THE VERKHOVNA RADA OF UKRAINE HELD THE PLENARY MEETING ON FRIDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2014.
Having opened the morning meeting, Chairperson of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Volodymyr Groysman reminded that today is the Day of Ground Forces of Ukraine.
MPs congratulated the Ground Forces military men and wished them sound health and success in strengthening Ukraine, its independence, and sovereignty.
Volodymyr Groysman announced about creating the following inter-faction deputy unions in the Verkhovna Rada: "Zaporizka Sich" (Chairperson Ihor Artiushenko); "Friendship with the European Union" (Chairperson Andrii Lopushanskyi); "Prykarpattia" (Co-Chairpersons Anatolii Matviienko and Volodymyr Shvaryliuk); "For Sicheslavshchyna" (Chairperson Borys Filatov).
The Chairperson reminded that every plenary Friday the Government Question Hour is conducted. He informed that Cabinet of Ministers members are present in the session hall.
The first one to answer the deputies' questions was Minister of Defence Stepan Poltorak.
The first question was on the 2015 budget in the security and defence sphere. S.Poltorak answered that while planning the budget for the next year, the Ministry was guided by the need for establishing powerful, well-equipped, and well-prepared Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Another question referred to sabotage-reconnaissance groups. He agreed that such groups shall be created and claimed this issue will become a prospect in developing the Armed Forces.
S.Poltorak also answered questions on: absence of special communication in military units which gives an opportunity to bombard their positions; changing the Intelligence Service staff; managing military property complexes; deployment of military units from western to eastern borders of Ukraine, etc.
Then, Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine Hennadii Zubko answered the questions on: tasks of the Ministry of Regional Development, Building and Housing and Communal Services of Ukraine stipulated in the Government's Action Program; decentralization; the Law "On Local Self-Government"; energy efficiency market in Ukraine; and other.
Minister of Social Policy Pavlo Rozenko talked about funds stipulated in the State Budget for 2015 for social protection.
Vice Prime Minister Valerii Voshchevskyi answered the question of A.Matviienko on preventing the development of tourism due to absence of roads in Prykarpattia. V.Voshchevskyi stated that the government's priority task is how to survive this winter. "We have a truly complicated situation right now; unfortunately we don't have any resources to build roads now and it is unlikely that we will in 2015", he said.
The Ministry of Economy representatives were asked to comment on elaboration of long-term strategy of developing high technology productions stipulated in the coalition agreement.
Minister of Energy and Coal Industry of Ukraine Volodymyr Demchyshyn answered the questions on the situation in the energy and coal sphere.
Vice Prime Minister also answered another question which concerned decentralization; and then, the Government Question Hour ended.
Volodymyr Groysman announced about establishing the inter-faction deputy union "Maidan Self-Defence" chaired by Andrii Parubii.
On demand of "Opposition Bloc" and "People's Will" factions, the Chairperson announced a break.
After the break, First Chairperson of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Andrii Parubii conducted the meeting.
At the end of the meeting, MPs made their statements, messages, and suggestions.
The Chairperson adjourned the plenary meeting.
During December 15–19 MPs of Ukraine will be working in committees, commissions, and group.
Next plenary meeting will be held on Tuesday, December 23.