VRU adopted several laws and resolutions on August 23, 2023
Appeals:
Laws in the first reading:
Laws in the second reading:
VRU adopted several laws and resolutions on August 24, 2023
Denunciation of treaties: Termination of the Agreement between the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and the government of the russian federation on readmission (#0219) Withdrawal from the Agreement on cooperation of CIS member states in the creation, use and development of an interstate network of information and marketing centers for promoting goods and services in national markets (#0220) Termination of the Agreement between the government of the russian federation and the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine on cooperation in the field of the prevention of the spread of the disease caused by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV infection) (#0221)
Resolution: The formation of the VRU Temporary Special Commission on the development of basic principles of state policy on interaction with national movements of small and indigenous peoples of the Russian Federation (headed by MP Yaroslav Yurchyshyn) (#9617) Amendments to the Agreement between Ukraine and Moldova on the operation of railway transport (#0218)
Draft laws in the first reading: proposed to strengthen the social protection of service members, policemen, and some other categories of persons (#9638) introduced the proportional calculation of insurance experience for persons who worked outside of Ukraine (#9453)
Laws in the second reading: The Law on the legislative activity (#5707)
USAID RANG has contributed to the adoption of the Law on legislative activity by providing expert support in the working groups before the second reading.
Ukraine’s President Zelensky noted that holding elections during the war would be complicated.
In an interview with journalist Natalia Moseychuk, responding to US Senator Lindsey Graham's claim about the need to conduct the elections, Volodymyr Zelensky noted that elections in Ukraine under martial law are possible only if the right to vote is ensured for all citizens, including military personnel and displaced people abroad; funding and the presence of foreign observers at polling stations on the frontline must also be ensured. In addition, Zelensky stressed several challenges should be met. First, he noted the need to amend the Electoral Code. Second, at least $5 billion is needed to conduct elections and if the US and EU are ready to provide that financial support, he is ready to consider that option. Third, international observers should be sent to the frontline as well in order for elections to be recognized worldwide. Fourth, at least seven million Ukrainian refugees should have access to vote abroad.
USAID RADA: Next Generation Program has contributed to adopting the Law on legislative activity that will unify the law-making process in Ukraine.
On August 24, 2023, the VRU adopted Law #5707, “On the Law-Making Activity,” in the final reading. The Law regulates the law-making process in Ukraine, particularly activities on planning, drafting, adoption, implementation of laws, and legal monitoring. RANG legal experts assisted the MPs in providing expert support in the working group on improving the draft law before its second reading. Notably, RANG experts contributed to the parts of the law regarding European integration laws and legal monitoring to ensure the end-to-end legislative process. The law will enter into force one year after the annulment of martial law, while the most complex provisions will enter into force five years after the adoption of the Law or after the adoption of additional legislation (for instance, laws on lobbying and public consultations). Adopting the Law in the law-making activity is a positive step toward complex legal reform. The law makes the legislative process in Ukraine more coherent, implementing best foreign practices.
Pursuing additional higher education may not be an exception from military service.
According to Fedir Venislavskiy, President’s Representative in the Ukrainian parliament, Ukrainian men aged 18-60, pursuing second and third higher education, may be conscripted to the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Program grantee facilitated the public consultation on support to the families of Ukrainian soldiers in small communities.
On August 21, 2023, Rive Opora, RANG grantee, facilitated the public consultation in Rivne that brought together civil society organizations, local activists and MP Solomia Bobrovska. During the consultation, participants presented the results of the survey, which showed that 69.5% of respondents were not aware of the ways to get psychological support for veterans and soldiers in their place of living. Participants of the event, representatives of public organizations, state authorities and local governments, communal institutions, employment service specialists, scientists, and practicing psychologists, discussed how to make psychological assistance to military personnel and their families more accessible and qualified. In particular, about training psychologists, improving their qualifications, certification of specialists, supervision of psychologists, creation of conditions for providing psychological help (psychologists' offices), primary diagnosis of people, and information support so that people know who to turn to. All proposals and ideas will be analyzed and provided to MPs Solomiya Bobrovska for processing in the VRU Committee on National Security, Defense, and Intelligence.
