Three years of reporting, funded by our readers — become a member now and help us prepare for 2025.
Goal: 1,000 new members for our birthday. Gift a membership to your friend and help us prepare for what 2025 might bring.
Become a member Gift membership
Skip to content
Edit post

MP Yaroslav Zhelezniak: Developments in Ukraine’s parliament on economic reforms, international obligations — Issue 80

by Yaroslav Zhelezniak November 6, 2024 5:18 PM 4 min read
A view of the building of Ukraine's parliament in Kyiv, Ukraine on June 6, 2020. (Getty Images)
This audio is created with AI assistance

Editor’s note: This is issue 80 of Ukrainian lawmaker Yaroslav Zhelezniak’s weekly “Ukrainian Economy in Brief” newsletter, covering events from Oct. 28- Nov. 3, 2024. The digest highlights steps taken in the Ukrainian parliament related to business, economics, and international financial programs.

The Kyiv Independent is republishing with permission.

Benchmarks and soft commitments in the memorandum with the IMF


Ukraine's parliament adopted in the final reading the accounting chamber reform.

The Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine's parliament, fully adopted draft law #10044-d on reforming the Accounting Chamber of Ukraine. The parliament is currently preparing a draft law for signing.

Among key provisions are:

  • transparent competitive selection of the chamber's members with participation and the decisive vote of international experts;
  • political and financial independence of the chamber;
  • decreasing number of members from 13 to 11;
  • extending the mandate of the accounting chamber to all public finances, including local budgets and funds from international partners;
  • mandatory external audit of the chamber performance every five years etc.

The Verkhovna Rada adopted the 2025 State Budget in the first reading.

Parliament adopted in the first reading draft law #12000 on the State Budget for 2025. During the discussion, the Verkhovna Rada managed to reject an amendment which suggested raising wages for prosecutors. The remaining text remains the same as it was supported by the Budget Committee.

Ukraine’s 2025 budget clears first reading, allocates $53 billion for defense
“The priority of next year’s budget will also be security and defense. All taxes paid by people and businesses will go toward strengthening our defenders and military capabilities,” Prime Minister Denys Smyhal said on his Telegram channel.

The Bureau of Economic Security announced new members of the Civil Oversight Council.

The Bureau of Economic Security announced winners of the competition for new members of the Civil Oversight Council. Representatives of five NGOs will run the Civil Oversight Council. In particular, representatives of the NGO “Anti-corruption ax," “Center of social control," “Ukrainian Law Society," “Center for Economic Strategy," and the “Institute of Legislative Ideas."

The deadline for vetoing the draft law on tax increases has passed.

Oct. 30 was the last day when President Volodymyr Zelensky could veto draft law #11416-d on a tax increase. However, as of Monday the bill still hasn't been signed. According to our information, the president was supposed to sign it last week. The reason for the delay is currently unknown.

Obligations to the EU

The president signed the draft law on plea agreements, the deadline was met.

On Oct. 29, the Verkhovna Rada adopted in the final reading draft law #12039 to improve the mechanism of plea agreements for people accused in big corruption cases. The President signed the draft law on 31 October as it was required by the Ukraine Plan for receiving the next tranche of money.

Ukraine’s 2025 budget clears first reading, allocates $53 billion for defense
“The priority of next year’s budget will also be security and defense. All taxes paid by people and businesses will go toward strengthening our defenders and military capabilities,” Prime Minister Denys Smyhal said on his Telegram channel.

Other key issues

The Verkhovna Rada approves the resignation of the prosecutor general.

Last week, the Verkhovna Rada voted to approve the resignation of Prosecutor General Andrii Kostin. Kostin submitted his resignation after corruption schemes at medical examination commissions and numerous facts of fake disabilities of prosecutors were revealed.

The Cabinet of Ministers has not yet introduced a candidate to replace Kostin.

The parliament approved an extension of martial law and general mobilization in Ukraine.

The parliament supported presidential draft laws to extend martial law and mobilization from Nov. 1 for another 90 days until Feb. 7, 2025. It’s the thirteenth prolongation of martial law since the beginning of the full-scale invasion in February 2022.

Ukraine presents roadmap for partially opening airspace during war
Deputy Communities and Territories Development Minister Serhii Derkach introduced a step-by-step plan for a partial reopening of Ukraine’s airspace at a conference in Warsaw.
Three years of reporting, funded by our readers.
Millions read the Kyiv Independent, but only one in 10,000 readers makes a financial contribution. Thanks to our community we've been able to keep our reporting free and accessible to everyone. For our third birthday, we're looking for 1,000 new members to help fund our mission and to help us prepare for what 2025 might bring.
Three years. Millions of readers. All thanks to 12,000 supporters.
It’s thanks to readers like you that we can celebrate another birthday this November. We’re looking for another 1,000 members to help fund our mission, keep our journalism accessible for all, and prepare for whatever 2025 might bring. Consider gifting a membership today or help us spread the word.
Help us get 1,000 new members!
Become a member Gift membership
visa masterCard americanExpress

Editors' Picks

Enter your email to subscribe
Please, enter correct email address
Subscribe
* indicates required
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required

Subscribe

* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Explaining Ukraine with Kate Tsurkan
* indicates required
Successfuly subscribed
Thank you for signing up for this newsletter. We’ve sent you a confirmation email.