The Prime Minister of Romania, Ilie Bolojan, had a meeting on Monday with the Secretary-General of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Mathias Cormann, where they discussed the final stages of Romania’s accession to the Organisation. After the meeting, the two held a joint press statement in which Cormann emphasized that “significant improvements have been made” and “Romania is entering the final stages of accession.” The Secretary also spoke with President Nicușor Dan before meeting with Ilie Bolojan.
“We have completed almost two-thirds of the total re-evaluations in the committee. I want to thank everyone who has been involved. The OECD membership status will help us develop steadily, and I highlighted these aspects this morning.
Each step brings us closer to the place we want to be, for greater prosperity. At the OECD accession committee meeting, we discussed the stage we are in. All involved institutions are committed to completing the technical process on time.
In an increasingly unpredictable geopolitical context, accession to the OECD represents an important anchor for the values we believe in. Our place is in the OECD, and we look forward to the moment of accession, alongside states that share the same values. We will do everything in our power for Romania to join the OECD next year,” Bolojan stated.
For his part, OECD Secretary-General Mathias Cormann said that the visit “is an opportunity to see where Romania stands,” emphasizing that “in just three years, we have seen how the accession process has supported development.”
“It is wonderful to return to Bucharest and have this opportunity to meet you. It is a special occasion to meet with representatives of the new Romanian government.
For me, as well as for my team, it is an opportunity to see where Romania stands, what excellent progress has been made on the path to accession, before entering this final stage of the technical evaluation of the accession process.
Accession helps to increase investments and, over time, to raise the standard of living. In just three years, we have seen how the accession process has supported development. We have direct, tangible benefits that will strengthen this direction,” said OECD Secretary-General Mathias Cormann.
He emphasized that “significant improvements have been made” and “Romania is entering the final stages of accession.”
“Significant improvements have been made, and Romania is advancing towards meeting international standards regarding anti-corruption and environmental protection.
Romania is entering the final stages of accession to the OECD. 15 out of the 25 OECD committees have already adopted positive conclusions – in areas such as corporate governance, regional development, and others. The committees will continue their evaluation in the coming months, including through an economic analysis dedicated to Romania, which will be launched in March 2026, here in Bucharest, when I will return for the publication of this study – a final step in the accession process.
Through these coordinated efforts, we are very excited to see that, within the coalition agreement from June, accession benefits from the support of the entire political spectrum. This strong support will be essential for the timely completion of the accession,” he emphasized.
Cormann added that the goal set by the Government for accession is now considered “achievable,” even though there is no exact date. Romania aims to join the OECD in 2026.
“Even though there is no officially set date, the Romanian Government has set an ambitious goal – which I now consider achievable – for 2026. This goal depends on the necessary progress in implementing reforms.
We are convinced that accession will bring benefits to Romania, and we know that it will also bring benefits to our organization and our work in shaping the OECD’s global policy agenda. We consider it a priority to expand our partnership, as we want to broaden our contacts, attract new political experiences, and thus contribute to strengthening the relevance and effectiveness of our work.
Romania has an important role in the region, in Eastern Europe, and this is also about Romania’s contribution to development. We look forward to continuing this partnership, which lays the foundations for future development and the priorities of the Romanian people. We look forward to continuing to collaborate in the coming months,” Cormann added.
This work is inspired by real events and people, but has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, or to real events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.
The author and publisher do not assume responsibility for the accuracy of events or for how characters are portrayed and are not liable for any misinterpretations. This story is provided “as is,” and any opinions expressed belong to the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.
