22 March 2013, 16:26
PLENARY WEEK OF THE SECOND SESSION OF THE VERKHOVNA RADA OF UKRAINE OF THE SEVENTH CONVOCATION CONCLUDED ON FRIDAY, MARCH 22
Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Volodymyr Rybak informed that Prime Minister of Ukraine Mykola Azarov and members of the Cabinet of Ministers were present at the plenary meeting.
The Chairman reminded that the Government Question Hour is held every Friday in the plenary weeks. Representatives of the deputy factions “Batkivshchyna ”, “UDAR”, “Svoboda”, the Communist Party of Ukraine (CPU) and “Party of Regions” informed the Cabinet of Ministers on their questions to the members of the government beforehand, in written form.
Volodymyr Rybak informed that faction leaders did not establish the topic of the Government Question Hour. According to him, the majority of questions fall within the competence of the Ministry of Social Policy, the Ministry of Healthcare and the Ministry of Finance.
The Minister of Social Policy Nataliya Korolevska, the Minister of Healthcare of Ukraine Rayisa Bohatyrova and the First Deputy Chairman of the Minister of Finance Anatoliy Myarkovskyi answered the questions of deputy factions and people’s deputies.
The Minister of Social Policy Nataliya Korolevska informed on priority directions of the Ministry, in particular, on development of effective employment and creation of high tech jobs, increase of citizen’s incomes and legalization of wages; achieving equity in the pension system, enhancing security of the most vulnerable groups of population: orphans, children deprived of parental care, large families, veterans, war children, the disabled, people affected by the Chornobyl disaster; an active interaction with the public; strategic planning social development of Ukraine for 2013-2023.
Before answering the questions of the parliamentary members, the Minister of Healthcare of Ukraine Rayisa Bohatyrova informed on the measures of government on improvement of quality of accessible medical assistance. Rayisa Bohatyrova informed also on three levels of medical reform.
The First Deputy Chairman of the Minister on Finance responded to the question by means of what the Government intends to ensure the GDP growth by 3,4 %, for the GDP is the basis for social standards increase.
The Prime Minister of Ukraine Mykola Azarov, the Vice-Prime Minister Kostiantyn Hryshchenko, the Minister of Education and Science Dmytro Tabachnyk and the Minister of Income and Charges Oleksandr Klymenko also answered the questions of the parliament members.
The Prime Minister Mykola Azarov informed that the Government has the devolved the program for activating economy of the country and has approved it during its meeting. This program should ensure the increase of Ukraine’s economy.
People’s deputies noted that they would like to hear clear responses to the questions during the Government Question Hour and not “reports on the work done”.
The Government Question Hour ended.
At the demand of the “Batkivshchyna” and “UDAR” factions the Chairman announced a break in the plenary meeting.
Members of the Parliament terminated the authorities of the people’s deputy of Ukraine Pavlo Lebedyev, at his personal request, by 239 votes.
The leader of the “Batkivshchyna” faction Arseniy Yatseniuk explained the reasons of break. He informed that the issue of fulfillment of the EU-Ukraine Action Plan was discussed during the meeting of faction leaders.
A.Yatseniuk drew attention to the agenda. “The opposition has put it clearly that we will support all the laws pertaining to acquisition of full membership right of Ukraine in the EU.
That is why we support the law on ratification of the EU-Ukraine Visa Facilitation Agreement,” stated the people’s deputy.
“We demand to hold meetings of two committees – on the European Integration and on Foreign Affairs in order to find out the specific list of laws on European integration to be submitted by the Government. We shall vote for these laws,” stressed A.Yatseniuk.
Volodymyr Rybak read out deputies inquiries.
Parliament members suggested continue reading out deputies inquiries, for not all of them have been read out.
The Chairman suggested consider several bills and then go back to reading out deputies inquiries.
People’s deputies proceeded with consideration of bills.
The draft law to amend the Law “On amending the Law of Ukraine “On Restoring a Debtor's Solvency or Recognizing It Bankrupt” (re prohibition to file a petition for bankruptcy of mining enterprises) was reported by the people’s deputy Viktor Turmanov. He suggested prolong moratorium on filing a petition for bankruptcy of mining enterprises, whose share in the statuary funds is not less then 25 per cent, until January 1, 2015.
The Verkhovna Rada adopted the draft law as a basis and in entirety by 269 votes.
The draft law on ratification of the Agreement between Ukraine and the European Union to amend Visa Facilitation Agreement between Ukraine and the European Community was reported by the Minister on Foreign Affairs Leonid Kozhara. Government official noted that Agreement provisions expand category of the citizens of Ukraine who have the right to simplified registration procedure for free and multiple entry visas; refines the procedure of visa registration for representatives of mass media; determines clear multiple-entry visa validity time; provides the possibility for urgent visa processing (during 3 days) for people residing a considerable distance from the place of visa application submission; and introduces visa free travel regime for the citizens of Ukraine using biometric business passports.
L.Kozhara stressed that implementation of the Agreement will contribute to further liberalization of the visa regime with the European Union, development of contacts between Ukraine and the EU member states, creation of the foundation for the future introduction by the EU party visa-free regime for citizens of Ukraine.
The Verkhovna Rada ratified the Agreement by 275 votes.
Volodymyr Rybak continued reading out deputy’s inquiries.
The Chairman adjourned the plenary meeting.
People’s deputies will work with voters on March 25-29.
The Chairman adjourned the evening plenary meeting.
The next plenary meeting of the second session will be held on Tuesday, on April 2, 2013.