PLENARY MEETING OF THE VERKHOVNA RADA OF UKRAINE OF THE SIXTH CONVOCATION WAS HELD ON TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4
At the beginning of the meeting, the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Volodymyr Lytvyn informed on the results of work of the Verkhovna Rada during plenary meetings on December 20.
The authorized representatives of deputy factions read out their petitions, proposals, and announcements.
People’s deputies considered the issue regarding elimination of inconsistencies in the text of the Law “On amendments to several legislative acts of Ukraine re urban development regulation”.
Voting failed (216 votes “for”).
Commenting on the results of voting, the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada V.Lytvyn noted that the abovementioned Law will be signed with inconsistencies and sent to the President of Ukraine for signature.
The draft law on the State Budget of Ukraine for 2013 was presented in the Verkhovna Rada.
The bill was presented by the First Deputy Chairman of the Minister of Finance Anatoliy Miarkovskyi. The government official noted that the 2013 Budget was formed under conditions of unstable development of world economy in the current year.
A. Miarkovskyi provided certain figures, characterizing the state of economy in 2012. All they show positive changes.
“The government considered macroeconomic indicators of economic development of Ukraine for 2013 and adopted them on November 28. Thus, the government adopted two economic- development scenarios,” the reporter noted.
According to the official, the first scenario was developed on the basis of IMF suggestions regarding world economy development, as well as development of global commodity markets and financial markets. This scenario presupposes that nominal GDP would be equal to USD 1.576 billion, and real growth to 3.4 percent. Consumer prices growth from December to December would amount to 4.8 percent.
The reporter informed that second scenario considers suggestions regarding further crisis developments in world economy. “It is understandable that the government chose the first scenario that presupposes carrying out respective reforms in economy and provides for higher rates of economic growth. These suggestions of the government are based on the following program documents.
First – is a complex of measures, economic reforms according to the National Action Plan for 2013.
Second – Action Plan for 2013, developed jointly with the Ministry of Finance, the government and the National Bank.
Third – the State Program for development of domestic production, action plan on overcoming the negative foreign trade balance, measures to activate the process of national production and stimulate domestic investment demand,” A. Miarkovskyi noted. He also said that forecast of consolidated state budget for 2013 with consideration of the established macroeconomic indicators amounts to UAH 463,1 billion or 29,4 percent of the gross domestic product. Including revenues to the state budget equal to UAH 359,9 billion.
The official informed on the expenditures of the budget. He stressed that the lion’s share of budget expenditures goes on protected budget items. The draft State Budget establishes the subsistence minimum per person at the level of UAH 1108 thousands per month starting from January 1. It should reach UAH 1176 thousands at the end of the year.
The Chair of the Committee on Budget Valeriy Baranov informed that the Committee had neither the possibility to analyze the text of the bill, nor the figures of the Sate Budget. The Committee also failed to provide proper evaluation of the state of inclusion of the provisions and main directions of budgetary policy in the draft budget, as well as its compliance with the Budget Code.
V. Baranov reminded that in case the bill on the state budget is not adopted by the end of the year, limitations determined in article 41 of the Budgetary Code of Ukraine will come into effect. In particular, capital expenses and budgetary loans will be prohibited; social standards and guarantees will not improve. State guarantees will not be provided.
According to him, the process of local budget adoption will be suspended, as this process is directly depended on determination of inter-budget transfers in the law on the State Budget.
V. Baranov reminded that yesterday, during the meeting of the Conciliatory Council, it was proposed to consider the bill on the State Budget of Ukraine for 2013 at the last plenary meeting of the eleventh session.
V. Baranov informed that the Committee recommends that the Verkhovna Rada should adopt the resolution.
Representatives of deputy factions and groups that participated in the discussion informed about their proposals concerning the bill and whether they support it or not. In particular, the adoption of the bill was supported by the representative of the Party of Regions faction and the People’s Party.
The head of the Communist Party faction P. Symonenko informed that his faction will not vote for this bill, as the Government has submitted “the budget of social default”.
Representatives of oppositional factions were also against the adoption of the bill.
People’s deputies participated in the discussion.
The Verkhovna Rada adopted the Resolution “On peculiarities of the procedure of consideration and adoption of the Bill of Ukraine on the State Budget of Ukraine for 2013”.
Members of the Parliament introduced changes into the Calendar Plan of the eleventh session. According to them, the evening meeting will not be held on Tuesday. At this time people’s deputies will be working on the bill on the State Budget of Ukraine for 2013.
The amendments stipulate also that people’s deputies will be working in committees on Wednesday; and the plenary meeting will be held on Thursday.
Members of the Parliament considered the bill to amend the Law “On the State Budget of Ukraine for 2012” (re redistribution of budgetary fund) under Reg. No. 11476.
The bill was presented by the Deputy Minister of Finance Anatoliy Miarkovskyi.
The bill was adopted as a basis and in entirety by 238 votes.
The Chairman adjourned the plenary meeting.
The next plenary meeting of the eleventh session will be held on Thursday, December 6.