THE FOURTH SESSION OF THE VERKHOVNA RADA OF UKRAINE OF THE SEVENTH CONVOCATION WAS CLOSED AND THE FIFTH ONE WAS OPENED ON TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2.
At the beginning of the plenary meeting, the people’s deputies and those present held a minute’s silence to pay tribute to the defenders of Ukraine who died near Ilovaisk, fighting way out of encirclement.
Chairperson of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Oleksandr Turchynov announced that members of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, leaders of the central and regional bodies of executive power, leaders of judicial power and heads of foreign diplomatic missions, as well as other officials participate in the plenary meeting.
Oleksandr Turchynov took the floor before the people’s deputies. “The threat of Russia’s shockingly cunning aggression against our country has crossed out peaceful life of Ukraine and Ukrainians and, thus, has drastically altered plans of the Verkhovna Rada. Under the situation of an overt war, with participation of regular troops of the Russian Federation, the Parliament has canceled traditional summer break and took the decision on the continuity of the fourth session in order to secure the possibility of immediate legislative response to the developments and the situation in the country,” he stressed.
Commenting on the work of the Parliament during the fourth session, Oleksandr Turchynov noted that “the fourth session, opened in February 2014, has witnessed crucial and life-changing events. After the fall of the Yanukovych regime and the escape of the former President, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine has remained the only nationwide legitimate body in the state.”
Chairperson of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine said that “in the condition of exceptionally challenging political and legal, as well as socio-economic situation, the Parliament took charge of the state of affairs in the country, formed the Government and adopted extremely necessary legislative acts, having thus secured the defense capacity and vitality of the country, as well as conduction of democratic elections of the President of Ukraine that were recognized by the civilized world. Even just with consideration of this fact, the seventh convocation of the Parliament has earned its rightful place in the history of parliamentarism in Ukraine.
Against the background of these events, the Parliament itself has experienced dramatic political and structural shakings. Under the complicated condition of confrontation, the new parliamentary majority has been formed and after it has fulfilled its commitments and was dissolved, the President of Ukraine took the decision to early terminate the authorities of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine and set early elections.”
Oleksandr Turchynov noted that “in the midst of these tumultuous events the Parliament has demonstrated resultative work. In comparison with the previous spring session, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine has scrutinized three times more bills, the majority of which were of strategic and seminal nature. During 73 plenary meetings, the Parliament has scrutinized 1908 bills of which 167 were adopted in entirety and 47 were approved in the first reading.”
The Chairperson of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine deems it to be an important achievement of the fourth session that “the Parliament has restored the Constitution of Ukraine that was illegally abolished under the pressure of the former President. The decision of the Parliament to restore the Constitution of Ukraine was taken at the demand of the Ukrainian people by the constitutional majority of 306 votes.
The package of bills, adopted in connection with the beginning of the Anti-terrorist operation in the east of the country, is among the most important bills adopted during the current session. First of all, the Parliament has promptly amended the 2014 State Budget, having thus secured financing of the Armed Forces, the National Guard and the law-enforcement agencies. The Parliament has also adopted the bills pertaining to the activity of the law-enforcement bodies and the Armed Forces. Particularly, under the adopted Law of Ukraine, the National Guard of Ukraine was established and several laws strengthening Ukraine’s defense capacity and resolving the issue of social protection of military men-participants of the ATO and members of their families, were approved.”
Oleksandr Turchynov said that legislative provision for fulfilling Visa Liberalization Action Plan with the European Union regarding reforming the state anti-corruption policy and the higher education is not less important legislative achievement of the Verkhovna Rada. The laws of Ukraine regulating state social policy, particularly, on protection of the rights of the disabled, the status of war veterans and guaranties of their social provision should be mentioned separately.
During this period the Verkhovna Rada has also adopted the package of bills pertaining to the budgetary, economic, social, industrial and investment policy. In particular, the laws regarding anti-crisis measures, deregulation of economic activity and elimination of administrative pressure on the subjects of economic activity were adopted during the fourth session together with those pertaining to securing transition of the subjects of economic activity to the market practice in line with the EU standards.
