Why are OECD standards essential and how do they change the game’s rules for business and the state?

Antonina Prudko, head of the secretariat of the All-Ukrainian Integrity and Compliance Network (UNIC), attended the discussion, which was moderated by Dmytro Boyarchuk, executive director of CASE Ukraine.

We are publishing the key points of the speakers’ presentations.

• The OECD is a global think tank that sets international standards and provides recommendations to governments for developing effective policies based on in-depth data analysis.
• The world’s leading financial institutions use OECD research. For Ukraine, it is a key source of expert support on the path to reform and integration with international standards in various areas: investment policy, good governance, transparency, education, sustainable development, and taxation.
• The strategic goal of joining the OECD requires deep reforms and accession to key international instruments, primarily the Convention on Combating Bribery, which will pave the way for further integration and accelerate cooperation with the organization.
• Joining the OECD provides Ukraine with powerful analytical, expert, methodological, and technical support for implementing reforms that simultaneously bring us closer to full EU membership.
• OECD membership strengthens Ukraine’s international reputation as a reliable partner that adheres to high standards, increasing confidence among investors and financial institutions.
• UNIC brings together Ukrainian and international businesses around a culture of business integrity, promoting transparency, accountability, and compliance with international standards in companies’ practical activities.
• Ukrainian businesses will have to adapt to strict international standards of transparency, ethical management, and anti-corruption norms, which will, in the long term, increase the confidence of investors and partners. Companies must implement compliance policies to adhere to international anti-corruption standards when entering international markets.
• Honest businesses suffer from excessive regulation and control, which undermines their competitiveness. Businesses are often perceived as “guilty by default,” undermining trust and motivation to operate transparently.
• The biggest barrier is not the laws but their application and the culture of regulatory authorities. Mutual willingness to change is needed—this is the only way to implement OECD standards.
• The goal of joining the OECD in 2026 is ambitious. It means lifelong compliance with high standards, plus the opportunity to influence the development of new rules, live by them, and shape global policy alongside the most developed democracies.

The event is being implemented with financial support from the EU Anti-Corruption Initiative (EUACI) — a leading anti-corruption program in Ukraine, funded by the EU, co-financed and implemented by the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.