UKRAINE AIMS AT NATO
The newly adopted law hereby enacts Ukraine’s commitment to achieve NATO membership, confirming it as a strategic objective of the Ukrainian Foreign Policy. The leadership of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine emphasized that the law is a crucial step to bring Ukraine closer to the Alliance.
AWAY FROM SOVIET SYSTEM OF PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE
A draft law on state financial guarantees for health services and medications has been adopted by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine in the first reading.The law is a first step of the health service reform, changing the Soviet system to the principle of "money follows the patient" (paying medical services and medicines for the patients instead of maintaining health facilities).
The law, if adopted in the second reading, will define state budget expenses for a certain list of health services and medications. Among the preliminary proposals: the First Aid, GP and Childbirth support to be covered fully by the state budget.The specialised (second stage) health care services, on the other hand, are to be paid partly or fully by a patient. Also, the draft law proposes the establishment of the executive body with a purpose of supervising and managing the financing of health services and medications.
The law is yet to be discussed in the corresponding parliamentary committee with later consideration by the Parliament in the second reading.
SAVING IS PROFITABLE
The Members of the Parliament adopted a bill that allows establishing of the Energy Efficiency Fund. The Fund is aimed at supporting initiatives in energy efficiency. The law fulfills one of Ukraine’s commitments under the Association Agreement with the EU. It introduces the instruments for promoting energy efficiency and measures to enhance thereof of the buildings that will result in energy savings in the housing sector. The Fund is to be supported by 120 mln EUR of the technical assistance from the EU, 20 mln EUR of which will come from Germany.
PROTOСOLS TO THE EUROPEAN CONVENTION ON EXTRADITION RATIFIED
Now that Ukraine ratified the Protocols #3 and #4 of the European Convention on the Extradition, it will join the system already used by the Council of Europe member states - parties of the Convention, namely the system of the new simplified rules and procedures of speedy extradition and punishment.