The extraordinary sitting of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine of the ninth convocation.
The Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Dmytro Razumkov opened the special meeting of parliament.
The presiding officer clued up that the event has been convened on demand of 158 MPs and in accordance with part eight of Article 19 of the Verkhovna Rada’s rules of procedure.
- Current agenda of the extraordinary sitting:
1. Bill No.3329-d (3329-д) “On amendments to the Tax Code of Ukraine and other laws of Ukraine regarding the additional support to taxpayers for the period of preventive measures against the emergence and spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19)”;
2. Bill No.2571-d (2571-д) “On amendments to certain legislative acts of Ukraine regarding the improvement of some mechanisms for the regulation of banking activity”;
3. Bill No.2166 “On amendments to the Law of Ukraine ‘On collection and accounting of a single contribution to the compulsory state social insurance’ (as to the elimination of discrimination on the payers’ circle)";
4. Bill No.2398-d (2398-д) “On defence procurement”;
5. Bill No.3415 “On amendments to the Rules of Procedure of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine regarding the special consideration procedure for second-reading bills”;
6. Bills Nos.3313, 3313-1 “On amendments to the Rules of Procedure of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine as to streamlining the consideration procedure for second-reading bills”;
7. Bill No.3195 “On amendments to certain legislative acts of Ukraine regarding the refined appointment-and-dismissal procedure for members of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine”;
8. Bill No.2679 “On amendments to certain legislative acts of Ukraine as to optimizing the network and functioning of administrative services centres and streamlining access to electronic administrative services”;
9. Bill No.3383 “On amendments to the Commercial Procedural Code of Ukraine, the Civil Procedural Code of Ukraine, the Administrative Procedure Code of Ukraine concerning the course of procedural terms under the quarantine introduced by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19)";
10.Bill No.2823 “On amendments to the Law of Ukraine ‘On the judiciary and the status of judges’ as concerns the secondment of judges by way of temporary transfer of the judges to another court”;
11.Bill No.3354 “On amendments to the Administrative Offences Code of Ukraine and the Criminal Code of Ukraine as to harsher accountability for failure to comply with legitimate demands of a Ukrainian MP, the Accounting Chamber, a member of the Accounting Chamber”;
12.Bills Nos.2207, 2207-1, 2207-2 “On household and other waste management”;
13.Bill No.2654 “On amendments to certain legislative acts of Ukraine (concerning harsher security of telecommunications networks)”;
14.Bill No.3314 “On amendments to certain legislative acts of Ukraine due to the adoption of the Law of Ukraine ‘On amendments to certain legislative acts of Ukraine regarding a simplified pre-trial investigation of certain categories of criminal offences’”;
15.Bill No.3105 “On amendments to certain legislative acts of Ukraine as to refining the legal groundwork of activity of the National Guard of Ukraine”;
16.Bill No.3297 “On amendments to the Economic Code of Ukraine (as to the elimination of fines and penalties on loans for the period of the quarantine introduced to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease COVID-19 in Ukraine”;
17.Bill No.2030 “On amendments to the Law of Ukraine ‘On state registration of legal entities, sole proprietors and civil society organizations’ (as to granting the right to a fee-free registration to persons with disabilities and persons who have suffered from the Chornobyl accident”;
18.Bill No.3322 “On amendments to the Bankruptcy Code of Ukraine (as to eliminating bankruptcy abuses for the period of preventive measures against the emergency and spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19);
19.Bills Nos.3355, 3355-1 “On amendments to the Law of Ukraine ‘On prevention of corruption’ with regard to the refined list of entities subject to declaration”;
20.Bills Nos.3205, 3205-1 “On the Partial guarantee fund for agricultural loans”;
21.Bill No.3377 “On amendments to certain legislative acts of Ukraine regarding the state support to culture, creative industries, tourism, small and medium-sized businesses in connection with restrictive measures caused by the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19)”;
22.Bill No.2494 “On amendments to certain legislative acts of Ukraine”;
23.Resolution No.3431 “Address by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine to national parliaments of foreign states, international organizations and their parliamentary assemblies on the occasion of marking the 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War”;
24.Resolution No.3434 “On the organization of the work of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine”;
25.“Ask the Government” hour;
26.Performance report of the National Bank of Ukraine to be delivered by NBU Governor.
The presiding officer announced that members of the Cabinet of Ministers, headed by the Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal are present at the extraordinary meeting.
- “Ask the Government” hour started.
The floor was given to the premier who dwelt at length upon the current epidemic situation in Ukraine. The speaker summed up the Government’s work, briefed on the steps taken by the Government during the two months of quarantine to effectively overcome the coronavirus crisis and its consequences. This process is still going on and the Government continues to take appropriate measures. The prime minister also noted the legislative support by MPs and thanked parliamentarians for the fruitful co-operation.
The Prime Minister also informed in his report about the governmental measures aimed to address the negative economic impact of the coronavirus spread. The premier fielded questions from the floor.
“Ask the Government” hour ended at this point.
- NBU Governor’s report
The presiding officer gave then the floor to the Governor of the National Bank of Ukraine Yakiv Smolii to report on the activities of the National Bank of Ukraine. Yakiv Smolii informed about the actions of the NBU aimed at helping the economy to overcome the consequences of coronavirus disease. The Governor of the National Bank of Ukraine answered questions posed by members of parliament. Heads of parliamentary factions and groups took part in the report discussion.
Following the debate on the NBU activity report, the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine instructed the Committee on Finance, Tax and Customs Policy to draft a relevant resolution of the Verkhovna Rada.
The Chairman announced that the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi was present at the sitting of the Verkhovna Rada and gave him the floor.
