06 September 2011, 11:59
Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Volodymyr Lytvyn calls for holding special parliamentary hearings to draft and adopt a theoretically grounded and practicable concept of legislation development of Ukraine.
V.Lytvyn delivered a speech at the Grand Assembly of the Parliament dedicated to the 20th anniversary of proclamation of the independence of Ukraine. V.Lytvyn reminded that in 1990 only 13 codes and 26 laws were in effect in Ukraine, while now there are 3854 laws, 625 of which are fundamental or primary ones. 1052 laws formalize ratification or accession of Ukraine to the international agreements. 34 legislative acts adopt national socio-economic programs.
V.Lytvyn stated that primary formation of domestic national base had been completed, which actually corresponded to the first stage of state building.
The Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine singled out two crucial tasks. The first task is to offer legislative support to further state development, and harmonize the laws with the European standards. "Key objectives were determined by the Head of State," he informed.
The second task, according to V.Lytvyn, is revision of the current legal environment, and its harmonization with the present-day situation.
The Head of the Parliament deems necessary to implement constitutional provisions to make the Constitution work. "Ukraine still does not support development of the Constitution or strengthen its building function, although 130 constitutional laws have been adopted to support realization of 26 clauses of the Constitution. At the same time, the laws on the local self-government have been amended 50 times, and officially interpreted by the Constitutional Court 8 times; the law on the status of People´s Deputies of Ukraine has been amended 20 times, and officially interpreted by the Constitutional Court 13 times," V.Lytvyn informed.
The Head of the Parliament deems necessary to adopt a new version of the law on the status of People´s Deputies of Ukraine. "Excessive privileges which have created a yawning gap between the people and their representatives should be eliminated once and for all," he stressed.
V.Lytvyn called for determining legal principles obligatory during the implementation of laws to make application of laws more understandable, consolidate the principles of law supremacy, and support human and civil rights and liberties.
The Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine believes that too many proscriptive and binding norms threaten the legal system, while their share in the legal environment should not exceed five per cent.
"It is necessary to hold special parliamentary hearings to draft and adopt a theoretically grounded and practicable concept of legislation development of Ukraine. It will help develop a law-making plan for ten years. Such hearings are also encouraged by the fact that 4772 bills have been registered at the Verkhovna Rada," he summed up.