant violation of international law and a severe threat to the global system based on rules. It also expressed its support for the Ukrainian people.
Since then, the OECD has worked to widen, deepen, and enhance our engagement and cooperation with Ukraine, building on our work together over many decades.
In collaboration with our Members, we have worked to encourage the integration of refugees and internally displaced people from Ukraine and to assist in meeting their requirements, with a particular emphasis on maintaining access to education and employment.
We have collaborated with funders and other partners on the worldwide coordination of help for Ukraine.
President Volodymyr Zelensky attended our annual Ministerial Council meeting remotely from Kyiv, and Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal attended our final Council meeting of 2022.
To strengthen Ukraine’s adherence to OECD standards and involvement in OECD bodies, we have formally recognized Ukraine as a prospective Member and committed to a first accession process.
The new OECD-Ukraine Liaison Office has been established, initially operating out of Paris.
I can now officially declare that the OECD-Ukraine Liaison office in Kyiv has opened.
I sincerely thank Slovakia for this crucial support and heartily acknowledge the contributions made financially to this office’s establishment and operation by Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Romania, and Slovakia.
When fully staffed, a group of four OECD representatives will work out of Kyiv to oversee the implementation of a new country program between the OECD and Ukraine.
As we move forward, the foremost priority must continue to be ensuring a complete, just, and long-lasting peace for the people of Ukraine that complies with international law and the conditions of the UN resolution passed with resounding support from its Members yesterday. In addition to the Ukrainian people, people worldwide, including those in Russia, would benefit most from such peace.
To help Ukraine rebuild better, stronger, and in line with the principles of a free, open, market-based democracy and the high standards expected of a prospective Member of the OECD, the OECD will support Ukraine efforts to plan and prepare now for the recovery of the country.
The OECD is a worldwide policy forum that works with over 100 nations to advance policies that protect individual liberties and enhance people’s economic and social well-being everywhere.
