21 May 2010, 17:50
During the interview to Rada television channel on Friday, Volodymyr Lytvyn, Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, summed up the results of plenary work of the Parliament during the plenary week. He underscored efficiency of activity of the legislative body.
He stated that the results of work of this week are equal to the outcome of the previous week, when The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine scrutinized 70 issues and adopted a range of important resolutions. The Head of the Ukrainian Parliament stated that the Law "On the State Program of Economic and Social Development of Ukraine for 2010" had been adopted for the first time in the recent couple of years.
V.Lytvyn made it a point that on Friday The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine had adopted several legislative acts related to the preparation for the European Football Championship 2012: "it will not only settle the issues connected with EURO-2012, but also boost economic life of the country."
According to V.Lytvyn, both the Ukrainian public and the politicians were concerned with the issues related to the visit of D.Medvedev, President of the Russian Federation, to Ukraine, and conclusion of the international agreements. "The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine listened to the detailed report of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, the People´s Deputies having a possibility to put any questions and be assured that the territory of Ukraine will not be sacrificed", the Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine stated. "I suppose that despite the conflicts among the authorities, Ukraine has a fairly strong national immunity. Everyone understands responsibility for the integrity of Ukraine and its national interests. However, the necessity of establishing cooperation with the neighbours, especially Russia, is beyond any doubt", he stated.
The Head of the Ukrainian Parliament believes that the law on amendments to tax legislation that increases the rates of excise duty for alcohol beverages and tobacco goods, as well as for petrol, is disputable. If the President of Ukraine signs the Law, "the increase of excise duty should not affect public welfare." "Oil-processing plants of Ukraine shall start working to make supply outweigh demand. Then the prices will not grow", V.Lytvyn stated.
He supposes that the Government shall hold negotiations with the leaders of the enterprises for them to decrease their revenue, preventing rapid growth of prices. V.Lytvyn made it a point that the original increase of excise duty suggested by the Government was altered by The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine during the final adoption of the law. "According to preliminary calculations, adoption and implementation of this Law should have filled the State Budget with UAH 16 billion for welfare needs. As several provisions were excluded, and excise duty rates were decreased, the State Budget revenue will total UAH 10 billion", V.Lytvyn stated. He calls for looking for extra reserves and possibilities to fulfill the adopted budget.
The Head of the Ukrainian Parliament believes that the next stage of work of The Verkhovna Rada will be of utmost importance, as the fundamentals of the budget policy for 2011 will be scrutinized. He stated: "I addressed the Prime Minister of Ukraine, reminding that the parliament shall receive this document from the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine by 1 June 2010 to hold the parliamentary hearings on budget."
V.Lytvyn also believes that The Verkhovna Rada shall scrutinize the Budget and the Tax Codes of Ukraine as soon as the Cabinet of Ministers forwards them to the Parliament. "These Laws shall be adopted in the beginning of July", the Chairman stated.