PLENARY MEETINGS OF THE SEVENTH SESSION OF THE VERKHOVNA RADA OF UKRAINE OF THE SIXTH CONVOCATION WERE HELD ON THURSDAY, 23 DECEMBER
In the beginning of the morning plenary meeting, Volodymyr Lytvyn, Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, briefed on the results of work of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine at the plenary meeting on December, 22.
BYuT-Batkivshchyna and Our Ukraine-People´s Self Defence Factions insisted that the recess be announced or the floor be given to them.
Andrii Pavlovskyi, member of the BYuT-Batkivshchyna Faction, took the floor. He stated, "It is for the first time that the rates of social standards in the draft budget will be revised not five times a year, but only four, which violates social rights and civil guarantees." He stressed that the rates of social standards had been significantly reduced.
The People´s Deputy announced that his Faction would not take part in the plenary meeting.
Representatives of Our Ukraine-People´s Self Defence Faction left the session hall.
The People´s Deputies scrutinized the issues on human resources.
The Chairman informed that the President of Ukraine submitted an appeal on dismissal of V.S.Stelmakh from the office of the Head of the National Bank of Ukraine, and on appointment of S.H.Arbuzov to this office.
Yurii Miroshnychenko, Representative of the President of Ukraine at The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, read out the submission of the President.
The People´s Deputies passed the Resolution "On dismissal of V.S.Stelmakh from the office of the Head of the National Bank of Ukraine" by 278 votes.
Yurii Miroshnychenko announced that the President of Ukraine submitted the candidacy of Serhii Arbuzov to the office of the Head of the National Bank of Ukraine.
Faction representatives discussed the candidacy, expressed their views on the problems in the banking system and monetary management, and introduced their motions concerning its improvement.
The Verkhovna Rada passed the Resolution "On appointment of S.H.Arbuzov to the office of the Head of the National Bank of Ukraine" by 282 votes.
The People´s Deputies passed the Resolution "On Holding of the Parliamentary Hearings "On State Policy concerning Solution of the Problem of Repayment and Entitlement of Lost (Defaulted) Citizen's Savings" on April 13, 2011.
Valerii Baranov, Chairman of the Committee on Budget, presented the bill "On Amendments to the Budget Code of Ukraine and several Legislative Acts of Ukraine."
The Law was adopted by 262 votes.
Fedir Yaroshenko, Minister of Finance of Ukraine, reported on the motions of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine regarding the bill "On Amendments to the Budget Code of Ukraine and several Legislative Acts of Ukraine" adjusted to the second reading. He stressed that the Government tried to meet "the sound proposals of the People´s Deputies, preserving the balance and integrity of the state budget."
F. Yaroshenko stated that the Government suggested allocating extra UAH 500 million to support the programs of regional socio-economic support. These funds shall be spent on the reconstruction and construction of schools, hospitals, gas and heat distribution networks, transport development, and energy infrastructures.
Valerii Baranov, Chairman of the Committee on Budget, stated that the Committee had worked out 2 thousand motions submitted by the deputies, committees and factions, which have been summarized into 1 167 motions. 460 were taken into account, whereas 707 were rejected.
The Verkhovna Rada adopted the bill on the State Budget of Ukraine for 2011 by 279 votes.
In the result of work in the first quarter and the first half year, the Cabinet of Ministers shall submit its motions to the State Budget of Ukraine in part of extra funding of the social expenditures.
Oleksandr Lavrynovych, Minister of Justice, presented the bill "On the Principles of Corruption Prevention and Counteraction in Ukraine." The purpose of the bill is to form effective anti-corruption legislation of Ukraine. The document was drafted with account for the proposals of the Group of States against corruption (GRECO), the Constitutional Court of Ukraine, the experts and the public. The bill takes the following action: extends the circle of subjects of responsibility for corruptive infringements, specifies the conditions for treatment of particular individuals as the subjects of responsibility for corruptive infringements; fixes the range of subjects to take action, coordinate and control activity for corruption prevention and counteraction; specifies the restrictions of the subjects of responsibility for corruptive infringements concerning appropriation of corporate opportunities and corporate opportunities of relatives, positions overlapping and pluralism of offices, acceptance of gifts; sets restrictions for the persons who resigned from offices or terminated the activity connected with the realization of functions of the state; introduces a new procedure of financial control, obliges to declare both income and expenditures, fixes the deadline for submitting the declaration and publishing the statement of income and expenditures in the official printed media.
The bill "On the Principles of Corruption Prevention and Counteraction in Ukraine" was adopted as a basis by 261 votes.
The People´s Deputies passed several draft resolutions on appointment and dismissal of judges. Thus, The Verkhovna Rada gave its consent to the arrest and detention of V.Donin, judge of Ivanivka district court of Odesa region.
