PLENARY MEETINGS OF THE VERKHOVNA RADA OF UKRAINE OF THE SIXTH CONVOCATION WERE HELD ON THURSDAY, 4 MARCH 

In the beginning of the plenary meeting, the People´s Deputies scrutinized the Draft Resolution on Amendments to the Schedule of the Sixth Session of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine of the Sixth Convocation. The Draft Resolution was presented by People´s Deputy Mykola Komar.   

Oleksandr Yefremov, Chairman of the Committee on Rules of Parliamentary Procedure, Ethics and Support to Work of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, reported on the Committee´s resolution. Thus, pursuant to the Resolution, plenary meetings shall be held on 9-12 March, while 15-19 March shall be dedicated to the work in the committees and factions.  

The People´s Deputies upheld the Draft Resolution by 228 votes.  

The Parliament members rejected the Bill on Amendments to certain Laws of Ukraine (re Recording of Trial by Technical Equipment).   

The Verkhovna Rada adopted the Bill on Amendments to Clause 191 of the Civil Procedural Code of Ukraine (re Serving of Court Summons) as a basis.   

The People´s Deputies scrutinized and rejected the Bills on Amendments to the Law "On the Local Self-Government in Ukraine" (re Enhancement of State Regulation as to the Fixation of Tariffs for Utility and other Services rendered by the Enterprises and Organizations in Municipal Ownership) and on Amendments to the Law "On the Ban on Import and Sale of Ethylated Petrol and Lead-Based Additives at the Territory of Ukraine (re Aviation Fuel). 

People´s Deputy Volodymyr Herasymchuk presented the Bill on Amendments to the Law "On Drinking Water and Drinking Water Supply".  

After a short discussion, the People´s Deputies forwarded the Bill for further drafting.  

The Party of Regions and the CPU Faction demanded a recess. Volodymyr Lytvyn, Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, gave floor to Oleksandr Yefremov, representative of the Party of Regions Faction. O.Yefremov demanded that the Bill on Amendments to Clause 61 of the Law "On the Standing Orders of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine" (re Procedure of setting up a Coalition of Deputy Factions) be immediately scrutinized. 

Volodymyr Lytvyn, Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, reminded that the issues concerning organization of work of The Verkhovna Rada shall be included to the agenda without voting. However, he put this motion to the vote. The People´s Deputies supported the motion by 231 votes.  

At the request of the BYuT and "Our Ukraine-People´s Self-Defence" Factions, the recess was announced to hold the Conciliative Council.    

After the recess, Roman Zvarych, representative of "Our Ukraine-People´s Self-Defence" Faction, stated that the amendments to Clause 61 of the Law "On the Standing Orders of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine" (re Procedure of setting up a Coalition of Deputy Factions) violated the Constitution.   

V.Lytvyn briefed on the results of the Conciliative Council. The attendants of the meeting concluded that two scenarios were possible: either The Verkhovna Rada would consolidate and work, observing the Constitution and Ukrainian Laws, or The Verkhovna Rada shall pass the resolution on voluntary dissolution. 

Valeriy Bondyk presented the Bill on Amendments to Clause 61 of the Law "On the Standing Orders of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine". He stated that the Bill regulated the procedure of setting up a coalition of the Deputy Factions. The amendments present the following version of Clause 61 of the Law "On the Standing Orders of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine": "A coalition of Deputy Factions in The Verkhovna Rada is an association of deputy factions and People´s Deputies involving the majority of People´s Deputies of the constitutional composition of The Verkhovna Rada, set up in accordance with the election results and in compliance with the Constitution of Ukraine and the Standing Orders.  

2) The coalition shall be set up within one month since the opening of the first meeting of the newly-elected Verkhovna Rada or within one month since the date the activity of the previous coalition was terminated.  

3) The coalition shall be set up after the negotiations of the deputy factions. The Agreement of the coalition of deputy factions in The Verkhovna Rada (hereinafter referred to as the Coalition Agreement) shall be concluded by results of the negotiations with the personal signatures of the heads of the corresponding deputy factions or by resolution of one deputy faction by a deputy head of this faction.  

