People’s deputies of Ukraine, representatives of ministries, departments and NGOs participated in the event.
The Chairman of the Committee Petro Tsybenko informed that the necessity to hold hearings was caused by aggravating situation in the sphere of receiving humanitarian aid from foreign donors.
P.Tsybenko informed that international and domestic charity organizations address the Committee with a request for help and support, with claims and complaints, for they cannot receive the aid sent. Under article 204 of the Customs Code of Ukraine, consignment that is not cleared in the deadline of 120 days (4 months) is subject to export from Ukraine or arrest and confiscation.
Moreover, motor carriers and state bodies impose fines on charity organizations amounting to tens of thousands of hryvnias for untimely clearance and administrative services, etc.
The Committee Chairman noted that the problem lies not only in receiving, but also in providing humanitarian aid to other countries.
It was said that humanitarian aid from approximately 19 foreign donors is at regional customs houses in different regions.
“This is the issue is of sharp international resonance. The unsettled situation with the Commission negatively effects relations with donor organizations, who start refusing and can actually stop providing humanitarian aid to Ukraine,” stressed the participants of the meeting.
The speakers informed of the facts testifying that patients with AIDS, tuberculosis, diabetes and other diseases cannot receive respective medicines and treatment due to delay in delivery of consignment.
By results of consideration the Committee recommends the Cabinet of Ministers to take urgent measures to settle the issue of receiving humanitarian aid, provided by foreign donors.
The Government is recommended to elaborate and adopt temporary Procedure of cooperation between central bodies of executive power and the National Bank in regard to recognition of such consignments (goods), funds, including in foreign currency, as well as the work done and services provided as the humanitarian aid.
People’s deputies recommend the Ministry of Social Policy to urgently establish interdepartmental working body on humanitarian aid at the Ministry of Social Policy in order to immediately recognize the consignment sent by foreign donors as humanitarian aid (before April 2013).
The Committee sent a letter to the Prime Minister of Ukraine M.Azarov with a request to mandate the Ministry of Finance to abolish fees for storing humanitarian aid consignments provided by donors and to take immediate measures to recognize consignment that is on the customs territory of Ukraine, without charging and fines, as humanitarian aid.