14 May 2013, 18:15
PLENARY MEETINGS OF THE SECOND SESSION OF THE VERKHOVNA RADA OF UKRAINE OF THE SEVENTH CONVOCATION WERE HELD ON TUESDAY MAY 14, 2013
At the beginning of the morning session the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Volodymyr Rybak announce establishment of the following inter-faction unions in the Verkhovna Rada: “For the development of local self-government” (head –people’s deputy Yevhen Kartashov); on matters of cooperation with African, Asian and Latin America countries and their economic unions (head – people’s deputy Serhiy Hrynevetskyi); and “For the clean Dnipro” (head – people’s deputy Yuriy Shapovalov).
Authorized representatives of deputy factions took the floor with announcements, statements, information, and proposals.
The Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada drew attention of the people’s deputies to the issue of organization and discipline observance during plenary meetings. He reminded the parliament members of the provision of article 8 of the Law “On the Status of the People’s Deputy”, stipulating that “the people’s deputy of Ukraine should adhere to the generally accepted rules of morality in his activity”.
Volodymyr Rybak expressed hope that people’s deputies shall listen to his suggestions, for “calm and productive work is waiting ahead”.
The Chairman informed that consideration of the issue on eliminating inconsistencies in the text of the Law of Ukraine on amendments to the Criminal and Criminal Procedure Codes of Ukraine (re implementation of the Action Plan on liberalization of visa regime for Ukraine) is postponed on the proposal of the Conciliatory Council.
People’s deputies considered the bill on amendments to article 7 of the Law “On State Social Assistance to Low Income Families” (re persons providing social services) registered under No. 2689 and suggested for inclusion into the agenda. The document was reported by the Chairman of the Committee on Social Policy and Labour Petro Tsybenko.
The bill was included into the agenda of the second session by 359 votes.
On the proposal of the Conciliatory Council, consideration of the bills registered under No 2342 and No 2342-1 on amendments to several legislative acts of Ukraine re prevention and counter-action of discrimination in Ukraine was postponed.
The draft law on amendments to several legislative acts of Ukraine re implementation of state anti corruption policy was reported by the people’s deputy Pavlo Petrenko. He noted that corruption is one of the main problems of our country. Out of 176 countries Ukraine holds 144th place in terms of corruption of all branches of power.
The people’s deputy demonstrated the joint project of four factions, saying that this law is a “revolutionary one and it shall give us the possibility to make a real and effective step in fighting corruption in Ukraine,” noted the rapporteur.
The Chairman of the Organized Crime Control and Anti-Corruption Committee Viktor Chumak reported the decision of the Committee to recommend the Parliament adopt this bill as a basis and in entirety.
The bill was supported by the representatives of all factions.
The Verkhovna Rada adopted the bill as a basis (367 votes “for”) and in entirety (373 votes “for”).
People’s deputies further intended to consider two bills pertaining to refinement of legislation in the sphere of corruption counter-action that were registered under No 2577 and under No 2608.
The Chairman of the Organized Crime Control and Anti-Corruption Committee Viktor Chumak suggested exclude both from consideration, for the adopted Law “On amendments to several legislative acts of Ukraine re implementation of state anti-corruption policy” included all the suggestions of the abovementioned bills.
Parliament members upheld the suggestion of the specialized committee.
The draft law on amendments to several legislative acts of Ukraine re refining personal data protection system (Reg. No. 2836) was reported by the Chairman of the Committee on Human Rights, National Minorities and International Relations Valeriy Patskan.
The Chairman of the Committee noted that adoption of this bill should result in implementation of the Action Plan in regard to visa liberalization and promote implementation of the EU Association Agreement by Ukraine.
The Verkhovna Rada adopted the bill by 348 votes as a basis and in entirety.
Secretary of the Committee on Legislative Support of Law Enforcement Vitaliy Zhuravskyi reported the bill on amendments to article 263-1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine in connection with Ukraine’s accession to the Protocol against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Their Parts and Components and Ammunition, supplementing United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime. The bill was prepared for the second reading. Vitaliy Zhuravskyi informed that three suggestions were received during preparation of the bill, of which one was included, one – included in the new version and one was rejected.
By results voting, the bill was adopted in the second reading and in entirety (346 votes “for”).
The Chairman of the Committee on Judicial Policy Valeriy Pysarenko reported on the conclusion of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine regarding immunity that was registered under No. 0977.
V.Pysarenko reminded that the bill, submitted by the people’s deputies M.Tomenko, S.Mishchenko and S.Sas, aims at stripping people’s deputies of Ukraine, the President of Ukraine and the judges of the right to immunity. In view of this the bill stipulates amendments to articles 80, 105, 126 and 149 of the Main Law of Ukraine.
The Constitutional Court declared amendments to articles 105, 126 and 149 of the Main Law of Ukraine as non-corresponding to the requirements of part 1 of article 157 of the Constitution of Ukraine.
