25 November 2015, 19:00
The Parliament and the Government of Ukraine have to immediately find joint approaches to the reformation of the fiscal system and the draft state budget for 2016.
Chairperson of the Verkhovna Rada Volodymyr Groysman said this at the end of the Wednesday meeting with the participation of relevant Committees, Prime Minister of Ukraine and the Minister of Finance dedicated to amendments to the fiscal system and the draft state budget for 2016.
Groysman called the meeting important having noted that the Parties exchanged opinions on the tax reform and formation of the state budget for 2016. "I believe that the Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance heard people's deputies' position — both representatives of relevant Committees and the heads of the parliamentary factions. I consider the most important task is to come to joint approach to the tax reform, elaboration of the draft state budget, to find all required solutions able to win support in the walls of the Ukrainian Parliament," he said.
The Chairperson of the Verkhovna Rada said the Government was planning to submit the draft laws on tax reform and on the state budget on December 2. He informed about agreement to "immediately combine efforts" and along with the Government work on the maximum possible coordination of all positions before submission of respective documents for consideration of the Verkhovna Rada.
"We know well that Ukraine has important tasks to be done at the internal level. We have to ensure social payments and meet standards. We have discussed a number of issues touching standards of education, health care, decentralization of finances. All these parameters have to be taking in account in the new budget. It is very important for Ukraine to fulfill its social obligations to the society," Groysman said.
Groysman called fulfillment of international obligations of Ukraine, including the ones to the International Monetary Fund, a vital issue and said "we have to find accurate professional solutions."
Groysman stressed that the tax system should not be a 'repressive machine', but, instead, a driver of the development of economy and jobs creation. He added it should also be stable, which would require imposition of 3-5-year moratorium on its amending.
The Chairperson of the Ukrainian Parliament said the Ukrainian parliamentarians had only one month to go to provide comprehensive work. "This week is very important as now there is a chance for the Government and the Parliament to work out their joint position. It is very important to have a dialogue. I believe that today's meeting was the start to that dialogue," he said.
Groysman noted that Ukraine should enter 2016 with new tax system and new budget. He also said that last year's hasty adoption of the state budget was conditioned by obvious circumstances, however, now "the work should be more professional, clear and well-agreed." "Ukrainian entrepreneurs, Ukrainian business, and the economy on the whole have to see there are some unchangeable rules and these rules allow development of business, development of economy, production of high-quality goods, ability to enter new international markets thus, ensuring economic growth and stability," he said.
"I call on the Government, Verkhovna Rada Committees, and the heads of parliamentary factions and groups to unite to find a joint and proper decision for the country," Groysman said.