Chesno Movement analyzes government question hours in Verkhovna Rada
In 2024, the Verkhovna Rada reinstated the government question hour, a practice lapsed since the full-scale invasion began. The CHESNO Movement reviewed transcripts from the first seven months of 2024 to see what topics MPs focused on, who asked the most questions, and which officials responded. The first session on February 23, 2024, focused on state defense. MPs asked about fortifications, drone production, border blockades, and the reboot of the Bureau of Economic Security (BES), with Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko responding. On May 10, Deputy Prime Minister Olha Stefanishyna addressed EU accession talks, border blockades with Poland, and negotiating team formations. The May 24 session on energy stability saw Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko answer questions on protecting energy facilities, decentralizing power generation, and winter preparations, with concerns also raised about rising tariffs. Sessions on June 7 and 21 addressed financial and economic policies during the war, with Finance Minister Sergiy Marchenko and Economy Minister Svyrydenko fielding questions on budget sufficiency, potential defaults, economic reservations, and possible tax increases. On July 19, MPs revisited energy issues due to renewed Russian attacks. Minister Halushchenko was questioned on nuclear plant repairs, infrastructure restoration, and fairness in deciding where and when energy blackouts are placed in effect. Questions were also directed to other ministries, including the Ministries of Internal Affairs, Education, and Reintegration. Despite regular queries for the Defense Ministry, Minister Rustem Umerov was absent from all six sessions in 2024, with Deputy Natalia Kalmykova usually responding. Each question hour splits into 30 minutes for faction and group representatives, followed by 30 minutes for individual MPs. Sessions typically last around an hour and 10 minutes. In 2024, MPs from the Servant of the People faction—the Rada’s largest—asked the most questions, while opposition parties Holos and European Solidarity were also notably active.
USAID RADA: Next Generation helps improve psychological rehabilitation and veterans policy in Ukraine
On August 9, USAID RADA: Next Generation facilitated a third forum titled “Veterans - The Path Home,” organized by the VRU Committee on Social Policy. The forum was held in Zvyahel Zhytomyr region and focused on veterans' rights, psychological rehabilitation, and veteran policy development in the region. Participants discussed and developed proposals for enhancing state policies to support veterans and their families. The forum included discussions on state and donor support programs, best practices for community support, and group work on continuous rehabilitation, veteran-society communication, employment and entrepreneurship, and social services. Around 100 participants attended the event, including government representatives, veterans, community leaders from Zhytomyr, and representatives from organizations focused on the needs of combat veterans.
USAID RADA: Next Generation lectures on approximation of Ukrainian laws to EU legislation for VRU
On August 7, USAID RADA: Next Generation held a lecture on aligning national environmental legislation with EU law to enhance the EU integration skills of MPs and staffers from the VRU Committee on Environmental Policy. Vasyl Kostytskyi, former chairman of the National Expert Commission of Ukraine for the Protection of Public Morality and MP of the first, second, and third convocations of Verkhovna Rada, provided an overview of EU environmental policies and discussed specific EU requirements. Ten participants, including MPs and committee staff, attended the lecture.
USAID RADA: Next Generation supports discussion on national policy on workers’ migration to Ukraine
On August 6, a USAID RADA: Next Generation subgrantee, the Ukrainian Association of International Employment Companies, held a roundtable titled "Project 'Vision-2033': Public Discussion of Bill 11405 'On Improving the Procedure for Employment of Foreigners in Ukraine.'" During the roundtable, participants discussed state policies to address the post-war shortage of 4.5 million workers, strategies to attract additional labor, including from abroad, and how draft law 11405, "On Improving the Procedure for Employment of Foreigners in Ukraine," could help alleviate the labor shortage.
USAID RADA: Next Generation assists VRU in addressing IDP problems
From August 8-10, USAID RADA: Next Generation facilitated a series of events in Odesa as part of the VRU Temporary Special Commission on the Protection of Property and Non-Property Rights of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and others affected by Russia's aggression against Ukraine. More than 80 participants, including MPs, government officials, local self-governance representatives, civic activists, and NGOs, gathered to address the challenges facing IDPs. The first day focused on field visits to temporary residences for IDPs in the Odesa region and direct meetings with IDPs. On the second day, the TSC reviewed the work of the Kherson, Odesa, and Mykolaiv Oblast Military Administrations, as well as other military and local government bodies, in meeting IDP needs and budget spending. The final day involved discussions between TSC members, civic activists, and NGOs on ensuring the rights of IDPs and enhancing public involvement in the legislative process. Also, on August 8-9, USAID RADA: Next Generation held a training session for 50 civic activists and NGO representatives on “Citizens' Participation in the Legislative Process and Advocacy,” covering the legislative process, public engagement, and advocacy campaign development.