The Chairperson of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Dmytro Razumkov opened Tuesday’s plenary session.

The morning section

The Chairman gave the floor to representatives of the parliamentary factions and groups to make their announcements, statements, reports and proposals.

After the speeches, the Verkhovna Rada carried the agenda of the current meeting.

The current agenda:

1.     Draft resolutions “On changes in composition of the Council of the National Bank of Ukraine”, “On early abdication of powers by MP Iryna Lutsenko”, “On parliamentary hearing ‘The Upbuilding of Effective System for Intellectual Property Protection in Ukraine’”.

First reading

2.     Bill No.2189 “On amendments to the Law of Ukraine ‘On voluntary amalgamation of territorial communities’ (regarding easier approval of prospective plans for formation of territories of communities of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, oblasts).

3.     Bill No.2233 “On amendments to the Law of Ukraine ‘On the electricity market’” (including the bill Nos.2233-1, 2233-2, 2233-4 as the alternates).

4.     Bill No.2047 “On amendments to the Tax Code of Ukraine to eradicate corrupt practices at the data registration on real estate appraisal reports” (including the bills Nos.2047-1, 2047-d as the alternates).

5.     Bill No.2172 “On amendments to certain legislative acts of Ukraine to reduce pressure upon businesses by market surveillance authorities”.

6.     Two bills on amber extraction.

Second reading

7.     Bill No.1152-1 “On amendments to the Criminal Code of Ukraine regarding the liability for falsification of pharmaceuticals or circulation of forged medications”.

8.     Bill No.2161 “On amendments to the Law of Ukraine “On operational search activities" for improving performance of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine”.

9.     Two bills regarding instituting a mid-term planning for the development and maintenance of public roads.

MPs then proceeded to the business of the day.

• Laws, bills and resolutions passed

On changes in NBU Council membership

--Draft resolution No.2400

The paper proposed to assign Vitalii Shapran as a member of the council. The move was upheld by 268 parliamentarians in tote.

On territorial communities

--Draft bill No.2189

MPs have considered the draft bill No.2189 “On amendments to the Law of Ukraine ‘On voluntary amalgamation of territorial communities’ (regarding easier approval of prospective plans for formation of territories of communities of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, oblasts)”. The bill complements part one of Article 4 of the Law of Ukraine “On voluntary association of territorial communities” with a new clause to the list of conditions for voluntary association of territorial communities, which binds it to carry out this process in accordance with the prospective plans for formation of territories of the said communities. By 283 ayes, the bill was backed on the first reading.

On certain legislative changes

--Draft bill No.2260

The draft law moves to amend some legislative acts of Ukraine that regulate the activity of certain state bodies, in particular in terms of the civil service, regulation of the legal status of civil servants, powers of civil service leadership, etc. The bill also proposes to amend  the Labour Code of Ukraine, the Laws of Ukraine “On the status of a Ukrainian parliamentarian”, “On citizens' appeals”, “On access to public information” with regard to a written form of a document.  In doing so, it is proposed to establish that a hard-copy document and an electronic document both have the same legal force. The first reading of the bill was backed by 273 members of parliament.

On refinements in educ activities

--Draft bill No.2299

MPs have seen into the first reading of the bill No.2299 “On amendments to certain legislative acts of Ukraine regarding refinements of educational activities in the field of higher education”. The bill proposes to improve the procedures of licensing educational activities, strengthen the principles of equal access to higher education, and widen the scope of external independent assessment technologies. It is expected to amend a range of laws on education. 311 votes in favour supported the bill.

On elec market

--Draft bill No.2233 (including the bills Nos.2233-1, 2233-2, 2233-4 as the alternates)

MPs have reviewed the bill No.2233 “On amendments to the Law of Ukraine ‘On the electricity market’”. The draft law legislatively regulates the mechanism for meeting special obligations on purchases of "green" electricity, helps avoid an un-controlled rise in electricity prices due to lack of effective competition, secures heat supply during a heating period by regularizing functioning of heat electro-power stations in the new electricity market. The relevant changes shall be made to the Law of Ukraine “On electricity market”. The draft law No.2233 was supported by 295 parliamentarians.

On elimination of venal practices

--Draft bill No.2047 (including the bills Nos.2047-1, 2047-d as the alternates)

Ukrainian parliamentarians gave consideration to the bill No.2047 “On amendments to the Tax Code of Ukraine to eradicate corrupt practices at the data registration on real estate appraisal reports”. 378 parliamentarians upheld the bill No.2047-d.

About reducing pressure on business

--Draft bill No.2172

The parliament examined the bill No.2172 “On amendments to certain legislative acts of Ukraine to reduce pressure upon businesses by market surveillance authorities”. The purpose of the bill is to improve legislation in the field of state market surveillance. The bill is aimed at reducing corruption risks in activities of inspectors, enhancing consumer protection and other public interests. The draft law is equally important in terms of meeting Ukraine's commitments in the field of European integration, stipulated by the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement. 310 members of parliament took the bill on the first reading.

On amber extraction

--Draft bill No.2240

MPs have reviewed the bill on amendments to certain legislative acts of Ukraine regarding normalization of amber extraction procedures. The first reading of the bill was backed by 342 ayes.

The Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Dmytro Razumkov closed the morning plenary session.