PLENARY MEETINGS OF THE SEVENTH SESSION OF THE VERKHOVNA RADA OF UKRAINE OF THE SIXTH CONVOCATION WERE HELD ON THURSDAY, OCTOBER 7
In the beginning of the morning plenary meeting, Volodymyr Lytvyn, Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, briefed on the results of the plenary meeting on October 6.
Oleksandr Lavrynovych, Minister of Justice, presented the bill on the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine. A new version of the bill was drafted in compliance with the Constitutional Court of Ukraine Resolution. It obliges the public authority bodies to harmonize all the normative-legal acts with the Constitution of Ukraine of June 28, 1996.
O. Lavrynovych stated that these proposals had been scrutinized by the Interim Ad Hoc Panel of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.
The deputies from the majority supported the bill, as its adoption will enable the Cabinet of Ministers to perform its authorities in full accordance with the Constitution of Ukraine of June 28, 1996.
The People´s Deputies divided the bill into two parts, adopting the Laws "On the Cabinet of Ministers" in a new version and "On Amendments to several Laws of Ukraine regarding Harmonization with the Constitution of Ukraine."
On request of the BYuT and Our Ukraine-People´s Self-Defence Factions, a recess was announced. During the recess, People´s Deputy Roman Zvarych stated that adoption of the Law "On the Cabinet of Ministers" violated the procedure, as the People´s Deputies were deprived of the right to introduce amendments.
People´s Deputy Mykola Katerynchuk presented the Draft Tax Code of Ukraine. He stated that the document consisted of 43 chapters and 357 clauses.
The People´s Deputy briefed on the provisions of the bill and suggested that the People´s Deputies drafted a high-quality bill, taking his bill as a basis, notwithstanding any ideological divergences.
Fedir Yaroshenko, Minister of Finance, presented the draft Tax Code elaborated by the Cabinet of Ministers. He declared that the draft Tax Code was a harmonized act meeting the European tax standards, aimed at the promotion of the innovation-investment development of economy. It is based on a clear strategy involving the following principles: elimination of administrative impediments to the development of business, orientation of the tax administration system towards protection of legitimate rights and interests of the tax payers, economic incentives to the development of small, medium-sized and big business, taxation of individuals in proportion to their income and property state.
F. Yaroshenko announced that the bill arranged favorable conditions for starting the business, as it is one of the principal ways to form the middle class. For this purpose, a renewed system of a single tax is suggested.
The Chairman of the Committee on Taxation and Customs Policy Vitalii Khomutynnik reported on the decision of the Committee regarding both bills.
V. Khomutynnik announced that the Committee recommended the Verkhovna Rada to adopt the Governmental Draft Tax Code, taking into the consideration certain proposals of the draft Code of M. Katerynchuk.
Representatives of the Committees and Deputies Factions discussed the bills. The speakers had been discussing the Governmental Draft Tax Code. The document was upheld by the representatives of the parliamentary majority factions. The parliamentarians declared that the Governmental Code consecutively and sententiously elucidated the fundamental principles of tax system in Ukraine, excluded meaningless taxes from the register, specified the obligations of tax payers and tax bodies, regulated the order of international convention norms implementation to prevent double taxation, strengthened financial and administrative responsibility for tax evasion, etc.
The People´s Deputies continued to discuss the draft Tax Code in the course of the afternoon sitting.
The Verkhovna Rada adopted the draft Tax Code introduced by the Cabinet of Ministers. The draft Tax Code of M. Katerynchuk was rejected.
The People´s Deputies scrutinized several resolutions on election and dismissal of judges, relevant decisions having been passed.
In the end of afternoon sitting, the parliamentarians put the bill on amendments to the Standing Orders of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on the agenda.
Adam Martyniuk, First Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, adjourned the afternoon sitting.
The next plenary meeting of the seventh session shall be held on Friday, 8 October.