Extraordinary plenary session on March 2, 2015

Extraordinary plenary session of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine of the eighth convocation was held on March 2, 2015.

Prior to the beginning of the session, deputies of faction of Radical party blocked the tribune and demanded resignation of the Head of the National Bank of Ukraine Valeriia Hontareva.

First Deputy Chairperson of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Andrii Parubii informed that the plenary session will begin at 5 p.m. in view of complicated consultations on the agenda items.

A.Parubii addressed the people’s deputies asking them to work in factions.

Having opened plenary session of the Parliament, Chairperson of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Volodymyr Groysman said that “a famous opposition politician, a true democrat and a friend of Ukraine Borys Niemtsov was cynically and cruelly killed in Moscow on February 27, 2015.”

The people’s deputies observed a moment of silence in tribute of “a bright and courageous man.”

Having opened extraordinary plenary session, Volodymyr Groysman suggested considering agenda items under a special procedure, adjusted by the coalition factions.

The Presiding asked the people’s deputies to vote for that.

Parliamentarians upheld the proposal by 213 votes.

The Presiding gave a floor to the people’s deputy Oleh Liashko who demanded dismissing Head of the National Bank of Ukraine Valeriia Hontarieva.

Volodymyr Groysman informed that he has instructed the Secretariat to prepare the issue of granting a hearing to the Head of the National Bank of Ukraine on Friday.

The Presiding asked to vote for granting a hearing to the Head of the National Bank of Ukraine Valeriia Hontarieva on Friday. 

The people’s deputies upheld the proposal by 292 votes.

Parliamentarians upheld also the proposal to continue the meeting until all the agenda items are considered (239 votes).

Representative of the President of Ukraine in the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine read out the Decree of the President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko on awarding Nadiia Savchenko the title of a Hero of Ukraine. 

The people’s deputies applauded.

People’s deputy Yurii Lutsenko suggested that the Verkhovna Rada address Nadiia Savchenko calling her to stop hunger-strike. “We are waiting for you here, in the Parliament,” he stressed. 

Parliamentarians adopted the Address of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine to Nadiia Savchenko calling her to stop hunger-strike and save her life for further fighting (329 votes in favor). 

The Presiding informed that the Prime Minister of Ukraine Arsenii Yatseniuk and members of the Cabinet of Ministers participate in the work of the Verkhovna Rada.

Prime Minister of Ukraine Arsenii Yatseniuk outlined the tasks, the state and the government are facing on the way to overcoming economic crisis and military aggression.

He informed that in the course of work with coalition factions, several governmental suggestions were withdrawn. According to him, the Government has elaborated 17 bills.

According to the Prime Minister, a new package of foreign assistance stipulates financial assistance during four years.

A.Yatseniuk informed that the loans Ukraine receives are not used for consumption. “We cannot and we have no right to use loans for increasing pensions, salaries, or financing the army. This is the responsibility of a Government and the state,” he stressed.

Head of the Government informed also that adoption of this package of laws as well as adoption of the decision on the part of the International Monetary Fund “will give an opportunity to unblock USD 3,5 billion of direct investments into Ukraine’s economy,” he noted.

The Prime Minister further mentioned that these funds will be received from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, European Investment Bank and other international financial institutions, and will be directed for construction of roads and modernization of Ukrainian gas pipeline system, etc.

The Prime Minister told about the efforts taken to disrupt the programme between Ukraine and the International Monetary Fund, and expressed conviction that on March 11, as soon as the today’s decisions are taken, IMF Board of Governors will convene and take a positive decision on Ukraine.

A.Yatseniuk addressed the people’s deputies asking them to thoroughly consider all the bills and take the decision.

Parliamentarians went down to considering agenda items.

The draft law on amendments to articles 165 and 252 of the Tax Code of Ukraine (Reg. No. 2213) was reported by Minister of Finance Nataliia Yaresko.

According to her, the legislative act exempts from tax on personal income the sum of charitable assistance provided by charitable organizations (the list of which is determined by the Cabinet of Ministers) to physical persons who live (lived) on the territory of ATO or/and were forced to leave their place of residence; to those who lived on the territory of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and were forced to leave their place of residence.

Chairperson of the Committee on Taxation and Customs Policy Roman Nasirov reported the Committee’s decision to recommend the Verkhovna Rada adopt the bill as a basis and in entirety with consideration of the remarks and proposals made.

Representatives of factions voiced out their remarks and suggestions.

The Verkhovna Rada adopted the bill as a basis and in entirety by 291 votes.

