There are /// bodies in focus of our committee scan today:
Committee on Foreign Affairs
Bundestag’s support to Ukraine via Dr. F.Steffel
Hanna Hopko, the committee head, together with Borys Tarasiuk, the deputy head, met Dr. Frank Steffel, a member of the German Bundestag.
During the meeting, the parties exchanged their views on the topical issues of the bilateral relations and cooperation.
The committee head spoke about the situation in Ukraine and the progress in reforms in our state. In particular, she informed her interlocutor about the adoption of the law of Ukraine "On Foreign Service" last week. She emphasized the importance of continuing the reforms and remarked an acute need for adoption in May of the laws on anti-corruption court, national security and the draft Election Code of Ukraine.
The Bundestag deputy F. Steffel stressed the immutability of Germany's position on supporting Ukraine and condemned Russia's actions in the Crimea and the Donbas.
During the meeting, the sides discussed the need to strengthen anti-corruption measures to achieve Ukraine's political and economic stability.
B.Tarasiuk expressed his gratitude for the general support of Ukraine, as well as for the countenance to Ukraine’s civil society rendered by the Christian Democratic Party.
Deputation from Estonia
The committee then held a meeting with a delegation from the Republic of Estonia.
On April 11, Hanna Hopko, the head of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and Borys Tarasiuk, deputy head of the committee, met the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Estonia to Ukraine Gert Antsu, the Director of the Office of the President of Estonia Tiit Riisalo, and the Foreign Policy Adviser to the President Lauri Kuusing.
At the beginning of the meeting, the Ukrainian side expressed its gratitude for the assistance and technical aiding to Ukraine, the consistent support of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders, as well as the strong condemnation of the Russian Federation’s aggression against Ukraine.
During the discussion, the parties paid special attention to the necessary reforms in Ukraine and commended the important steps taken by our state in the energy sector, the reform of the judicial system and the formation of new anti-corruption bodies. Due heed was also given to the bills of high priority in the field of European integration, adoption of which is scheduled in the near future.
The parties highlighted the importance of developing the bilateral cooperation in the field of education, introducing various scholarship programmes that open up wide opportunities for integrating the Ukrainians into a single EU information space and implementing common diplomatic goals for the both countries.
Committee on Agrarian Policy and Land Relations
The committee recommends to take on the first reading the bill No.3871 providing for a range of amendments to some laws of Ukraine concerning imposing a ban on the use of palm oil in foodstuffs.
The purpose of the bill is a direct prohibition of the use of palm oil in the production of food, milk and dairy products, and establishment of administrative liability for the offense committed.
Committee on Social Policy, Employment and Pension Provision
The committee commends the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine to take on the first reading the bill No.7406 providing for re-calculation of pensions for research scientists, pressmen, home rule (local self-government) officers, etc.
The bill specifies the pension re-calculation procedure for the above categories including other civil servants. At the same time, the conditions and procedure for the recalculation of pensions for such persons shall be determined by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine. The above changes will be introduced in a range of the relative laws of Ukraine.
During the discussion, the committeemen yet expressed their reservations that the implementation of the bill would require additional spending from the Pension Fund of Ukraine and would increase the expenditures of the State Budget of Ukraine, thus entailing a breach of the Budget Code of Ukraine.
Following the discussion, members of the committee counselled that the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopt the bill taking into account the comments made.