PLENARY METING OF THE VERKHOVNA RADA OF UKRAINE OF THE SEVENTH CONVOCATION WAS HELD ON FRIDAY, JULY 4, 2014.
Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Ruslan Koshulynskyi opened morning plenary session. He informed that at the moment leaders of deputy factions and groups consult in the office of the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.
The Presiding informed also that factions did not refer proposals in regard to holding the Government Question Hour.
R.Koshulynskyi read out deputies’ inquiries.
The Presiding announced that the people’s deputies S.Hrynevetskyi, S.Kivalov and A.Kisse left the deputy faction of the Party of Regions. He informed that the people’s deputy O.Ponomariov became member of the deputy group “For peace and stability” and that the people’s deputy R.Shuhalo left composition of the Communist Party of Ukraine and joined the deputy group “For Peace and Stability”.
R.Koshulynskyi announced establishment of the Inter-faction deputy union “For the development of Polissya territories” in the Verkhovna Rada. The people’s deputy S.Ivakhiv was elected head of the deputy union.
Further on the meeting was led by Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Oleksandr Turchynov. He informed that the Prime Minister of Ukraine A.Yatseniuk is present in the session hall.
Oleksandr Turchynov informed that the Cabinet of Ministers addressed the Verkhovna Rada yesterday with a proposal to pass bills that the country’s energy safety depends on. “In view of the war, the Russian Federation conducts against us, and the prospect of blocking gas supply to Ukraine, the Government elaborates schemes of work under the extreme conditions. Unless these proposals are supported, the country will be left without heating and we will not be able to get Ukraine ready for winter period. This is a risk for millions of our citizens. That is why the issue of supporting or not governmental proposals is the issue of survival of the country that fights a complicated war,” he stressed and granted the possibility for the representatives of deputy factions and groups to express their standings regarding governmental bills.
The people’s deputies noted that “this package of laws on the emergency state in the fuel and energy complex, as well as the issue of efficient use of the gas transportation system are extremely important factors of Ukraine’s energy safety.”
Chairman granted the floor to the Prime Minister of Ukraine A.Yatseniuk.
A.Yatseniuk noted that “over the past 4 months the only basic bill on overcoming the financial crisis, referred by the Cabinet of Ministers, was upheld, which provided the possibility to receive the first loan tranche from the International Monetary Fund. The respective laws should be adopted to receive other tranches.”
The Prime Minister regretted that two dozen of other laws submitted by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine were not upheld by the Parliament.
At the same time, the Parliament voted on a number of laws that are not provided with budget funding. These, according to him, are "classic populist laws that cannot be implemented since there is no money in the country". According to him, “for 23 years there have already being passed bills in amount of UAH 300 bln so as to please the voters. As a result, the country became a bankrupt. "
The Prime Minister drew attention to the fact that only over the past 4 months the Parliament has passed 8 laws that require expenditures from the State Budget of Ukraine in the amount of UAH 11.5 bln up to 2016. The state budget doesn’t possess such funds.
“There have been approved and are expected to be signed additional six laws that provide budget expenditures amounting up to UAH 34 bln till 2016. This is a show of unlimited populism and lie to people. There is no such money. I believe that it is very hard for the Government and Parliament to work in such a format. And it is even harder for Ukraine and Ukrainians,” he stressed.
Arsenii Yatseniuk has reminded that two governmental bills on the state’s energy security have already been reported to the Parliament, on the third attempt they were included in the agenda, government committees considered them two times, all the leaders of factions and groups confirmed the need for their approval at a coalition’s meeting. To reach a compromise, the Government has agreed that they should be voted only at first reading. But despite this, on July 3, they "were not voted."
According to the Prime Minister, the bill on the reform of the Ukrainian gas transportation system management is a key one. "It makes it possible to start the procedure together with our European and American counterparts of upgrading and operating the Ukrainian gas transportation system. It needs urgent investment to download maximally the Ukrainian GTS and to receive the income. Ukraine, which will own a controlling stake in the carrier-company, needs to earn more together with European, American companies and to prevent the implementation of the South Stream bypassing Ukraine."