Particularly, these were the laws on state procurement; state aid to economic entities; reduction of the number of licensing documents and refinement of the procedure of their issuance; simplification of the state registration procedure; and limitation of interference in the activity of economic entities, etc.
Oleksandr Turchynov reminded that the Ukrainian community has been demanding adoption of the high-profile Law “On Public Television and Radio Broadcasting” for 10 years, and finally it was adopted by the current session of the Parliament. This shall open new opportunities for democratization of the Ukrainian society.
Oleksandr Turchynov noted that 2221 bills are still under elaboration in the committees of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine at present. I really hope that the bills which we will not be able to adopt in entirety during the current session in connection with termination of powers of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, will be considered by the new Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.
The Chairperson of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine announced the fourth session of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine closed and simultaneously, the fifth session - opened.
The choir sang the Anthem of Ukraine and the Spiritual Anthem of Ukraine.
Representatives of deputy factions and groups took the floor with announcements, statements and proposals. They spoke about the complicated situation in Ukraine and about the necessity to take complicated and responsible decisions.
The speakers suggested holding the meeting of the Verkhovna Rada behind the closed doors and grant a hearing to ATO leaders, as well as invite the government and the National Defence and Security Council and put them several questions.
It was noted that the new time reading has begun on August 27.
The people’s deputies came down to consideration of the agenda items. They discussed the draft resolution on the agenda of the fifth session of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine of the seventh convocation (Reg. No. 4570a) and adopted it by 236 votes.
Then, parliamentarians considered the draft resolution on amendments to the Plan calendar of the fifth session of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine of the seventh convocation (Reg. No. 4573a).
The draft resolution was not upheld (169 votes in favor).
Parliamentarians scrutinized several bills in the first reading.
The draft law on amendments to the Tax Code of Ukraine (re tax exemption of import of defence purposes production), registered under No. 4555a, was reported by the Deputy Defense Minister Petro Mekhed. He has also presented the next bill, registered under No. 4556a.
The alternative bill, registered under No. 4556a-1 was reported by the people’s deputy Serhii Teriokhin.
Before voting, Oleksandr Turchynov informed that leadership of the Verkhovna Rada jointly with Ukrainian scientists have elaborated a new workplace for the people’s deputy: fully computerized, the one that prevents the possibility of voting for one another, or using cards of other deputies, etc.
The Verkhovna Rada adopted the bill on amendments to the Tax Code of Ukraine (re tax exemption of import of defence purposes production), registered under No. 4555a, as a basis and in entirety.
The bill of the people’s deputy S.Teriokhin on amendments to the Tax Code of Ukraine re tax exemption of import of defence purposes production (Reg. No. 4556a-1), was also adopted as a basis and in entirety.
The draft law on amendments to several laws of Ukraine re engaging transport vehicles for evacuation of population from the hazardous area and the regions of possible armed hostilities (Reg. No. 4554a) was reported by the Head of the State Service of Emergency Situations Serhii Bochkovskyi.
The bill was adopted as a basis by 234 votes.
Parliamentarians considered resignation statement of Pavlo Sheremeta from the post of the Minister of Economic Development and Trade.
Voting was not resultative (213 votes in favor).
After such voting, representatives of some factions suggested granting a hearing to the Minister and then put the issue to voting.
The draft law on amendments to several laws of Ukraine re securing proper organization and holding elections of the people’s deputies of Ukraine (Reg. No. 4531a) was reported by the Chairperson of the Committee on State Building and Local Self-Government Davyd Zhvaniia.
The people’s deputy suggested optimizing organization of electoral process and reduce expenditures from the State Budget on organization of elections, etc.
In connection with the situation in Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts and in order to ensure independent preparation and holding of the elections of people's deputies of Ukraine in single constituencies formed within these oblasts, the Central Election Commission is suggested to be granted a right to review and change the borders and centres of single constituencies in these oblasts.
The Committee decided to recommend that the Verkhovna Rada adopt the bill as a basis and in entirety.