The Coalition Agreement shall document consensual political standpoints underlying the coalition, as well as the procedure for regulating organizational matters of the coalition activity. The Coalition Agreement shall be supplemented with the list of People´s Deputies-members of the Coalition.  

4) The Coalition is considered set up since the moment the Chairperson makes the official declaration at the plenary meeting on the grounds of the documents submitted to The Verkhovna Rada Secretariate as envisaged by Part 3 of this Clause.    

5) The announcement concerning formation of the coalition and the Coalition Agreement shall be published in Holos Ukrainy newspaper within four days since the official declaration at the plenary meeting.    

6) If the activity of the coalition is terminated, a new coalition shall be set up in compliance with the Standing Orders". 

Oleksandr Yefremov, Chairman of the Committee on Rules of Parliamentary Procedure, Ethics and Support to Work of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, announced that the Committee recommended adopting the Bill as a basis and in its entirety. 

The Verkhovna Rada adopted the Bill by 229 votes and commissioned its elaboration for the Second Reading according to the briefed procedures. 

The parliamentarians scrutinized number of Resolutions on appointing and dismissal of judges and adopted corresponding decisions. 

The People´s Deputies discussed two bills on amendments to certain legislative acts of Ukraine (regarding the enhancement of requirements for the production and turnover of foodstuffs). In the result of the scrutiny the first Bill, the authors of which is N. Korolevska, the People´s Deputy of Ukraine (Reg. No.3457), was rejected and another one elaborated by T. Bakhteeva, the People´s Deputy of Ukraine (Reg. No.4584) was adopted as a basis. 

In the end of the morning sitting, the People´s Deputies commenced the scrutiny of the Bill on Amendments to Clause 12 of the Law "On Medicines" (re Marking of Medicines with Braille Script). The Bill was presented by Viktor Korzh, the People´s Deputy of Ukraine. 

During the afternoon meeting, the People´s Deputies discussed this Bill and adopted it as a basis. 

The Verkhovna Rada also adopted as a basis the Bills "On Amendments to certain Legislative Acts of Ukraine regarding Cooperation" and On Amendments to the Law of Ukraine "On Cargo Transit" (re Customs Clearance). 

The Bill "On Supplements to the Law of Ukraine "On Land Protection" (re Issue and Cancellation of Special Permits for Removal and Displacement of Soil" was reported by Oleh Kulinich, the Chairman of the State Committee on Land Resources. 

The People´s Deputies having expressed certain remarks regarding the Bill adopted it as a bassi by 307 votes. 

The Parliamentarians discussed two Bills aimed at the assistance to the agricultural industry. In the result of the scrutiny, the Bill on Amendments to Clause 13 of the Law "On State Support of Agriculture" and Bill on Amendments to the Law " On State Support of Agriculture of Ukraine" (re Enhancement of Support of Agricultural Enterprises) were adopted as a basis by 334 and 33 votes. 

The Verkhovna Rada rejected the Bill on amendments to certain Laws of Ukraine regarding the defining of the building cost that is at the expense of the public utility services establishments and organizations.

The Bill on Amendments to the Criminal Procedural Code of Ukraine regarding Impoundment of Material Secret Data Carriers was reported by the Deputy Minister on Justice Andrii Bohdan. The People´s Deputies upheld the decision of the profile Committee and adopted the Bill as a basis and in its entirety by 253 votes. 

The Parliamentarians discussed the Bill on Amendments to Clause 9 of the Law "On the Participation of Ukraine in the Peace-Making Operations." The Bill was adopted as a basis and in its entirety by 310 votes. 

The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted the Bill on Amendments to the Law "On Mobilization Preparation and Mobilization" (re Leading of Mobilization Tasks (Orders) as a basis by 304 votes. 

Volodymyr Lytvyn, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, adjourned the plenary meeting. 

The next plenary meeting will be held on Friday, 5 March.