People´s Deputy Ihor Lysov presented the bill "On Amendments to the Law of Ukraine "On the State Budget of Ukraine for 2010" (re Expenditures of the Ministry of Regional Development and Construction of Ukraine). The bill was adopted as a Law by 248 votes.
The People´s Deputies put the bill on amendments to the Law "On Amendments to the Law of Ukraine "On Prosecution" (re Approval of the Text of the Prosecutor's Oath) on the agenda.
The bill "On Amendments to the Law of Ukraine "On Amendments to the Law of Ukraine "On the Judicial System and the Status of Judges" (re Special Training of the Candidates for the Office of a Judge) was presented by Valerii Pysarenko, People´s Deputy of Ukraine. The bill was adopted as a basis by 245 votes.
The Chairman adjourned the morning sitting.
In the beginning of the afternoon sitting the People´s Deputies scrutinized the bill "On Amendments to the Law of Ukraine "On Prosecution" (re Approval of the Text of the Prosecutor's Oath).
The bill was presented by the Chairman of the Sub-Committee on Fighting Organized Crime and Corruption Ivan Vernydubov.
The Verkhovna Rada adopted the bill as a basis and in its entirety.
The People´s Deputies scrutinized a number of bills in the second reading.
In the result of the voting in the first reading and in entirety the following bills were adopted: "On Preventive Treatment of the Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS), and Social Security" and "On the Social Dialogue in Ukraine."
The Verkhovna Rada passed the Resolution "On fixing the Boundaries of Komsomolsk town of Poltava Region."
Two draft resolutions were rejected: on reference book "Ukraine. Administrative Territorial Division" and on celebration of memorable dates and anniversaries in 2011.
The Verkhovna Rada passed the following resolutions: "On Amendments to the Resolution of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine "On conferring the Annual Award of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine upon the Educationalists of the Comprehensive, Vocational, Pro-School and Out-of-School Education Establishments"; "On awarding Scholarships of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine - 2011 to the Most Talented Young Scholars" and "On awarding Scholarships of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine to the Most Talented Young Scholars in the Field of Fundamental and Applied Research, and Development Projects for 2010."
The parliamentarians passed the Resolution "On withdrawing the Bills on the Matters of the Fuel and Energy Sector."
The following draft resolutions were directed for adjustment: on Recommendations of the Parliamentary Hearings on the Situation with Youth in Ukraine: "Young Generation and Healthy Lifestyle", and on Recommendations of the Parliamentary Hearings: "On the State of Industrial Safety and Occupational Safety and Health."
The People´s Deputies rejected the draft Resolution on Recommendations of the Parliamentary Hearings: "Strategy of the Humanitarian Policy in Ukraine."
The parliamentarians repeatedly scrutinized the Law "On Amendments to several Legislative Acts of Ukraine regarding the Rights of Concession Holders" with the motions of the President of Ukraine.
The motions were presented by Yurii Miroshnychenko, Representative of the President of Ukraine in the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.
Yurii Voropaev, Deputy Chairman of the Committee on Economic Policy, announced that the Committee recommended the Verkhovna Rada to agree to the motions of the President of Ukraine.
The Verkhovna Rada adopted the Law "On Amendments to several Legislative Acts of Ukraine regarding the Rights of Concession Holders" in the new version with the motions of the President of Ukraine.
The bill on amendments to certain legislative acts of Ukraine concerning unification of the budget legislation principles was withdrawn.
The People´s Deputies scrutinized the bill on amendments to clause 1 of the Law "On Structure, Authorities and Peculiarities of Legal and Economic Regime of Property Complex of the National Industrial-Agrarian Association Masandra" (re State-Owned Enterprise Veselivske) and adopted it as a basis by 261 votes.
The bill "On Amendments to the Laws of Ukraine regarding Social Security of the Citizens living in the Territory of the Control Area of Facilities designed for Radioactive Waste Treatment" was adopted as a basis and in entirety.
The Verkhovna Rada adopted the Bill on Amendments to the Law of Ukraine "On the Capital of Ukraine - City Hero Kyiv" (re Order of Establishment of the District Councils).
The People´s Deputies voted for correcting legal deficiencies in the Law "On Customs Tariff."
The Parliamentarians scrutinized a number of bills in the first reading. In the result of the voting the following bills were adopted as a basis: on Amendments to several Laws of Ukraine regarding Enhancement of the Bankruptcy Proceedings; on Amendments to the Code on Administrative Infringements of Ukraine (re Authorities of the Officials of the Military Service of Law and Order in the Armed Forces of Ukraine); on Amendments to several Legislative Acts of Ukraine (re Administrative Responsibility for the Violation in the Sphere of State Registration); on Amendments to the Law "On the Notaries" (re Requirements for the Notarial Profession).
The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted the Law "On Amendments to Clause 7 of the Law "On Pipeline Transport" (re Property Fund Administrator).
The Chairman adjourned the afternoon sitting.
The next plenary meeting of the seventh session will be held on Friday, 24 December.