In particular, the head of the deputy group on interparliamentary relations with the Kingdom of the Netherlands Natalia Katser-Buchkovska held a working meeting with representatives of the interfactional association "YevroOptymisty" [Euro Optimists].

During the meeting the people's deputies discussed the course of the information campaign in favour of the ratification of the Association Agreement with Ukraine in the Netherlands in connection with a consultative referendum on April 6, 2016, the part and opportunities of IFU "YevroOptymisty" in this context, tools for enhancing dialogue with representatives of both houses of the Parliament, the Government, civil society, media, and business community of the Netherlands.

The Committee on Industrial Policy and Entrepreneurship held a meeting of the working group on preparation for the second reading of draft laws on amendments to the Law "On fundamental principles of state supervision (control) in the sphere of economic activity" concerning liberalization of the system of state supervision (control) in the sphere of economic activity No.2418a and on amendments to certain legislative acts of Ukraine concerning improving the legislation in the field of state supervision (control) No.2351a.

During the meeting they discussed a number of important questions having relation to the modernization of the approaches for organizing scheduled monitoring by regulatory authorities, creation of a single integrated automated system of the state supervision (control).

The Committee on Informatization and Communications held an expanded meeting of the working group on preparation for the parliamentary hearings on the topic "Reform of the sphere of information and communication technologies and development of Ukraine's information space" to be held on February 3, 2016.

The meeting of the working group ended in the following decisions: to by January 22 finalize examining proposals to the draft of recommendations of the parliamentary hearings from the central bodies of executive power, higher education institutions, business, business associations, and public sector, and elaborate the draft of these recommendations; to continue work on preparation for the hearing participants of a package of information and analytical materials; to continue work on implementation of other organizational measures for holding the above parliamentary hearings.

Representatives of the Committee on Fuel and Energy Complex, Nuclear Policy and Nuclear Safety together with a representative of the Committee on Environmental Policy, Nature Resources Utilization and Elimination of the Consequences of Chornobyl Catastrophe, the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Ukraine and the UNDP in Ukraine held a round table on the topic "Presentation and discussion of the Concept of low carbon development strategy for Ukraine."

At the event presented was an analytical material of the German company DIW econ, which in particular contains a review of the problems existing in Ukraine, an appraisal of sectors of the economy requiring state investments in order to increase energy efficiency, and later an impulse to GDP growth, and recommendations concerning the mechanism of such investments.

The participants of the meeting agreed that the proposed Concept of the strategy may be a part of and moreover, a methodological framework for the development of a unified strategy. Government officials and the public expressed the hope that the Committee may become a platform for elaboration of such a unified document and addressed the deputies with a request to become coordinators of this process.

The head of the Committee on Environmental Policy, Nature Resources Utilization and Elimination of the Consequences of Chornobyl Catastrophe Mykola Tomenko addressed the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Ukraine, the State Forestry Agency, the State Affairs Departments and the Kyiv and Ivano-Frankivsk Regional State Administrations with a request to inform the Committee on the implementation of the process of the creation of national parks Zalissia, Beloozerskyi, Syniohora (former hunting residences), Dniprovsko-Teterivskyi (residence of the society of hunters and fishermen Kedr) and others, which should have been created as far back as in 2008 pursuant to the Decree of the President of Ukraine V. Yuschenko No. 1129/2008 “On the expansion of network and territories of national parks and other natural reserve sites."

The Committee expressed concern over the situation with newly created sites of the natural reserve fund. There is a tendency when promulgated by the Decrees of the President of Ukraine sites of the natural reserve fund remain as such only on paper, despite the huge scientific and administrative work, which had been carried out at all levels for their promulgation.

Chairperson of the Committee on Human Rights, National Minorities and Interethnic Relations Hryhorii Nemyria met with Deputy Head of UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission Fiona Frazer.

During the meeting, the parties discussed the situation in Ukraine, especially in the east of our country, and the situation with ensuring the human rights and freedoms in Ukraine.

They also discussed the regulatory framework in this area, in particular existing gaps and conflicting provisions, and registered draft laws.

Also this week representatives of the coalition were on the official visit to Oslo (Norway) as part of the program "Party cooperation and creation of coalitions."

The Ukrainian delegation consisted of MPs Viktoria Siumar, Oksana Syroyid, Ostap Semerak, Serhii Alekseyev, Pavlo Pynzenyk, Hryhorii Nemyria, Oleh Bereziuk and Ivan Kyrylenko.

During their visit to Norway the representatives of the coalition were expected to meet with former and current top-rank officials. In particular, with ex-Prime Minister Kjell Magne Bondevik, ex-Energy and Petroleum Minister Einar Steensn?s, State Secretary of the Prime Minister's Office Ingvild N?ss Stub, the President of the Parliament Olemic Thommessen, the leadership of Norway’s Parliament and members of the Bondevik’s government. Separately, they plan to meet with the leadership of the Conservative, Labour and Christian Democratic Parties.

The following committees reported on summing up the work during the third session of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine of the VIII convocation and over the last year this week: the Committee on National Security and Defence; on Legal Policy and Justice; on Rules of Parliamentary Procedure and Support to Work of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine; on Science and Education; on Social Policy, Employment and Pension Provision; on State Building, Regional Policy and Local Self-Government; the Committee on Budget; on Affairs of Veterans, Combatants, ATO Participants and Disabled People, and others.

Active work continued in the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Secretariat. In particular, the employees of the Secretariat reported on their visit to Brussels in the framework of the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine and the European Parliament on a common framework of parliamentary support and enhancement of institutional efficiency. They familiarized themselves with modern practices used in the European Parliament in the spheres of communication and human resources.

The visit was on the recommendation of the "Needs Assessment Mission" of former president of the European Parliament Pat Cox, which is finalizing a report and a roadmap for institutional reform of the Vekrhovna Rada.

The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Secretariat also held a training "Presentations and their role in communication with public" and handed over certificates on the participation to employees of the Parliament’s Secretariat.