Vsevolod Chentsov вiscusses Ukraine’s next steps toward OECD membership with Head of the OECD Anti-Corruption Division

On November 2, Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine Vsevolod Chentsov met in Kyiv with Julia Fromholz, Head of the Anti-Corruption Division in the OECD's Directorate for Financial and Enterprise Affairs (DAF).

The key topic of the conversation was the completion of Ukraine’s accession to the OECD Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials and the country’s further progress toward full membership in the Organisation.

The sides discussed the legislative steps needed to complete accession to the Convention. In particular, they addressed draft law No. 15056, the adoption of which is an important step toward bringing Ukrainian legislation into line with OECD standards and completing the relevant domestic procedures.

Vsevolod Chentsov emphasized that accession to the Convention matters for two of Ukraine’s strategic goals at once: deepening cooperation with the OECD and joining the European Union. The relevant commitment is enshrined in the Rule of Law Roadmap, and implementing the recommendations of the OECD Working Group on Bribery is linked to Ukraine’s work on the interim benchmarks in the EU accession negotiations. “It is also a signal that Ukraine is honoring its international commitments,” Vsevolod Chentsov said.

The sides also discussed the broader process of Ukraine’s convergence with the OECD. Ukraine has already acceded to 58 of the Organisation’s legal instruments, holds associate status in 11 OECD bodies and participant status in 57. In June 2026, Ukraine renewed its application for membership in the Organisation, and in September the OECD Council held its first discussion on opening accession negotiations with Ukraine.

Julia Fromholz noted Ukraine’s high level of delivery on its commitments on the path toward the OECD and confirmed the Organisation’s readiness to continue providing expert and technical support to Ukraine.

Moreover, the parties focused on further cooperation in implementing OECD anti-corruption standards. Vsevolod Chentsov thanked the Organisation for its consistent support and expert assistance to Ukraine and stressed the importance of further synchronizing the reforms on the path to OECD membership with Ukraine’s EU accession process.