Arsenii Yatseniuk has stressed that the energy market is in a "critical situation" today. "This is a part of the war unleashed by Russia against Ukraine. Apart from officers of the GRU (Russian Main Intelligence Directorate), heavy artillery, financing sent by Russia to the territory of Ukraine, apart from financial pressure exercised on all economic entities as to Ukraine, apart from economic pressure, when Russia is trying to turn all possible and impossible screws to prevent Ukraine from selling its goods and, eventually, to survive - Russia has also unleashed with us a gas war".
At the end of the speech, Prime Minister claimed that “the Government will not succumb to any blackmail. We either work or do not work. The Parliament, the Government and the coalition are to be reshuffled, unless the Government and Parliament have a common vision and work together to save the country out of this extremely difficult situation.”
Oleksandr Turchynov suggested that the people’s deputies return to consideration of bills on amendments to several laws of Ukraine re reforming the management system in the Single Gas Transportation System of Ukraine (Reg. No. 4116a) and on the special period in fuel and energy complex (Reg. No. 4171a).
The Verkhovna Rada adopted both governmental bills as basis.
The Prime Minister A.Yatseniuk suggested the people’s deputies start the process of reshuffling the Cabinet of Ministers.
The people’s deputies considered the issue of appointing members of the National Television and Radio Broadcasting Council of Ukraine.
The Chairman put to vote nominees to the posts of members of the National Television and Radio Broadcasting Council of Ukraine.
Following the results of voting, Kateryna Kotenko, Oleksandr Iliashenko, Olha Herasymiuk and Oleh Chernysh were appointed members of the National Council.
The people’s deputies considered several bills in the second reading.
The Verkhovna Rada adopted in entirety the bills on amendments to several laws of Ukraine re prevention (minimization) of negative influence on the stability of banking system (reg. No. 4938) and on amendments to the Law Of Ukraine “On Banks and Banking” (re determining peculiarities of bank corporate governance) (Reg. No. 0961).
The bill on amendments to several legislative acts of Ukraine (re additional guarantees of social protection of military men during the special period), registered under No. 4079a, was placed on the agenda.
Chair of the subcommittee of the Committee on National Defence and Security Serhii Hrynevetskyi reported that the Committee recommends the Verkhovna Rada adopt this bill as a basis and in entirety.
The Verkhovna Rada adopted in the second reading and in entirety the bill on amendments to the Tax Code of Ukraine and several other legislative acts of Ukraine re passive income (Reg. No. 4101a).
The people’s deputies included into the agenda the draft law on amendments to several laws regarding separate issues of conducting medico-social examination (Reg. No. 4528).
The people’s deputies upheld the bill as a basis and in entirety by 269 votes.
Parliamentarians returned to the previously considered bill on amendments to the Law “On Public Associations” (re ensuring activity of All-Ukrainian public associations), registered under No. 3225, and adopted it as a basis and in entirety by 256 votes.
The draft law on amendments to several legislative acts of Ukraine re identification and registration of animals (Reg. No. 4987) was reported by the Minister of Agrarian Policy Ihor Shvaika.
Minister addressed the people’s deputies with a request to uphold an alternative bill (Reg. No. 4987-1).
Representative of the Committee on Agrarian Policy and Land Relations Volodymyr Pylypenko reported the Committee’s decision to recommend the Verkhovna Rada adopt the bill (Reg. No. 4987-1) as a basis and in entirety.
The people’s deputies upheld the bill as a basis by 228 votes at the third attempt.
The Verkhovna Rada adopted as a basis and in entirety the draft law on amendments to the Budget Code of Ukraine re allocation of rental payments for water bodies to local budgets (Reg. No. 4076a) by 272 votes.
The people’s deputies included the draft law on amendments to the Tax Code of Ukraine re taxation of beneficent aid (Reg. No. 4245a) in the agenda by 235 votes.
At the end of the plenary meeting, parliamentarians took the floor with statements, reports and announcements.
The Chairman adjourned plenary meeting.
The people’s deputies will work in the committees, factions and commissions on July 7 – 11 and with the electorate on July 14 – 18.
Next plenary meeting of the fourth session will be held on Tuesday, July 22.