There are /// /// bodies in focus of our committee scan today:
Committee on Law Enforcement
Development prospects, problems of formation and functioning of the institute of grand jury in Ukraine were discussed at the joint committee hearings held on February 12. The meeting was widely attended by MPs, representatives from line ministers, all levels of courts, law enforcement agencies, Prosecutor General’s office, arm of law, bars, scientific institutions, international and public organizations.
Four topical bills (Nos. 2709, 2710, 2790-1 and 2710-1) were also presented and talked over. As a result of the discussion, the committee will prepare a set of recommendations to public authorities.
Committee on Ukraine’s Integration into EU
At its Feb12 sitting, the body propped the ratification bill No.0028 regarding a letter amending and extending (for 2020) the Grant Agreement (Mykolayiv Vodokanal water project (Development of water distribution and water treatment system of the city of Mykolayiv) under the E5P Program between Ukraine and the European Investment Bank".
During the meeting, committeemen also examined a number of draft laws in order to verify that they are in conformity with EU legislation and/or Ukraine's international legal obligations under the Association Agreement, namely: Nos.2698, 2685, 2350, 2352, 2719, 2719-1 and 2719-2 (verified positively with some reservations).
Committee on Social Policy and Protection of Veterans’ Rights
At its Feb10 sitting, the committee heard a MinTOT’s (the Ministry for Veterans Affairs, Temporarily Occupied Territories and IDPs of Ukraine) presentation of the state strategy for reintegrating war veterans to peaceful (civil) life.
Among its priorities there are launching the “eVeteran roster” platform, new standards-based medical treatment and rehabilitation of veterans, creating facilities for training and skill conversion of veterans, betterments in employment and support to veterans’ businesses, and veteran housing assistance programmes.
In harness with the National Security and Defence Counsil of Ukraine, the ministry has also elaborated a brand new concept of Ukraine’s territorial defence, now heavily involving war veterans’ vim and vigor. It is also envisaged to win veterans over to assisting law enforcement agencies in protecting public order and state borders.
A special direction of the ministry’s activities is honouring the memory of veterans.
The ministry's leaders noted that all priorities and goals of the strategy were identified and developed following a set of studies on veterans' needs.
Committee on Humanitarian and Information Policy
The committee recommended that the first reading of the bill No.2013 amending the law on social protection of orphans and children deprived of parental care be adopted to the extent of increasing scholarships and annual assistance to them.
Committee on Anti-Corruption Policy
The body heard a NABU’s (the National Anti-corruption Bureau of Ukraine) 2019 semi-annual performance report, which has been taken into consideration upon reviewing. Also, committeemen saw into the bill No.2500 respectively amending Ukrainian law in connection with the adoption of the Law of Ukraine “On corruption prevention” and recommended taking it on the second reading.
The committee’s action plan for Feb-Jul 2020 was also supplemented with a set of issues regarding a bill on the National Agency for Finding, Tracing and Management of Assets Derived from Corruption and Other Crimes (aka ARMA).
Committee on Rules of Procedure, Parliamentary Ethics and Administration of Verkhovna Rada’s Work
The committee considered a number of resolutions with reference to the setting up of temporary investigating commissions (TIC): Nos.2608 (corrupt lobbying of farmlands sales) , 2460 (“lie detector” case), 2585 (changes to VRU’s rules of procedure), 2610 (alterations in the agenda drawing procedure), 2631 (support to the “OKHMATDYT” clinic and the “Tabletochki” charity foundation), 2567 (a parliamentary inquiry), 2677 (amendments to the TIC establishment procedure), 2727 (overseas borrowings), 2649 (would-be meddling of the presidential office into law enforcers’ work), 2756 (Pavlo Sheremet’s assassination).