The Ukrainian parliamentary delegation headed by the First Vice-Speaker Oleksandr Korniienko paid a study visit to the French Republic, during which it held a number of meaningful meetings
On 13-14 June 2024, the First Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Oleksandr Korniienko is on a study visit to the OECD Headquarters in Paris in connection with a meeting of the OECD Working Group on Combating Bribery in International Business Transactions (WGB).
Meeting with the Chair of the OECD Working Group on Bribery
During the first day of the visit, the Ukrainian parliamentary delegation met with the Chair of the OECD Working Party on Bribery, Chris Basiurski.
The Chairman of the OECD Working Group, for his part, shared the experience of the United Kingdom in implementing standards to combat corruption.
At the same time, the First Vice-Speaker stressed that Ukraine continues to work on fulfilling the requirements for membership.
Meeting with the Romanian Ambassador to the OECD
During a meeting with Romanian Ambassador to the OECD Adrian Cosmin Vieriţa, the First Vice Speaker Oleksandr Korniienko stressed that Ukraine is working on reforms at all levels to become a full member of the OECD Working Group on Bribery and to become a member of the OECD in general.
In particular, he informed about the work with the public aimed at communicating about the accession to the European Union — what awaits our country.
Romania is one of the countries that joined the Working Group on Bribery last year. The First Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine raised the issue of what Ukraine should pay attention to in order to successfully become a member of the Working Group, as well as what the main obstacles to membership in the Working Group were for Romania.
Meeting with the Head of the Italian delegation to the WGB
The Ukrainian parliamentary delegates also held a working meeting with the Head of the Italian delegation to the WGB.
They expressed their gratitude to Lorenzo Salazar for the conversation, which contributed to a better understanding of Ukraine's actions to become a member of the Working Group.
"We are aware that we have a difficult task ahead of us, but we are ready to meet all the challenges to achieve the goal," said Oleksandr Korniienko.
Meeting with the Ambassador of the Republic of Latvia to the OECD Indiulis Abelis
During the second day of the visit, the Ukrainian parliamentary delegates discussed Latvia's path to membership in the OECD, including the reforms adopted, with the Ambassador of the Republic of Latvia to the OECD Abelis Indulis.
Oleksandr Korniienko, the First Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, expressed his gratitude for the support that Latvia, as a country, friend and partner, has provided to Ukraine during the war.
“This is one of the examples of commitment to democracy and opposition to aggression,” the First Vice Speaker said.
Meeting with the OECD Directorate for Global Affairs and Cooperation
The Ukrainian parliamentary delegates also met with William Thomson and Anita Richter, the OECD's Directorate for Global Affairs and Cooperation.
During the meeting, Oleksandr Korniienko emphasised the purpose of the visit – to discuss the steps necessary to join the Working Party and to present Ukraine's report on progress in fulfilling the conditions for full membership.
At the same time, the Ukrainian parliamentary delegation held a working meeting to discuss the draft law on the liability of legal entities for international bribery and joined the plenary session of the WGB Working Group.
“Despite all the challenges, we continue to work and continue the reforms that will allow Ukraine to join the OECD as a whole,” the First Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine said in conclusion.
The delegation includes members of the Ukrainian Parliament: the Chairperson of the Committee on Anti-Corruption Policy Anastasiia Radina, the Chairman of the Committee on Law Enforcement Serhii Ionushas, the Deputy Chairman of the Committee on Law Enforcement Hryhorii Mamka, the Deputy Chairman of the Committee on Law Enforcement Maksym Pavliuk, the Deputy Chairperson of the Committee on Law Enforcement, Representative of the President of Ukraine in the Parliament Halyna Mykhailiuk, the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Adaptation of Ukrainian Legislation to the Provisions of the European Union Acquis, Fulfilment of Ukraine's International Legal Obligations in the Field of European Integration of the Committee on Anti-Corruption Policy Oleksii Zhmerenetskyi; the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Prosecution of the Committee on Law Enforcement Vladlen Nekliudov; the Chairperson of the Subcommittee on Criminal Procedural Legislation and Operational and Investigative Activities of the Law Enforcement Committee Yuliia Yatsyk; the Member of the Law Enforcement Committee Oleksandr Kunytskyi; the Member of the Law Enforcement Committee Oleksandra Ustinova; the Member of the Law Enforcement Committee Volodymyr Zakharchenko.