07 October 2014, 16:01
Having opened morning session, Chairperson of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Oleksandr Turchynov announced that the people’s deputy Vitalii Hrushevskyi left the deputy group “For Peace and Stability”. He informed also that the people’s deputy Andrii Pinchuk joined the deputy group “Economic Development” and the people’s deputy Artem Illiuk left the abovementioned deputy group.
The Presiding announced also that Oleksandr Kozub was elected a new authorized representative of the deputy group “For Peace and Stability”, under the minutes of meeting of the deputy group. Oleksandr Turchynov informed about the statement of the people’s deputy Serhii Honcharov saying that the people’s deputy was on the territory of Ukraine in September 2014 and did not participate in the meeting with the Chairperson of the State Duma of the Russian Federation Sergey Naryshkin.
Representatives of deputy factions and groups took the floor with announcements, statements and proposals.
During the speeches, the Chairperson of the Parliament drew attention to the fact that there is an insufficient number of the people’s deputies in the session hall.
Oleksandr Turchynov said that he “upholds Oleh Tiahnybok’s proposal regarding unveiling results of the voting on the package of anti-corruption laws as to who voted in favor, against, restrained, or was not present in the session hall.
The Chairperson addressed faction leaders with a request to ensure presence of the people’s deputies during the plenary meeting.
Parliamentarians wend down to consideration of the agenda items. They voted for returning to consideration of a previously unsupported issue – the bill on the system of specially authorized subjects in the sphere of corruption counteraction. The people’s deputies included two alternative bills on Anti-Corruption Service of Ukraine into the agenda.
The draft law on the system of specially authorized subjects in the sphere of corruption counteraction (Reg. No. 5085) was reported by the Representative of the President in the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Ruslan Kniazevych.
The rapporteur noted that this bill suggests establishing a National Anti-Corruption Bureau and secure absolute independence in forming its composition.
The bill on the Anti-Corruption Service of Ukraine (Reg. No. 5125) was presented by the people’s deputy of Ukraine Oleksandr Myrnyi. He informed that he withdraws his bill in order to consider the presidential bill and the next one that follows it.
The people’s deputy Serhii Pashynskyi reported on the alternative bill registered under No. 5125-1. He explained the reasons for submitting the alternative bill, having noted that “the presidential document does not reflect challenges that pertain to the establishment of this body.”
The speaker informed that he deems adoption of the presidential bill to be possible, however, with consideration of the fundamental provisions he has mentioned during his speech, in the course of preparation of the bill for the second reading.
Chairperson of the Organized Crime Control and Anti-Corruption Committee Viktor Chumak disagreed with the previous speaker who stated that the presidential bill includes drawbacks.
V.Chumak informed that the presidential bill is agreed with international donors, all international experts, as well as the International Monetary Fund, and is a direct requirement of the International Monetary Fund.
After discussion, the Presiding granted the floor to the Prime Minister of Ukraine Arsenii Yatseniuk who said that the package of five laws on fighting corruption is today referred for consideration by the people’s deputies.
A.Yatseniuk briefed on each bill.
He noted that this anti-corruption package was being prepared together with GRECO – the Group of States of the Council of Europe against Corruption.
“We realize that mere adoption of the bills is not enough to fight real corruption. Out of 56 regulatory authorities there remained only 27. Over 100 of different kinds of supervisory functions have been cut to 680. 143 licenses have been reduced to just 84,” stressed the Prime Minister.
A.Yatseniuk claimed that “ endorsement of the anti-corruption package, setting up the National Anti-Corruption Bureau, increasing responsibility of officials, making public the entire information concerning property, verifying financial accounts and monitoring life of each high-ranking official on the one hand, and on the other – deregulation, depriving the civil servants of extra powers, reduction of the number of supervisory authorities or functions will give Ukraine a chance to embark on true corruption battle. Corrupt countries will never receive funds and corrupt countries will never attract investors”.
Prior to voting, Oleksandr Turchynov addressed the people’s deputies with a request to get ready for a quite responsible voting and expressed conviction that the whole package of anti-corruption laws will be adopted today.
The people’s deputies upheld as a basis the bill registered under No. 5085 by 278 votes.