Deputy Finance Minister Ihor Umanskyi presented the next governmental bill on amendments to the Budget Code of Ukraine (Reg. No. 2209). According to him, the document suggests financing educational institutions of state ownership at the cost of expenditures from the State Budget of Ukraine and in line with the list determined by the Cabinet of Ministers. The bill specifies provisions on financing new state bodies in 2015, operation of which is directed and coordinated by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine.

Deputy Chairperson of the Budgetary Committee Serhii Melnyk reported the Committee’s decision to recommend the Verkhovna Rada adopt the bill as a basis and in entirety with consideration of Committee’s proposals and amendments.

The people’s deputies upheld the bill as a basis and in entirety by 277 votes.

Minister of Social Policy Pavlo Rozenko reported on the draft law on amendments to several legislative acts of Ukraine on pension provision. He informed about fundamental provisions and amendments to it.

Chairperson of Committee on Social Policy, Employment and Pension Provision Liudmyla Denisova said the Committee recommends that the Verkhovna Rada adopt the bill as a basis and in entirety with consideration of all the voiced proposals of the Committee.

Following the results of voting, the bill did not receive enough votes (164 in favour).

Results of repeated voting were not successful.

The Chairperson announced a 15-minute break in the meeting.

After the break, the Chairperson suggested voting on the bill under Reg. No. 2212.

The bill was adopted with 238 votes as a basis and in entirety with consideration of proposals of the specialized committee and proposals of the Prime Minister.

Chairperson of the Committee on Taxation and Customs Policy informed about the draft law on amendments to the Customs Code of Ukraine (re officials of revenues and duties bodies) under Reg. No. 2211.

The Committee recommends that the Verkhovna Rada adopt the bill as a basis and in entirety.

MPs upheld the bill with 292 votes.

With 285 votes, the Verkhovna Rada adopted the bill on amendments to the Tax Code of Ukraine (re officials of supervisory authorities) under Reg. No. 2210 as a basis and in entirety, which is connected with the bill under Reg. No. 2211.

Deputy Minister of Energy and Coal Industry of Ukraine Ihor Didenko informed about the bill on amendments to several laws of Ukraine re stabilizing financial status of the National Joint-Stock Company Naftogaz of Ukraine (Reg. No. 2214).

Chairperson of the Committee on Fuel and Energy Complex, Nuclear Policy and Nuclear Safety Mykola Martynenko said the Committee recommends that the Verkhovna Rada adopt the bill as a basis.

The bill was adopted with 242 votes as a basis.

Minister of Finance Nataliia Yaresko reported on amendments to the Law of Ukraine "On the State Budget of Ukraine for 2015" (Reg. No. 2147).

First Deputy Chairperson of the Committee on Budget Vasyl Amelchenko informed about the Committee's decision to recommend that the Verkhovna Rada adopt the bill as a basis and in entirety with consideration of proposals of the Committee on Budget and the Ministry of Finance of Ukraine. The Committee's representative voiced these proposals.  

The Verkhovna Rada adopted the bill as a basis and in entirety with 273 votes.

Representative of the President in the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Stepan Kubiv informed about the draft law on amendments to several legislative acts of Ukraine re responsibility of bank insiders (Reg. No. 2085). The legislative act amends the Code of Ukraine on Administrative Infringements and the Criminal Code by significantly increasing responsibility of bank insiders. The draft law increases administrative responsibility of bank directors, ultimate bank beneficial owners and other persons for violation of regulatory legal acts of the National Bank of Ukraine, including for providing inadequate (partial) accounting.

Chairperson of the Committee on Legislative Support of Law Enforcement Andrii Kozhemiakin reported on the Committee decision to recommend that the Parliament adopt the bill as a basis and in entirety. 

The bill was adopted with 260 votes as a basis and in entirety.

The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine also adopted as a basis and in entirety the bill on amendments to chapter VIII "Final Provisions and Transitional Provisions" of the Law "On collecting and accounting a single fee for mandatory state social insurance" (re reducing the burden on salary fund) under Reg. No. 1863.

MPs included to the agenda and considered several bills.

The bill on amendments to several legislative acts of Ukraine re protection of investor rights (Reg. No. 2259) was adopted as a basis.

The Verkhovna Rada adopted as a basis and in entirety the draft law on amendments to article 5 of the Law "On state social assistance to low-income families" (on social protection of children) (Reg. No. 2263).

Following the results of a repeated voting in the second reading, the bill on licensing certain types of economic activity (Reg. No. 0934) was adopted.

Volodymyr Groysman suggested that MPs vote on beginning the plenary meeting on March 3, at 12 p.m.

MPs upheld the proposal with 244 votes.