On 28 February, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Gabrielius Landsbergis welcomed the opening of the OECD-Ukraine Liaison office in Kyiv. The office was set up on the initiative of Lithuania and Poland.
“At the height of the war, the international community is sending a crucial signal of support to Ukraine. The presence of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in Ukraine will help the country to implement the reforms necessary for joining the EU and OECD membership faster, to meet membership requirements and accelerate Ukraine’s integration into these organisations. The office will also contribute to the reconstruction of Ukraine in line with high OECD standards. The team will have an important role to play - coordinate actions with Ukrainian institutions and other international organisations and ensure the effectiveness of the assistance provided,” Landsbergis said.
The Secretary-General of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Mathias Cormann opened the office. The Ambassador of Lithuania to Ukraine Valdemaras Sarapinas represented Lithuania at the symbolic opening ceremony in Kyiv.
Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Romania and Slovakia have provided financial support to enable the establishment and operation of the office. The OECD-Ukraine Liaison office will operate from its premises hosted by the Slovak Embassy in Kyiv.
The OECD employs over 3,000 top experts to help governments implement reforms and advise them on how to build better policies for better lives. Lithuania joined the OECD in 2018. In 2022, the OECD formally recognised Ukraine as a prospective member.