The draft law on the principles of state anti-corruption policy in Ukraine (Anti-Corruption Strategy) for 2014-2017 (Reg. No. 4284a) was reported by the Justice Minister Pavlo Petrenko.
The Verkhovna Rada adopted the bill as a basis by 256 votes.
The people’s deputies included several more anti-corruption laws into the agenda.
The draft law on corruption prevention (Reg. No. 5113) was reported by the Justice Minister Pavlo Petrenko.
The alternative bill (Reg. No. 5113-1) was presented by the people’s deputy Mykola Rudkovskyi.
Chairperson 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 registered under No. 5113 as a basis.
Following the results of voting (263 votes in favor), the bill was adopted as a basis.
The next bill on on amendments to several legislative acts of Ukraine re determining ultimate beneficiaries of legal persons and public figures (Reg. No. 5114) was reported by the Justice Minister Pavlo Petrenko.
The alternative bill registered under No. 5114-1 was presented by the people’s deputy Mykola Rudkovskyi.
Chairperson of the Organized Crime Control and Anti-Corruption Committee Viktor Chumak informed that yesterday the Committee considered the governmental bill and recommends the Verkhovna Rada adopt it as a basis.
V.Chumak informed also that Committee members did not scrutinize the alternative bill.
The Verkhovna Rada adopted the bill as a basis by 247 votes.
The draft law on prevention and counteraction to legalization (laundering) of the proceeds from crime or terrorism financing, as well as financing proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (Reg. No. 5067) was reported by the Finance Minister Oleksandr Shlapak.
Then, the Council of Europe Committee of Experts on the Evaluation of Anti-Money Laundering Measures and the Financing of Terrorism (MONEYVAL) made the same request. O.Shlapak stressed that the solution is the following: "either we accept the standards of FATF and MONEYVAL or we do not accept them". He reminded that non-acceptance of these standards will entail extremely unpleasant procedures.
O.Shlapak addressed people's deputies asking them "to finally adopt this extremely important bill after three years since accepting these standards".
MPs adopted the bill as a basis with 243 votes.
Secretary of the Committee on Legislative Support of Law Enforcement Vitalii Zhuravskyi reported on the draft law on amendments to the Criminal and Criminal Procedure Codes of Ukraine re inevitable punishment for separate crimes against foundations of national and public security, and corruption offences (Reg. No. 4448a).
V.Zhuravskyi said the Committee considered this bill and recommends adopting it as a basis and in entirety.
People's deputies did not uphold the bill in the second reading (211 votes in favour).
The Chairperson gave the floor to Minister of Justice P.Petrenko who claimed that this law enables to finalize dozens of criminal cases against former officials. He added that the law fully adheres to the European standards.
MPs voted again and adopted the draft with 253 votes.
People's deputy Mykhailo Blavatskyi reported on the draft law on amendments to the Tax Code of Ukraine (refining taxation of investment activity) under Reg. No. 4766.
The voting resulted in adopting the bill with 234 votes.
People's deputy Valerii Dubil informed about the draft law on amendments to article 23-1 of the Law of Ukraine “On State Budget of Ukraine for 2014” (re finance bills of Deposit Guarantee Fund). However, voting was inefficient.
Oleksandr Turchynov suggested considering the next agenda issue and then returning to bills under Reg. No. 5055 and Reg. No. 5049.
People's deputy Hennadii Moskal reported about two draft resolutions re changes in administrative and territorial division of Luhansk Oblast under Reg. No. 5115 and Reg. No. 5116. The Verkhovna Rada adopted two resolutions.
The Chairperson suggested returning to the bills under Reg. No. 5055 and Reg. No. 5049. The people's deputies did not uphold the Chairperson's suggestion.
Before voting, Minister of Finance O.Shlapak ensured people's deputies that depositors will receive their deposits in the form of money, not security papers.
MPs adopted the bill under Reg. No. 5055 with 227 votes.
Voting for the bill under Reg. No. 5049 was inefficient.
The Chairperson informed that the Parliament will return to this bill next plenary meeting and adjourned the meeting.
Next plenary meeting of the fifth session will be held on Tuesday, October 14.