There are || bodies in focus of our committee scan today:
- Committee on Finance, Taxation and Customs Policy
At its 12 May sitting, the committee proceeded with the issues of its previous meeting. The committee recommended that the Verkhovna Rada should take note of the performance report delivered on May 8 by the NBU Governor about the activities of the National Bank of Ukraine in 2019-2020. It was stressed that it’s equally advisable to include the report in the agenda of the extraordinary sitting of parliament slated for May 13, 2020.
Committeemen also saw into the bill No.3329-d (3329-д) “On amendments to the Tax Code of Ukraine and some other laws of Ukraine regarding the additional support to taxpayers for the period of preventive measures against the emergence and spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19)” prepared for its second reading. The bill aims to give further effect to tax benefits and administrative procedures facilitations until the Cabinet’s quarantine restrictions end. The bill purposes the following incentives:
- further freeze on money penalties for tax infringements perpetrated during the “eclipse run” (i.e. the period starting from March 1, 2020 till the last calendar day of the quarantine-end month);
- further freeze on fines during the “eclipse run”;
- further break in payment of a single social security tax/contribution for solopreneurs and individuals engaged in independent professional activity until 31 May 2020;
- further freeze on documental and factual check-ups until the last calendar day of the quarantine-end month;
- lower requirements to the minimum size of a bank’s authorized capital to now make UAH 200 mn against UAH 500 mn earlier on;
- application of the law of Ukraine on simpler procedures for reorganization and capitalization of banks has been extended until 2024;
- other changes aimed to regulate administrative procedures in force during the run of the restrictive measures and for some time afterwards.
The ad hoc working group left unchanged the general concept of the bill purposed at extending tax breaks provided to entrepreneurs in connection with quarantine.
The committee’s decision is to recommend that the parliament take the bill on the second reading.
Currently, under consideration by the committee there are 239 draft legislations and nine more - draft resolutions. Since some of them are considered for six months, there will, therefore, be carried out kind of redistribution of the bills between MPs so that enactments be considered in a timely manner.
- Committee on Energy, Housing and Utilities Services
At its 12 May sitting, the committee viewed and decided to support an action programme of the anti-Crisis Energy Staff.
The Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal reported on the activities of the Anti-Crisis Energy Staff and the energy ministry and called on to support the relevant staff’s decisions as well as the work of the line ministry. The premier answered questions from the floor.
There were also named pieces of legislation approved by the Anti-Crisis Staff, which require immediate consideration and adoption, viz: draft laws Nos.2386, 2388, 3459, 2389, 2390 and 3364.
The committee chairman agreed to support an array of the Anti-Crisis Staff’s proposals, in particular, the admission of the DP "Harantovanyi Pokupets" (aka the State-owned Enterprise “Guaranteed Buyer”) to the bilateral agreements market (RDD), which will "facilitate the market liberalization", as well as the adoption of the bill No.2386.
The committee’s decision was to support the action plan approved by the Anti-Crisis Energy Staff.
The body also saw into the draft bill No.3199 on the electricity market and decided to send it for a closer review by the ad hoc working group. The said group is thought to next sit on May 14.