The meeting of the PA Parliamentary Dimension of the Central European Initiative (CEI) "Improvement of transport infrastructure as an effective instrument to activate cooperation of CEI countries. Legislative support: experience, cooperation, challenges and problems" was held in the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine

The First Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Adam Martyniuk greeted the participants of the event on the part of the Verkhovna Rada as the Parliament of the state presiding at the Central European Initiative.

Particularly, he stressed that as a forum of regional cooperation that unites 18 states of Central, South Eastern and Eastern Europe the CEI has long ago became the stable platform for exchanging experience and uniting efforts in the cause of building democracy. A.Martyniuk noted also that Ukraine is for the first time presiding at the CEI and treats its mission with full responsibility.

"The fact that such a high level forum takes place in Kyiv, especially on the eve of parliamentary elections, is an important event both for us, Ukrainian deputies, and for the whole Ukraine. I believe it has a symbolic meaning and stresses active role of our country as a European state in the cause of regional cooperation development and strengthening democracy," A.Martyniuk noted.

He stressed that Parliamentary Dimension of CEI together with governmental and business dimensions are the three pillars the Organization leans on. Effective activity planning and implementation of the CEI plans is impossible without legislative support, active and initiative participation of parliamentarians of all CEI member states.

Participating in the inter parliamentary cooperation within CEI, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine strives to play an active role in the operation of the Organization. A.Martyniuk stressed that members of the Permanent Delegation of the Verkhovna Rada in the PA CEI actively and on permanent basis participate in the operation of the committees on political and home affairs, on economic affairs and on cultural affairs. 

The first Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada noted that establishment of fruitful relations between the parliaments of the CEI member states is one of the top priority tasks of the Parliamentary Dimension. He stressed also the importance of eurointegrational component of such cooperation. According to him, special attention should be paid to horizontal development of relations between the parliaments of the EU member states and non-member states.

A.Martyniuk believes that it would be useful to hold outdoor sessions of special committees of the Parliamentary Dimension to exchange eurointegrational experience and study the best parliamentary practices. Such meetings could launch deputies? initiatives on particular issues that are of interest to all member states. He stressed that it is important to strengthen cooperation between the CEI Parliamentary and Governmental dimensions. This is especially topical given the fact of preparation of the next three-year Action Plan Initiatives for 2013-2015.

The First Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada reminded that the year of Ukrainian presidency at the CEI comes to an end. He assured that the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine is ready for active cooperation within the CEI Parliamentary Dimension in the following year and wished Hungarian colleagues, taking over presidency, inspiration and success in this important issue.

Valeriy Kamchatnyi, CEI Parliamentary Dimension President, Head of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Permanent Delegation to the CEI-PD read out greetings of the President of Ukraine to the participants of the meeting.

"Let me greet you with the beginning of the current meeting of the PA Central European Initiative.

This high level forum that is to conclude on the activities of the parliamentary dimension of our organization of the current year is an important event of Ukrainian presidency.

Our state treats the participation in the Central European Initiative as an organic component of our eurointegrational policy.

Ukraine has chosen European integration as the top priority issue of its foreign policy. Adaptation of national legislation to the norms and standards of the European Union is an important step on this way. In this context, effective cooperation within parliamentary dimension of the Central European Initiative is of special importance to our state.

I wish you fruitful dialogue," the President of Ukraine noted.

The Head of the meeting V.Kamchatnyi stressed that three meetings of the permanent committees were held: the Committee on Political and Home Affairs, the Committee on Economic Affairs and the Committee on Cultural Affairs.

The participants of the discussion drew attention to legislative support of transport infrastructure of Ukraine.

It was stressed that legislative work of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine of the sixth convocation particularly that of the Committee on Transport and Communication aimed at settling issues arising in the sphere of transport. 

A number of legislative acts were adopted. Particularly, the Air Code of Ukraine, the laws "On peculiarities of formation of the state joint-stock company of public railway transportation" and "On Seaports"; the Law "On Motor Transport" was amended, etc.

The system of state regulation in the sphere of transport needs to be brought in line with the EU legislation.

By results of work of the CEI Parliamentary Assembly, the Final Declaration was prepared. According to its provisions, the Parliamentary Assembly is responsible for strengthening political, operational and informational measures to support governments? efforts aimed at development of transport infrastructure; measures are to be taken to activate cooperation in the sphere of development of infrastructure; the Assembly highly appreciates efforts and the progress achieved by the CEI member states of the region in the respective sector of economy, etc.

According to the Declaration, the Assembly suggests achieving more active participation of the parliamentarians in monitoring and implementing the policy of infrastructure; it calls for considering issues to introduce initiatives to amend existing legal instruments or introduce new one in the sphere of transport infrastructure; it calls to be especially attentive in connection with increasing budgetary restrictions and do everything possible to strengthen responsibility and accountability in the sphere of transport infrastructure.

The Document stresses that economic and financial measures aimed at neutralization of crisis should consider the needs of CEI member states that are not the part of the EU; it calls for strengthening coordination and establishing more structural cooperation between governmental and parliamentary dimensions of the CEI; the Declaration supports Hungary in its efforts aimed at further strengthening the principles of Parliamentary Dimension of the CEI, etc.