16 December 2013, 13:06
Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Volodymyr Rybak hopes that the draft State Budget for the next year will be submitted to the Parliament this week.
Answering journalists’ questions after the Conciliatory Council meeting, Volodymyr Rybak informed that the respective agreement was reached during conversation with the Prime Minister of Ukraine Mykola Azarov. According to him, after this, draft of the main financial document of the country will be submitted to committees for all deputies to have an opportunity to get acquainted with it and introduce their remarks.
Volodymyr Rybak reminded that the last plenary week of the current session will be in January of the next year. “I plan that during this week we will consider the draft budget in the first reading, we will submit it to the specialized committee for its elaboration for consideration in the second reading so that the deputies will be able to adopt it in entirety in February,” said the Chairman of the Parliament adding that the budget needs to be considered “very carefully” according to the Rules of Procedure of the Verkhovna Rada.
Answering questions whether it is possible to hold a field meeting of the Parliament in order to adopt the budget, Volodymyr Rybak claimed that he has not considered and does not plan to consider any issues on field meetings. “We have an opportunity to consider this issue in the session hall,” he said expressing hope that “differences between the opposition and the government” will be agreed upon before consideration of the budget in plenary mode.
“I believe that in the course of negotiations that are being held, answers to all people’s questions will be found,” claimed the Chairman of the Parliament.
Answering questions regarding today’s meeting of the Party of Regions faction with the government, Volodymyr Rybak informed that “it was a working meeting of the Prime Minister with the faction,” where issues on budget process, consideration of government’s bills, cooperation between the Parliament and the Government aimed at resolving social and economic issues were considered.