After the speeches, MPs proceeded to the business of the day.
- Bills, legislations and resolutions passed
On second-reading bills: Bills Nos.3415, 3415-1
The above bills “On amendments to the Rules of Procedure of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine regarding the special consideration procedure for second-reading bills” were voted to be included in today’s agenda.
On regulation of banking activity: Bill No.2571-d (2571-д)
The bill No.2571-d (2571-д) “On amendments to certain legislative acts of Ukraine regarding the improvement of some mechanisms for the regulation of banking activity” was seen into by MPs. The bill was then taken on the second reading and in whole with some requisite updates by 270 votes in favour.
On addl support to taxpayers: Bill No. 3329-d (3329-д)
The second reading of the draft bill “On amendments to the Tax Code of Ukraine and other laws of Ukraine regarding the additional support to taxpayers for the period of preventive measures against the emergence and spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19)” was examined by the parliament. It was then confirmed by 333 ayes.
On un-discrimination on the payers’ circle: Bill No.2166
MPs have taken up the second reading of the draft bill “On amendments to the Law of Ukraine ‘On collection and accounting of a single contribution to the compulsory state social insurance’ (as to the elimination of discrimination on the payers’ circle)" and approved it by 321 assenting votes.
On VRU’s work organization: Resolution No.3434
With 251 votes in favour the VRU resolution “On the organization of the work of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine” was passed in tote with some requisite updates.
On VRU’s address to intl community: Resolution No.3431
The resolution “Address by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine to national parliaments
of foreign states, international organizations and their parliamentary
assemblies on the occasion of marking the 75th anniversary of
the end of the Second World War” was recommended by the line committee to be
taken on the second reading, however, the document has been voted down by the
parliament for having yielded only 200 votes in favour.
On admin e-services: Bill No.2679
The parliament passed the bill No.2679 “On amendments to certain legislative acts of Ukraine as to optimizing the network and functioning of administrative services centres and streamlining access to electronic administrative services” on the first reading. 261 parliamentarians voted in favour of this decision.
On course of procedural terms: Bill No.3383
The Verkhovna Rada considered the bill No.3383 “On amendments to the Commercial Procedural Code of Ukraine, the Civil Procedural Code of Ukraine, the Administrative Procedure Code of Ukraine concerning the course of procedural terms under the quarantine introduced by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine to prevent the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19)" and took it on the first reading by 253 ayes.
On detachment of judges: Bill No.2823
The Verkhovna Rada has seen into the bill No.2823 “On amendments to the Law of Ukraine ‘On the judiciary and status of judges’ as concerns the detachment of judges by way of temporary transfer the judge to another court” and took it on the first reading by 275 ayes.
On legitimate demands of Ukrainian MPs: Bill No.3354
The bill No.3354 “On amendments to Article 188-19 of the Administrative Offences Code of Ukraine as to harsher accountability for failure to comply with legitimate demands of a Ukrainian MP, the Accounting Chamber, a member of the Accounting Chamber” is still under consideration by the parliament. Finally, MPs took it on the first reading by 312 ayes.
On security of telecom networks: Bill No.2654
The bill No.2654 “On amendments to certain legislative acts of Ukraine (concerning harsher security of telecommunications networks) was examined and taken on the second reading and in whole with some requisite updates.
On simplified pre-trial investigation: Bill No.3314
The bill No.3314 “On amendments to certain legislative acts of Ukraine due to the adoption of the Law of Ukraine ‘On amendments to certain legislative acts of Ukraine regarding a simplified pre-trial investigation of certain categories of criminal offences’” was taken by the parliament on the first reading. 280 parliamentarians have voted in favour of this decision.
On elimination of fines, penalties: Bill No.3297
The Verkhovna Rada endorsed the bill No.3297 “On amendments to the Economic Code of Ukraine (as to the elimination of fines and penalties on loans for the period of the quarantine introduced to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease COVID-19 in Ukraine)” on the first reading by 278 ayes.
On fee-free registration: Bill No.2030
The bill No.2030 “On amendments to the Law of Ukraine ‘On state registration of legal entities, sole proprietors and civil society organizations’ (as to granting the right to a fee-free registration to persons with disabilities and persons who have suffered from the Chornobyl accident)” was approved by the parliament on the first reading. 277 parliamentarians gave their voices in favour of this decision.
On eliminating bankruptcy abuses: Bill No.3322
The parliament saw into the bill No.3322 “On amendments to the Bankruptcy Code of Ukraine (as to eliminating bankruptcy abuses for the period of preventive measures against the emergency and spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and took it on the first reading by 238 ayes.
On entities subject to declaration: Bills Nos.3355, 3355-1
Both bills “On amendments to the Law of Ukraine ‘On prevention of corruption’ with regard to the refined list of entities subject to declaration” were considered by MPs. They have decided to support the first reading of the bill No.3355-1 and took it by 244 assenting votes.
On guarantee fund for agro-loans: Bills Nos.3205, 3205-1
Bills “On the Partial guarantee fund for agricultural loans”. The bill No.3205 has been voted down and declined. The bill No.3205-1 has been sent for review.
On state support to culture, creative industries, SMEs: Bill No.3377
The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine has examined the bill No.3377 “On amendments to certain legislative acts of Ukraine regarding the state support to culture, creative industries, tourism, small and medium-sized businesses in connection with restrictive measures caused by the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19)”. 260 parliamentarians voted in favour of its first reading.
On amendments to UA law: Bill No.2494
The second-reading bill No.2494 “On amendments to certain legislative acts of Ukraine” has been viewed by parliamentarians and then sent for review.
The presiding officer
closed today’s first extra sitting of the parliament.