The Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine A.Parubiy opened the morning plenary session.

He congratulated the Hall on the holiday of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Parliamentarians observed a minute’s silence in memory of late Vitalii Shevchenko – a prominent public figure, a member of parliament, a writer and a Ukrainian politician, deceased the day before.

The Chairman then informed that the members of the Cabinet of Ministers, headed by the Prime Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Hroisman, were taking part in the meeting.

The questions hour began.

The Prime Minister and the members of the Government answered the questions from the floor.

The questions hour ended at this point.

Oksana Markarova, the First Deputy Minister of Finance, presented a draft bill on 2019 Ukraine’s state budget.

It was stated that upon the extensive economic crisis, the financial crisis, inflation, devaluation of the national currency and rise in public debt, the economy returned to sustainable growth.  In previous years, it was the state budget that was the mirror of the real situation. Since 2015, every budget not only reflected the then situation but also laid important reforms. It is through the state budget all these reforms were introduced, through the major changes, through the specific budget programmes.

It was underscored that the Hroisman government made all-round budget deliberations to be a clear priority for its activities.

In was pointed out that 2018 became the year of economic growth, and for ten quarters running Ukraine’s economy has been showing a steady growth. Over the last eight months the state budget has been executed by almost 99%. Ukraine has regained the status of a rising country, and the budget for 2019 promises to be a budget of country’s expansion. O.Markarova gave a report on the main macroeconomic indicators of the next year budget.

The next year budget total resources exceed one trillion hryvnias. Fiscal consolidation – is a priority for the government. Over four years the budget deficit has been decreasing and for 2019 it has been set at its year peak of 2.28%, aiming at not exceeding ninety billion hryvnias. It is also planned to lessen the revenue sharing index down to 25%. The presenter named the public debt to be the biggest challenge for 2019 Ukraine’s budget – totaling 417.4 billion hryvnias. This figure seems to be yet unprecedented, posing a stiff challenge to the next year state budget.

A.Pavelko appealed to parliamentarians for submitting their proposals no later than October 1 and urged everyone to work over the draft budget with zeal.

The discussion was attended by representatives of parliamentary factions and groups.

The closing remarks were made by the Prime Minister Volodymyr Hroisman.

The Prime Minister Volodymyr Hroisman highlighted that the Government once again had timely submitted a draft budget to the Verkhovna Rada having formed it fairly, based upon the macroeconomic forecast. He stressed that the budget should be well balanced.

V.Hroisman said that the Government has clear priorities for 2017-2019 years.  "Perhaps, they are far from being ideal, but I know for sure that every year we used to invest our efforts in economic growth, and Ukraine’s economy does show such growth," he explained.

Among the pressing problems, the Prime Minister highlighted the need to pay off debts, because the budgets of the following years "will settle accounts for the sins of the past".

He emphasized that the Government continues to focus its efforts on the development of the economy, stimulating the growth of investments, without which there would be no economic evolution. With a weak economy, the army of Ukraine cannot be strong.

The Prime Minister also stressed that it is necessary to strengthen the responsibility of both central government and local authorities, which have received today just enormous resources.

"I am sure that we will actually make a document based in fact on the real state of the economy and the challenges of the past, since four hundred odd billion of old debts cannot be compensated by whatsoever economic growth," said the head of the Government.

At this point, the 2019 budget presentation has ended.

Oksana Syroid, Deputy Chairperson of the Parliament, announced parliamentaries’ requests. The presiding officer gave then the floor to representatives of the parliamentary factions and groups to make their announcements, statements, reports, and proposals.

The presiding officer closed the meeting.

Voter education shall span a September 24-28 pentad.

The next plenary sitting shall take place on October 2, 2018 – Tuesday.