Sitting of the Conciliation Commission (Board) of parliamentary factions (parliamentary groups)
The Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Dmytro Razumkov opened the sitting.
- D.Razumkov
He noted that in recent days the Verkhovna Rada has been working hard to get fully prepared for this special session.
D.Razumkov thanked all his colleagues and especially the Secretariat staff for their toil during this week.
Dmytro Razumkov extended his extra thanks to the working group, which consisted of representatives of all parliamentary factions and groups. The group’s late-night efforts resulted in “a voluminous and sophisticated yet clearly consolidating bill for the parliament”. All the fractions have signed the paper, with no further discussions. The Chairman D.Razumkov hoped that the position of the parliament would be equally consolidated in the future.
MPs have supplemented the extraordinary meeting agenda with the bill No.3254 amending the Law of Ukraine “On the state budget of Ukraine for 2020” regarding an uninterrupted provision of food to servicemen.
- Ruslan Stefanchuk
The Chairman gave the floor to the First Deputy Chairman Ruslan Stefanchuk, who also thanked everyone who had contributed to making the bills out.
He then stated all political forces are united in their position that “until the country is quarantined, going through these needy times, there should be some limitations in parliamentary salaries, regardless high or low. Equal conditions must be set for everyone”.
Ruslan Stefanchuk called for consolidation because “the problem of the coronavirus is a problem that allows for neither status nor age, nothing. This is the problem of all mankind". He called for immediate action.
The First Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada also added: "To make decisions of state importance, the Verkhovna Rada is ready to ingather immediately, if necessary".
- Olena Kondratiuk
In her speech, the Deputy Chairperson of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Olena Kondratiuk stressed that "it is high time to take simple and clear steps, well understandable for our society".
Olena Kondratiuk informed the audience about the five priorities identified by the European Union countries to overcome the crisis related to the spread of the coronavirus: (i) coordination of efforts and strengthening the healthcare system; (ii) provision of the required amount of medical equipment and protective gear; (iii) support to (scientific) researches to accelerate developing a coronavirus vaccine and sufficient number of test systems; (iv) solving economic issues; (v) protection of citizens.
In particular, she also thanked the working group led by Dmytro Natalukha, the chairman of the economic development committee, which had drafted the anti-crisis and socially-oriented bill No.3275. All bar none political forces worked on it. There are significant changes in taxation, renting, staffing policy, supporting to charities and medicine.
The presiding officer gave the floor to heads of parliamentary factions and groups.
After the speeches, the Chairman reminded about the need to consider holding another extraordinary meeting today.
The floor was then given to the Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal who informed MPs about the bill No.3279 that amends Ukraine’s state budget for 2020.
Holding of another extraordinary meeting aimed specifically to review the bill No.3254, altering the 2020 state budget to provide an uninterrupted provision of food to servicemen, was approved by parliamentarians unanimously.
The presiding
officer closed the meeting.