The Chairperson of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Andriy Parubiy opened the morning session.
Opening the meeting, the Chairman stated the Parliament was in receipt of the draft bill No.8497 launching the Supreme Anti-Corruption Court. He then said he would immediately send the paper to the Committee on Legal Policy and Justice for its urgent consideration.
The presiding officer informed that a cluster (six points) of the culture development issues would be first reviewed today, to be switched over to the current agenda items afterwards.
The Chairman gave the floor to representatives of parliamentary factions and groups, who then made their announcements, statements, reports, and proposals.
There was made an urgent announcement in the House that a prominent Ukrainian poet Ivan Drach had died today at the age of 81. Parliamentarians honoured his blessed memory with a minute's silence.
The presiding officer closed the meeting.
The Output of the Session
- F i r s t reading bills taken
On refinements in cultural heritage protection: Draft bill No. 8202
The bill is to enhance liability of both corporate bodies and individuals for violating the law in the field of cultural heritage protection. The bill is thought to affect a range of codes of Ukraine and the law on protection of cultural heritage.
On legislative changes in Ukraine’s cinematography: Draft bill No.8251
The bill is to change a wide variety of the Ukrainian filmmaking-related laws, with the aim to frame a legal groundwork for activities of cine-commissions and reconciliation of certain issues relative to the law on state promotion to Ukraine’s filmmaking coming into force.
- S e c o n d reading bills taken
On protection of cultural heritage: Draft bill No.1553
With 232 ayes, taken on the second reading and in tote was there the bill amending the law of Ukraine on protection of cultural heritage as regards to protection of the cultural heritage monuments listed by UNESCO.
The new law inserts new UNESCO definitions, complements the law in force with a new section that defines a state policy in the field of protection of the world cultural heritage monuments, including the legal status of a world cultural heritage monument, the principles of management of world cultural heritage monuments and the powers for a body in charge of such management, the procedure of inclusion of cultural heritage monuments in the UNESCO lists, etc. The new law bans any activity (incl. advertising placement) of both corporate bodies and individuals endangering a cultural heritage monument or violating the law in the said sphere.
The law commits the central executive bodies in charge of cultural heritage protection to yearly account before the UA ministers and UNESCO for the state of play in the branch and the progress in implementing the Convention and other UNESCO’s decisions.
On creative industries: Draft bill No. 6738
With 226 ayes, taken on the second reading and in tote was there the bill amending the law of Ukraine “On Culture” to introduce the definition “a creative industry” and the related issues aimed to promote its preferred development.