During the week People’s Deputies worked in plenary regime, carried out committee meetings, participated in international events, roundtables, and conferences.

During plenary meetings, in particular, People’s Deputies have approved several laws and adopted law drafts in the first reading.

In particular, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine has approved the following laws: “On Amending Certain Legislative Acts of Ukraine on Aggravation of Responsibility for Non-Compliance with Guarantees Secured by the Legislation for Conscripted Employees”; “On Amending the Law of Ukraine “On the Status of War Veterans, Their Social Security Guarantees” Regarding Payment of a Single Monetary Support to Volunteers Protecting Independence, Sovereignty, and Territorial Integrity of Ukraine, and Family Members of the Deceased”; “On Amending the Law of Ukraine “On Universally Binding State Social Security Insurance” Regarding Assurance of Activity of Social Insurance Funds During Reorganization”; “On Amending the Law of Ukraine “On Universally Binding State Social Security Insurance” Regarding Partial Funding of Health and Recreation Resorts of Higher Educational Institutions”; “On Amending Article 11 of the Law of Ukraine “On Social and Legal Protection of Servicemen and Their Family Members”; “On Amending Certain Laws of Ukraine as Regards Enhancement of Guarantees of Observance of Rights and Freedoms of Internally Displaced Persons”; “On Amending Article 11 of the Law of Ukraine “On Social and Legal Protection of Servicemen and Their Family Members” (as regards psychological rehabilitation of servicemen following execution of tasks in field conditions); “On Prevention of Effects of Corruption Offences on the Results of Official Sports Competitions”; “On External Labor Migration”, etc.

Also, People’s Deputies have ratified 4 international agreements and 3 protocols.

Besides, several draft laws have been adopted in the first reading: the draft law on international broadcasting system of Ukraine, draft Labor Code of Ukraine, and draft laws on amending: chapter ХХІ “Final and Transitional Provisions” of Customs Code of Ukraine on the project of upgrading of Bortnychi Waste Water Treatment Plant; chapter ХХ “Transitional Provisions” of Customs Code of Ukraine on the project of upgrading of Bortnychi Waste Water Treatment Plant; to certain laws of Ukraine on improvement of state management system in book-publishing industry; to the Law of Ukraine “On Refugees and Persons Requiring Additional or Temporary Protection” regarding improvement of individuals’ documentation procedure; to certain legislative acts of Ukraine on improvement of judicial defense provisions for foreigners and apatrides and regulation of certain issues related with interference to illegal migration; to the Civil Procedural Code of Ukraine of establishment of facts of birth or death on temporarily occupied territory of Ukraine.

The second meeting of the Parliament Committee of Association between Ukraine and EU was carried out in the Verkhovna Rada this week. The meeting participated by V. Groysman, the Verkhovna Rada Chairperson, Pat Cox, Head of Assessment Mission for Reformation of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine and former President of the European Parliament, People’s Deputies of Ukraine, Deputies of the European Parliament, representatives of Ukrainian government, diplomatic service, and civil society, was devoted to the discussion of urgent issues on the agenda of relations between Ukraine and EU, exchange of opinions on political and security situation in Ukraine, as well as the situation at Ukrainian East, discussion of the results of local elections which took place in Ukraine on October 25, 2015, implementation state of the Agreement of Association between Ukraine and EU, issues of prospects of implementing visa-free regime for Ukrainian citizens, implementation of reforms in Ukraine, as well as issues of economic and sectoral collaboration, etc. The meeting resulted in adoption of Final Statement and Recommendations.

Work in committees was continued during the week.

In particular, meetings of the following committees were carried out: the Committee on State Building, Regional Policy, and Local Self-Government; the Committee on European Integration; the Committee on National Security and Defense; the Committee on Economic Policy; the Committee on Freedom of Speech and Information Policy; the Committee on Environmental Policy, Natural Management, and Elimination of the Consequences of Chernobyl Disaster; the Committee Family Matters, Youth Policy, Sports, and Tourism; the Committee on Legal Policy and Justice; the Committee on Fuel and Energy Complex, Nuclear Policy and Nuclear Safety; the Committee on Science and Education; the Committee on Public Health; the Committee on on the Legislative Support of Law Enforcement; the Committee on Transport.

Members of the Committee on Environmental Policy, Natural Management, and Elimination of the Consequences of Chernobyl Disaster carried out a working trip to the exclusion area and State Specialized Enterprise “Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant”.

The Committee of Human Rights, National Minorities, and International Relations promulgated the Statement on “absentee arrest” of Refat Chubarov, a People’s Deputy of Ukraine, chairman of Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People, by a court of the Russian Federation. Besides, Hryhorii Nemyria, chairman of the Committee, participated in the press conference on the situation with the Parliament’s approval of the draft Law “On Amending Certain Laws of Ukraine as Regards Enhancement of Guarantees of Observance of Rights and Freedoms of Internally Displaced Persons” No 2166; in Advisory Forum of the project “Advocacy and Legal Aid to Internally Displaced Persons in Ukraine”, and carried out a meeting with Astrid Thors, High Commissioner on National Minorities of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).

Viktor Halasiuk, chairman of the Committee on Industrial Policy and Entrepreneurship, participated in expanded meeting of the Council of Entrepreneurs under the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine; meeting with European diplomats; conference of the Commission on Future Issues.

Besides, several “round table” meetings were carried out in the Verkhovna Rada during the week.