V.Pysarenko addressed people’s deputies of Ukraine with a request to adopt the draft resolution suggested by the Committee.
The majority of the people’s deputies, participating in the discussion, did not uphold the suggestion of the specialized committee.
Representatives of parliamentary majority called on to start “from themselves”, since voters demand it. According to the representatives of parliamentary majority, people’s deputies promised to withdraw immunity.
The Verkhovna Rada did not accept the draft resolution on further work on the bill, suggested by the specialized committee (190 votes “for”).
People’s deputies considered several laws with the suggestions of the President of Ukraine.
Following the results of consideration the laws “On amendments to the laws of Ukraine “On Architecture Activity” and “On Licensing of Certain Types of Economic Activity”, registered under No. 0983, were recommitted.
Parliament members postponed consideration of the Law “On amendments to several legislative acts of Ukraine re inheritance registration”, registered under No. 0985.
The Verkhovna Rada rejected the Law “On amendments to several legislative acts of Ukraine re regulation of the communication branch” (Reg. No. 0991).
People’s deputies further considered several bills in the first reading.
The draft law on amendments to the Law “On prohibition to import and sell leaded gasoline and lead additives to gasoline on the territory of Ukraine” re aviation fuel, registered under No 2073 was reported by the head of the State Aviation service Anatoliy Kolisnyk. Government official informed that the bill allows import and sell aviation leaded gasoline "Avgas 100 LL" on the territory of Ukraine at an annual quota amounting to 1000 tons and until the certified alternative fuel is introduced in Ukraine.
The Chairperson of the Committee on Environmental Policy, Use of Natural Resources and Chornobyl Aftermath Mitigation Iryna Sekh reported the decision of the Committee to recommend the Verkhovna Rada adopt the bill as a basis.
The bill was adopted as a basis and in entirety by 290 votes.
The refined bill on amendments to several legislative acts of Ukraine re granting and indexation of pension, registered under No 1117, was reported by the deputy Minister of Social Policy Vyacheslav Kolomiyets. He noted that the bill suggests refining the mechanism of annual recalculation of pension.
The Chairman of the Committee on Matters of Pensioners, Veterans and Persons with Disabilities Valeriy Sushkevych reported the decision of the Committee to recommend the Verkhovna Rada adopt the bill as a basis and in entirety.
People’s deputies upheld the suggestion by 350 votes.
The Chairman adjourned the morning session.
At the beginning of the evening meeting, people’s deputies considered three bills on amendments to several legislative acts of Ukraine re delimitation of land plots of state and municipal ownership registered under No 2303, No 2303-1 and No 2303-2. People’s deputy Yuriy Voropayev, the author of the first bill, informed that he withdraws his bill in favor of the bill of the people’s deputy O.Dolzhenkov.
The Chairman informed that L.Lytvynov and Yu.Boyarskyi, the authors of another bill, asked to withdraw their bill.
One of the bills was reported by the people’s deputy Oleksandr Dolzhenkov. He noted that the bill aims at activating the process of land plots transmission from state or municipal ownership into the ownership or use by citizens and legal entities, etc.
Following the results of voting, the bill registered under No 2303-2 was adopted as a basis and in entirety by 363 votes.
The draft law on National Anti-Corruption Bureau (Reg. No. 2218) was reported by the people’s deputy Arseniy Yatsenyuk. He informed that this bill was elaborated jointly with three opposing factions.
The Chairman of the Organized Crime Control and Anti-Corruption Committee Viktor Chumak reported the decision of the Committee to recommend the Verkhovna Rada adopt the bill as a basis.
Representatives of opposing factions upheld the bill. They expressed hop that establishment of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau shall be a real counterweight to corruption in Ukraine and shall promote eradication of this negative phenomenon.
P.Tsybenko, representative of the Communist faction, informed that the faction will not vote for this bill, for it contradicts the Constitution of Ukraine and stipulates “establishment of another feeding trough”.
Representative of the Party of Regions V.Malyshev noted that this bill violates the Constitution of Ukraine and dubbes the already existing anti-corruption laws.
Following the results of voting, the bill was rejected (166 votes “for”).
The people’s deputy Arseniy Yatsenyuk reported one more bill on anti-corruption check of officials of all levels (Reg. No. 2219). He called on to turn to real fighting corruption in the country.
The Chairman of the Organized Crime Control and Anti-Corruption Committee V.Chumak recommends the Parliament adopt the bill as a basis.
The bill was supported by the opposing factions.
Following the results of voting the bill was rejected (201 votes “for”).
People’s deputies considered two bills pertaining to refinement of the procedure concerning finance bills: on amendments to the Law “On amendments to the State Budget of Ukraine for 2013” (Reg. No. 2846) and on amendments to the Tax Code of Ukraine (Reg. No. 2847).
By results of voting, the bill registered under No 2847 was adopted as a basis, and the bill registered under No 2846 was rejected.
The Chairman adjourned the evening session.
Next plenary meeting of the second session will be held on Wednesday, May 15.