Program grantee worked with MPs to include stakeholders’ opinions on the draft tourism law in the second reading.
On August 25, the NGO "Union for Promotion of Rural Green Tourism in Ukraine" conducted a meeting with Dmytro Nataliov and Larysa Bilosir, co-sponsors of the draft law №4162 on tourism. The meeting was an essential element in synchronizing efforts between profile NGOs and MPs during the preparation for the second reading of the draft law.
USAID RADA: Next Generation provided all 23 VRU committees with 70 high-quality banners. USAID RADA: Next Generation Program prepared 70 visual banners for all 23 parliamentary committees in August 2023. The branded products are made according to the updated style of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. USAID RADA: Next Generation Program supports the Ukrainian Parliament in introducing an updated branding policy and developing and implementing a communication strategy. It streamlines the Parliament's diverse visualization, allowing the Program to develop banners in the single branded style for all Verkhovna Rada committees.
RADA: Next Generation conducted a roundtable on MPs-voters interaction on August 31. RANG’s partner, IRI, held a roundtable, “How can a deputy interact with voters?” in Poltava for political parties, local deputies of different levels, and MPs. IRI also presented its Manual “Serving as a Representative of the People: A Guide to Engage Your Constituents” and discussed the results of the IRI Survey on the citizens' attitude towards the Parliament. MPs discussed taxation of the military units based in the city and the ability of the central military administrations to control those financial resources. An MP from European Solidarity, Nina Uzhanina, provided valuable information for the local deputies in the finance area. MP Uzhanina was grateful to IRI for the manual and, during her speech, underlined how important it was to be open for communication with voters and how helpful it could be in becoming a more open and democratic community. The event is a part of RANG’s efforts to build the capacity of parliamentary political factions to engage local branches of their parties in performing Parliamentary representation.
Program grantee Institute "Respublica" conducted a meeting with MP to discuss restoration with voters on August 29. The meeting with Olena Shuliak gathered 30 online participants to discuss the legislative initiatives in restoration and interaction with voters amid the war-time circumstances; particularly, voters got to address questions regarding the compensation for destroyed property.
Program facilitated the participation of the VRU Secretariat members in a Cisco training to implement the best experience. On August 21-25, RANG assisted two members of the Office of the Computerized Systems of the Secretariat of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine in participating in the Implementing Cisco Collaboration Conferencing. The training helped them learn about the architecture of the local Cisco conferences. They gained knowledge and skills to design and implement common Cisco Meeting Server conferencing deployment scenarios, its integration with call management features such as Cisco Unified Communications Manager and Cisco Expressway, and other Cisco collaboration devices. That will help establish a remote work system for deputies in committee meetings and plenary hearings of the VRU.
Program grantees presented the results of public consultations with MPs on August 29. Graduates of the OPORA Academy of Practical Analytics presented the results of public consultations held in the summer with MPs' teams.
The public consultation was related to problems with the housing of internally displaced Ukrainians (the session was conducted with MP Oleksandr Aliksiichuk); the attitude of citizens towards the legalization of medical cannabis, which is proposed by draft law No. 7457 conducted with People's Deputy Oleksandr Kovalchuk); psychological support of military families in small communities (conducted with MP Solomiya Bobrovska). MPs' initiatives will reflect the proposals presented during the public consultation.
Program grantees NGO "Agromegapolis" delivered its proposals to MPs to amend legislation and ensure oversight in the registration of tax invoices for private entrepreneurs.
The organization presented its research on the conditions and needs of small and medium-sized entrepreneurs to MP Yaroslav Zhelezniak, head of the VRU ad hoc commission on the investigation of possible violations of the legislation of Ukraine by officials of the Bureau of Economic Security of Ukraine, state authorities and other state bodies that exercise powers in the field of economic security, which could lead to a decrease in revenues to the state and local budgets.