VRU adopted laws and resolutions at its plenary meeting on February 6, 2023.
Resolutions:
Laws in the second reading:
According to the Suspilne media outlet, on January 13, 2023, NABU published an official announcement that MP Artur Herasymov was charged with the submission of false information in his 2020 e-declaration. NABU detectives found out that the MP failed to declare real estate worth EUR 190,000 in Spain and 1.6 thousand US dollars in a Ukrainian bank account.
On February 7, Ukraine’s Parliament appointed Vasyl Malyuk as head of Ukraine’s Security Service and Ihor Klymenko as the minister of internal affairs.
Besides, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine extended martial law and mobilization for another 90 days.
In his Telegram channel, David Arakhamia, chair of the Servant of the People faction, urged all MPs of the former Opposition Platform for Life to resign as MPs.
On February 9, MPs, including VRU Speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk, VRU First Deputy Speaker Oleksandr Korniyenko, VRU Deputy Speaker Olena Kondratiuk, registered a draft law to punish those MPs who share information about the time of the plenary meetings in public, in particular, online.
According to Mariana Bezuhla, MP, Deputy chairwoman of the VRU Committee on national security, defense, and intelligence, MPs of the Servant of the People have prepared an amendment to Ukraine’s legislation, which may allow parliament to appoint a defense minister not only among civilians but also among the military when martial law is imposed.
On February 6-9, the Program conducted the first training for trainers for 14 PRS experts and staffers to enhance the capacities of the PRS Training Center. The event allowed participants to learn how to develop the training concept and agenda and acquired basic skills in preparing and conducting a training session. The training was held as a part of the submission of Program’s trainings and materials to the newly established Training Center within the Parliamentary Research Service.
On February 9, 2023, the Program assisted one of its Model Committees, VRU’s Committee on State Building, Local Governance, Regional and Urban Development in facilitating the discussion between MPs, experts and local self-government. The meeting was dedicated to the decentralization reform implementation, in particular to the institute of starosts (village elders) and allowed the committee to develop recommendations about the implementation of legislation, which would likely result in amending some legal acts. In particular, MPs and local self-government recognized that local governance had become even more important as Ukraine’s communities responded to the humanitarian challenges caused by Russia’s full‐scale invasion of Ukraine.
On February 9, VRU Parliamentary Education Center together with American Councils, Programs partner, conducted an online lesson for school children “France stands with Ukraine” from the series of sessions, “Parliaments of the World Stand with Ukraine”. High-school students had a chance to get up-to-date information on France-Ukraine relations and assistance. Alyona Shkrum, MP, co-chair of the MPs’ interparliamentary group with France, and representatives of the French Embassy in Ukraine, as well as the Ukrainian Embassy in France, joined the event. The participants also learned how the French parliamentary and government system works, its people, and its traditions. Altogether the lesson gathered 770 participants.
On February 8, Program assisted its Model Committee in arranging the public hearing, which gathered MPs, executive authorities, NGOs, scientific institutions, and mass media. Following the hearing, the Committee proposed to work out a Strategy for the adaptation of demobilized persons. The relevant recommendations will be adopted and published soon.
On February 7, Program experts submitted their proposals to the VRU Committee on State Building, Local Governance, Regional and Urban Development on amending the draft law "On local state administrations" and some other legislative acts of Ukraine on reforming the territorial organization of executive power in Ukraine." The proposals concern the status of officials of local administrations, their powers, appointment procedure, disciplinary responsibility, and relations with central authorities.
On February 6, 8, and 10, Program alongside its partner, Agency for Educational Policy Development, conducted three webinars for secondary school teachers. Later in March, the course will be conducted for teachers of high schools. The course helps teachers in forming a holistic view of youth regarding the theoretical and practical aspects of parliamentary activity to modernize the approach to understanding parliamentarism and civic activity. The course is based on a comprehensive program of parliamentary education “Our parliament: research, understanding, influence”.
On February 8-10, Program conducted training on citizens` participation in the legislative process for 16 MPs’ aids and VRU Secretariat staffers. Program provided MPs’ teams with tools for public involvement and participation in the law-making process, the basics of developing advocacy campaigns.
Registration is available via the link.
Registration is available via the link.