Romania closed 24 of the 25 committees in the OECD accession process and is in first place among the states that began negotiations in 2022 – 2023, approaching the final stage of accession, said on Tuesday the Secretary of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Luca Niculescu, national coordinator for accession.
“Where are we in the accession process? As you know, the OECD accession process is not an easy one. It is a journey that requires commitment, resilience and a clear vision of the future. The organization has very rigorous standards that states must meet, and for Romania this means aligning national policies and legislative frameworks with the highest international standards, in a wide range of areas. I am pleased to say that we are making substantial progress. Since Romania received the invitation to start the accession process in 2022, we have been working closely with all OECD committees involved in the assessment of Romania, based on the accession roadmap. So far, we have successfully closed 24 of these committees, which means that we are closer than ever to achieving the goal – 24 out of 25, so we have only one step left. Also, of the eight countries that started the accession process in 2022 and 2023, Romania is now in first place. Despite the political challenges, there are people in the public administration who are doing their job”, said Luca Niculescu, at a debate on Romania’s accession to the OECD organized by the Romanian-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry, according to Agerpres.
He mentioned that recent milestones include the completion of the assessments of the Committee on Fiscal Affairs, Financial Markets and Investments, some of the most difficult committees, as they involve detailed analyses of fiscal policies, private pensions, insurance, investments and responsible business conduct.
“Progress was possible thanks to clear and committed political leadership towards OECD accession. Since January 2022, accession has been a common priority in the governing programs of all parties in the coalition, and the adoption of the necessary laws was also possible with the support of the Special Parliamentary Committee for the OECD”, stated Luca Niculescu.
He explained that accession will bring important benefits to the business environment, by increasing predictability and investor confidence, access to global networks, market modernization and strengthening anti-corruption measures, including by joining the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention. In addition, Romania will have access to over 300 committees and working groups of the organization, where policies and best practices are debated.
“Accession is not just a political milestone, but a strategic decision to join the world’s most advanced economies. The benefits mean more solid policies, a more attractive investment climate and better opportunities for business”, stressed Luca Niculescu, adding that success depends on continued reforms and collaboration between the government, the business environment and society.