Verkhovna Rada's activity will become more transparent - new e-resources presented
07 November 2016, 10:00
Susan Fritz said that one of the key functions of any parliament is to hear its citizens and represent their interests. She noted that modern parliaments increasingly start to use up-to-date technologies to facilitate dialogue with the citizens and involve them in the process of lawmaking.
In particular, the Public Bills Consideration Portal developed with the assistance of the USAID RADA Program and upon the initiative of the Computerized Systems Department of the Secretariat of the Verkhovna Rada will allow Ukrainian citizens to preliminarily get aware of the bills still to be considered by the Parliament and under consideration of relevant committees as well as to take part in their discussion.
According to Ihor Kohut, the potential of the civil society has to be used for more effective elaboration of bills and for better work of the committees. He said that capacity building of the committees and their control function is a task of the USAID RADA Program. Kohut recalled that last year the resource of e-petitions was founded and in 2017 it is planned to improve influence of the citizens on the work of the Parliament through the mechanisms of e-petitions and e-database.
According to Petro Bodnar, the portal is an important step on the path of the parliamentary reform. He said much has already been done and that the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine is currently occupying the 24 place under the Inter-Parliamentary Union rating. Bodnar also expressed confidence that next year the rates of Parliament's reformation will remain at a high level.
Member of the Ukrainian Parliament Svitlana Zalishchuk noted that the activity of the society and support of our donors really facilitate the work of the Ukrainian Parliament. She stressed that one of the key issues is the Parliament's capacity building. The MP reminded that all revolutionary bills (on media, civil service, declaration) were adopted under the pressure of the society. She emphasized that the primary task is to better the access of the citizens to the dialogue with the lawmakers. She said that all these new instruments will probably starting working only in 2-3 years as they have yet to be developed.
Member of the Ukrainian Parliament Ruslan Sydorovych said the authorities have to let the people understand that most part of MPs' work takes place in the committees thus it is necessary to intensify presence of experts at committees meetings. He noted that one of the most important things to do is to change the algorithm of lawmaking itself.