22 January 2008, 09:26
The Bill (Reg.No.1312) seeks to align those provisions which define the status of The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine as the Supreme Body in the Executive Power System, with The Constitution of Ukraine, and to introduce European principles into the working of The Government.
Opening the discussion, Olexander Omelchenko, Committee Chairman, said that, ‘this is one of the most difficult and significant Bills, in terms of policy, presently under consideration by The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. Therefore the Committee is facing the task of giving it preliminary consideration at the highest professional level, and prepare it for introduction to the Assembly Room of Parliament.´
Olha Bodnar, First Vice Chairman of the Committee, outlined the special features of this Bill, named the specific paragraphs, parts and clauses of the Bill, which had been amended or excluded to bring this Bill in line with the relevant directions of The Constitution of Ukraine.
Yan Bernaziuk, Head of the Service within The Secretariat of The President of Ukraine, providing contacts with The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine and Cabinet of Minister of Ukraine, upheld the previous speaker, and added that the content of some of the Bill´s provisions is the result of a long and exhaustive elaboration by the Parties to The Coalition Agreement.
The People´s Deputy, Anatoliy Matvienko, noted that at least sixteen provisions of The Constitution of Ukraine are violated by the current Law. In his opinion, such a document cannot, in any way, be referred to as ‘A Law´. With regard to the Bill in question, he said that it requires thorough elaboration at the Second Reading so that even the most minor discrepancies and gaps are eliminated.
Serhiy Hordienko, Committee Secretary, brought to the notice of the audience several trends impairing the equilibrium of power, and ungrounded strengthening of one of its branches. A similar vision was offered by Olexander Chernomorov, Deputy Chairman of the Committee. In his opinion, ‘The passing of this Bill will be a reflection of the Party advisability, and not an act by the Supreme Legislative body of the country´.
Those present at the Meeting noted inter alia, that this Bill suggests a mechanism whereby the Candidate for the position of Prime Minister can present an Action Plan for the following Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, based on an agreed political stance, and a schedule of tasks of The Coalition of Deputy Factions in The Verkhovna Rada. The Verkhovna Rada´s approval of this Action Plan, presented by The Cabinet of Ministers, shall be timed with the Appointment of The Prime Minister of Ukraine. It also envisages the strengthening of a Minister´s responsibility for the realization of a relevant policy, and granting him greater operative autonomy. It also requires that the operation of all Central Executive Authorities, whose Heads are not Members of The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, are directed and coordinated by Ministers.
Yuriy Kliuchkovsky, Vice Chairman of the Committee, listed the positive strengths of this Bill compared to the previous one, but, at the same time, brought to the attention of the auditorium the need for a thorough additional elaboration on the Bill at the Second Reading, and in particular an improvement in several provisions, to provide an unambiguous interpretation of such notions as ‘Termination of Authorities´, ‘Acceptance of Authorities´, ‘Resignation´, etc. All predicted discrepancies, which may arise in the future in this regard, should be eliminated at the Bill stage.