Friday’s morning session
06 March 2020, 14:45
The Chairperson of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Dmytro Razumkov opened Friday’s plenary session of the Ukrainian parliament.
The Chairman announced that members of the Cabinet of Ministers, headed by the newly appointed Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal, are attending the plenary session.
D.Razumkov reminded that the recent Conciliation Commission had decided to hear on March 6 the line minister on the state of play in implementing the local governance and power decentralization reform in Ukraine.
‘Ask the Government’ hour commenced.
The presiding officer gave the floor to the Prime Minister of Ukraine D. Shmyhal. The statesman brought to mind that the said reform has been recognized as one of the most successful. It currently includes five objectives:
(i) formation of capable territorial communities,
(ii) development of a new system of Ukraine’s administrative-territorial organization,
(iii) distribution of powers between local government bodies and executive authorities,
(iv) revision of formal authorities of local administrative bodies,
(v) stimulation of the development of forms and instruments of local democracy.
Afterwards, Denys Shmyhal informed about the most debatable issues concerning the division of powers between local and executive authorities, as well as the process of drafting bills to preclude likely collisions. The Prime Minister elaborated on the legislative support to implementing reforms. He then fielded questions from the floor.
The questions hour ended at this point.
The Deputy Chairperson of the Vekhovna Rada Olena Kondratiuk read out parliamentarians’ interpellations.
MPs then proceeded with the business of the day.
The current agenda:
1. “Ask the Government” hour.
Second reading
2. Bill No.2178-10 “On amendments to certain legislative acts of Ukraine regarding the circulation of agricultural lands”.
First reading
3. Bill No.2621 “On amendments to Article 364 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine regarding revised elements of crimes in the sphere of official activities”.
4. Three resolutions on parliamentary hearings.
Laws, bills and resolutions passed
On agricultural lands circulation
--Draft bill No.2178-10
The bill “On amendments to certain legislative acts of Ukraine regarding the circulation of agricultural lands” is still under consideration. MPs have worked today through 3298 amendments out of 4018 submitted. The toil on amendments to the bill is to be resumed at the next plenary sittings.
The First Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Ruslan Stefanchuk announced the birth of several inter-factional parliamentary associations.
The presiding officer closed the evening plenary sitting.
March 10-13: parliamentarians are to pursue their committee work.
The parliament next sits on Tuesday, 17 March 2020.