Verkhovna Rada’s special plenary sitting (8 am)

An extraordinary plenary meeting of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine

324 parliamentarians have registered to attend the March 17 extraordinary meeting.

The Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Dmytro Razumkov opened the extraordinary plenary session.

The current agenda:

1)      A draft bill No.3219 “On amendments to certain legislative acts of Ukraine aimed to prevent the occurrence and spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19)” (tabled 16.03.2020);

2)      A draft bill No.2538 “On amendments to certain legislative acts of Ukraine aimed to increase availability of medications, healthcare products and other goods bought by a person entitled to make purchases in the field of health care” (tabled 03.03.2020);

3)      A draft bill No.2539 “On amendments to the Tax Code of Ukraine aimed to increase availability of medications, healthcare products and other goods bought at the expense of public funds, and facilitate healthcare purchases at the expense of public funds” (second reading, tabled 15.01.2020);

4)      A draft bill No.3220 “On amendments to the Tax Code of Ukraine and other legislative acts of Ukraine aimed to support taxpayers during the period of taking measures against the occurrence and spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19)” (tabled 16.03.2020);

5)      A draft resolution No.3218 on some organizational issues touching Verkhovna Rada’s work during the quarantine in Ukraine (tabled 16.03.2020);

6)      A draft resolution No.3224 on changes to the work-plan calendar of the third session of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine of the ninth convocation.

The presiding officer announced that the Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal and the deputy health minister were present at the plenary session.

The Chairman gave the floor to the Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal to inform the chamber upon the measures taken by the government to overcome the virus challenge.

The premier apprised that the Cabinet of Ministers is presently working round the clock and that there have been set up an integrated coronavirus information center and an ad hoc government staff office.

The Prime Minister added that the coronavirus bill at issue today would mitigate the outbreak impact to the economy and to every citizen, and called on parliamentarians to support the paper.

The deputy health minister V.Liashko then reported on the virus spread situation in Ukraine and the steps taken to prevent the epidemic.

After the speeches, MPs proceeded to the business of the day.

• Laws, bills and resolutions passed

On preventing spread of coronavirus

--Draft bill No.3219

The parliament passed the bill No.3219 “On amendments to certain legislative acts of Ukraine aimed to prevent the occurrence and spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19)” by 344 votes in favour on its second reading.

On easier health care purchases

--Draft bill No.2538

Parliamentarians have seen into the bill No.2538 “On amendments to certain legislative acts of Ukraine aimed to increase availability of medications, healthcare products and other goods bought by a person entitled to make purchases in the field of health care”. They approved the paper by 290 ayes on the second reading and in extenso.

On changes to tax code

--Draft bill No.2539

The Vekhovna Rada has considered the draft bill No.2539 “On amendments to the Tax Code of Ukraine aimed to increase availability of medications, healthcare products and other goods bought at the expense of public funds, and facilitate healthcare purchases at the expense of public funds”. By 255 assenting votes the bill was taken on its second reading and in whole.

On support to taxpayers

--Draft bill No.3220

Lawmakers have reviewed the draft bill No.3220 “On amendments to the Tax Code of Ukraine and other legislative acts of Ukraine aimed to support taxpayers during the period of taking measures against the occurrence and spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19)”. By 359 yeas the paper was approved in whole.  

On VRU’s work during quarantine time

--Draft resolution No.3218

The resolution on some organizational issues touching Verkhovna Rada’s work during the quarantine in Ukraine was taken by parliamentarians.

On changes to work-plan calendar

--Draft resolution No.3224

By 359 ayes the parliament sanctioned the changes to the VRU’s work-plan calendar of the third session.

The First Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Ruslan Stefanchuk proposed to commission the Chairman with immediate signing the laws adopted and sending them to the President of Ukraine for signature. This proposal was backed by 360 parliamentarians.

The presiding officer closed the extraordinary meeting.