Following the results of the voting, people's deputies did not uphold the bill. A repeated voting was unsuccessful as well.
Minister of Finance Oleksandr Shlapak reported on the draft law on amendments to annex No. 3 of the Law "On the State Budget of Ukraine for 2014" under Reg. No. 4464а.
The bill did not receive enough votes (184 in favour).
The Verkhovna Rada adopted as a basis and in entirety the Law “On amendments to several laws of Ukraine re social protection of persons awarded the Order of the Heavenly Hundred Heroes” (under Reg. No. 4562а) with 243 votes.
MPs also upheld the amendments to the agenda of the fifth session of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine of the seventh convocation.
People's deputies upheld the resignation statement of P.Sheremeta with 252 votes.
The Chairperson adjourned the morning meeting.
At the evening plenary meeting people's deputies continued considering the agenda issues.
Deputy Minister of Defence Petro Mekhed informed about the draft law on amendments to article 7 of the Law of Ukraine "On Charity and Charitable Organizations" (re charitable donations) under Reg. No. 4514а. He claimed the bill aims at introducing mechanisms of public collection of charitable donations for ensuring military and mobilizational readiness, defence capacity and functioning of the Armed Forces of Ukraine is carried out in an order determined by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine.
The bill was adopted as a basis and in entirety with 238 votes.
The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted in the first reading the bill on amendments to several legislative acts of Ukraine re ensuring mobilization and guarantees to the citizens that perform military service called up during mobilization under Reg. No. 4710.
The Verkhovna Rada adopted two bills on ratification: the Additional protocol to the European Charter of Local Self-Government on the Right to Participate in the Affairs of Local Authority (under Reg. No. 0093) and the Financial Agreement (Project "Completion of the subway construction in Dnipropetrovsk") between Ukraine and the European Investment Bank (Reg. No. 0095).
The Agreement between Ukraine and the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) re granting the status of associate member state of CERN (Reg. No. 0089) and the Guarantee Agreement (Project "Beskydy railway tunnel" (Construction of Beskydy tunnel) between Ukraine and the European Investment Bank (Reg. No. 0092) were ratified as well.
The Verkhovna Rada adopted in the second reading and in entirety the draft laws on amendments to the Tax Code of Ukraine re taxation of charitable assistance (Reg. No. 4455а) and on temporary measures during the anti-terrorist operation (Reg. No. 4313а).
People's deputies again considered the Law "On amendments to several legislative acts of Ukraine re activity of the state employment service" with proposals of the President of Ukraine of 08.08.2014 (Reg. No. 4808).
Representative of the President of Ukraine in the Verkhovna Rada Ruslan Kniazevych informed that the President suggests rejecting this law.
People's deputies did not uphold the President's proposal on rejection (36 in favour).
The Verkhovna Rada adopted in the second reading and in entirety the bills on: moratorium for compulsory sale of dwelling, compulsory disconnection of utility services and prohibition to imposing and collecting fines and other punitive sanctions in case of untimely payment for utility services by citizens residing on the territory of antiterrorist operation in the Donetsk and Luhansk Oblasts (Reg. No. 4188а); amendments to the Law of Ukraine “On Association of Co-Owners of Multi-Storey Building” re preventing violations of rights of apartments and non-residential premises owners (Reg. No. 2469а; amendments to the Budget Code of Ukraine and several other legislative acts of Ukraine (Reg. No. 4160); amendments to several legislative acts of Ukraine re converting garden cottages and country houses into residential dwellings and registering them as dwelling places (Reg. No. 2336а).
MPs adopted two resolutions on Recommendations of the parliamentary hearings entitled "On securing implementation of housing rights of dormitory residents: problems and solutions" (Reg. No. 4279а) and "Visa free regime between Ukraine and the EU: prospects and new opportunities for Ukrainian citizens" (Reg. No. 4635).
The Chairperson adjourned the evening meeting.
Next plenary meeting of the fifth session will be held on Thursday, September 4.
Under the adopted decision, the plenary meeting will be held behind closed doors.