THE VERKHOVNA RADA OF UKRAINE OF THE SEVENTH CONVOCATION CONTINUED ITS PLENARY WORK ON WEDNESDAY, APRIL 9, 2014.
Having opened morning plenary session, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Oleksandr Turchynov noted that it was an extremely important and fruitful parliamentary day yesterday. According to him, a number of important laws were adopted. He named adoption of the Law “On Restoration of Trust in the Court System of Ukraine” to be a “revolutionary decision”. “I am convinced that the courts should independently take the decisions in line with the law and the Constitution,” stressed Oleksandr Turchynov.
Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine noted also that the Law “On strengthening responsibility for crimes against the fundamentals of Ukraine’s national security”, adopted yesterday, is aimed against “those who are trying to initiate separatism, those who are against our country, against integrity and inviolability of our borders”.
Oleksandr Turchynov said that by having voted for amendments to the Law “On elections of local councils deputies”, we ensured efficiency of holding elections to city councils on May 25, and saved nearly a billion of budgetary funds.
He called amendments to the legislation ensuring adaptation of legal status of the convicted to the European standards, and the decision on amnesty of the convicted very important. “For the last three years the decision on amnesty has not been adopted”, he added.
According to the Chairman, adoption of the Law “On Education” in the first reading “will ensure descent and qualitative education for our youth and its development which is a step to the future”.
The Chairman informed that the people’s deputy A.Honcharov left the faction of the Party of Regions.
Oleksandr Turchynov informed that the Central Election Commission has registered the following newly elected people’s deputies of Ukraine: Krutii Vitalii Ivanovych, elected on October 28, 2012 in a multi-mandate nationwide district, included into the party list of “UDAR”; and Chorna Halyna Mykhailivna, elected on October 28, 2012 in a multi-mandate nationwide district, included into the party list of the All-Ukrainian Union “Svoboda”.
The newly elected people’s deputies took an oath to the Verkhovna Rada.
The people’s deputies took the floor with statements, announcements and proposals.
The Chairman announced that the people’s deputy H.Chorna joined the faction of “Svoboda”.
Oleksandr Turchynov reminded that a number of extremely important laws were not included into the agenda yesterday. He drew attention to the fact that yesterday, in some of the speeches, it was noted that voting on a package of bills is violation of the Rules of Procedure. “Jointly with the faction leaders we have purposefully read the Rules of Procedure, where there are no problems mentioned in connection with such voting. Undoubtedly, if the people’s deputies insist, we can vote on each law separately. However, on the one hand, we will waste lots of time, and on the other – we won’t be able to place on the agenda unpopular laws that the government insists on,” he explained.
The Chairman suggested vote on inclusion of the suggested bills as a package.
The people’s deputies did not uphold the proposal.
The Chairman put to vote each bill separately.
Following the results of voting, the majority of bills were included into the agenda. Inter alia, the bills registered under No. 4556, 4591, 4587, 4587-1, 4590, 4404, 4404-1, 4584, 4583, 4585, 4586, 4551, and 4621.
Parliamentarians did not uphold inclusion into the agenda the bills registered under No. 4131, 4570, 4570-1, 4570-2, 4570-3, 4632, 4607, 4573, 4573-1, 4595, 4566, 4566-1, 4506, 4608, 4644, 4645, 4646, and 4647.
Oleksandra Kuzhel, Chairperson of the Committee on Entrepreneurship, Regulatory and Antimonopoly Policy, reported on the bill on amendments to several legislative acts of Ukraine re reducing the number of licensing documents that was adjusted for the second reading.
O.Kuzhel reminded that this document was referred by the President Yanukovych, aiming at improving Ukraine’s rating in regard to transparency and competitiveness of business environment. The speaker informed that the bill was refined by all of the deputies of the Verkhovna Rada.
The Verkhovna Rada adopted the bill in the second reading and in entirety by 270 votes.
The Chairman announced a break.
After the break, the people’s deputies considered in the first reading the draft law on amendments to the Law of Ukraine “On State Service of Special Communication and Information Protection of Ukraine” in a new version.
Chairman of the subcommittee of the Committee on National Defence and Security Ivan Stoiko reported on the bill.
I.Stoiko informed that the Committee has unanimously recommended the Verkhovna Rada adopt the bill as a basis and in entirety with consideration of Committee’s proposals.
In the course of discussion, the people’s deputies upheld the bill.
The Verkhovna Rada adopted the bill as a basis and in entirety.
Parliamentarians did not uphold in the first reading the two bills on amendments to the Tax Code of Ukraine (re increasing material and technical provision of defense capacity of the state), registered under No. 4492 and 4492-1.
Further on, the people’s deputies considered four bills on granting the status to the citizens that suffered in the course of peaceful assemblies.
The bills were reported by the people’s deputies Lidiia Koteliak, Romal Ilyk, Oksana Podan and Chairman of the Committee on Matters of Pensioners, Veterans and Persons with Disabilities Valerii Sushkevych.
Chairman of the Committee on Human Rights, National Minorities and International Relations Valerii Patskan reported the decision of the Committee regarding the bill on the status and social protection of citizens who suffered during participation in peaceful assemblies (Reg. No. 4017-1) to recommend the Parliament adopt it as a basis.
Chairman of the Committee on Matters of Pensioners, Veterans and Persons with Disabilities Valerii Sushkevych reported the decision on the three bills. He noted that the Committee failed to take the decision in regard to the bills of the people’s deputies R.Ilyk and V.Sushkevych and recommends the Parliament take the decision on these bills in the session hall. He noted that the Committee suggests not consider the bill of the people’s deputy O.Prodan as an alternative one.
Following the results of voting, none of four bills was adopted.
The people’s deputies did not uphold the draft resolution on amendments to the Resolution of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine “On the change and designation of boundaries of the town of Barvinkove of Barvinkiv region of Kharkiv Oblast” (216 votes in favor).
The Chairman noted that the Parliament is not ready to work even on simple issue and adjourned plenary session.
Next plenary meeting of the fourth session will be held on Thursday, April 10.