( Press Secretary of the Chairperson of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine )





The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine has to become an example of the democratic process and guarantee the stability of reforms and the supremacy of law.

Chairperson of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Volodymyr Groysman said this at the beginning of the high-profile Conference of the European Parliament and the Verkhovna Rada on opportunities for reforms (Ukraine Week at the European Parliament).

"The Ukrainian Parliament will give a start to the revival of the institutional competence of the Ukrainian bodies of state power," Groysman said in Brussels (Belgium) on Monday.

"Today we gathered here to discuss the changes required to turn the Ukrainian Parliament into a strong, independent, transparent and effective institution. Into a real, literally, European institution!" the Chairperson of the Verkhovna Rada said.

Groysman reminded that on July 3, 2015, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine and the European Parliament signed the Memo on mutual understanding. Within the framework of its implementation the Ukrainian Parliament along with the Needs Assessment Mission of the European Parliament headed by Pat Cox started to elaborate the plan for Parliament's systemic renovation. "Having established cooperation with the European Parliament in deep reformation, the Verkhovna Rada proved its readiness for real enhancement of the level of democracy in Ukraine," Groysman said

"Proper adherence to democratic principles and European values, which form the basis of the Association Agreement, would be impossible without effective Parliament that would correspond to European standards," the Chairperson of the Verkhovna Rada said.

Groysman stressed that despite the political, economic crisis, as well as external challenges in the country, the Verkhovna Rada continues to show its efficiency and support "to the European choice of the Ukrainian people." At the same time, he said that protraction of reforms would be unacceptable, thus, the Ukrainian Parliament has to become "a powerful center of stability." "The Ukrainian Parliament has to turn into a guarantee of stable reforms and supremacy of law," he noted.

The establishment of strong, independent and democratic Verkhovna Rada — is a contribution to stable future, Groysman noted. "Ukraine needs a powerful institution, which will follow the rules and will be an example of the democratic process," he said.

The Chairperson of the Ukrainian Parliament informed that the Verkhovna Rada is already introducing new electronic technologies that satisfy the document flow and ensure more transparency of the Parliament. At the same time, a number of problems still need further regulation, in particular, raise of the level of attendance of and discipline among people's deputies, quality of draft laws, etc.

Groysman thanked President of the European Parliament Martin Schulz, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the European Parliament Elmar Brok, Chair of the Delegation to the EU-Ukraine Parliamentary Association Committee Andrej Plenkovic, Head of Needs Assessment Mission of the European Parliament Pat Cox "for quality and unbiased monitoring" of the state the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine is in. He also thanked the leaders of the parliamentary factions and deputy groups, people's deputies of Ukraine for "their openness to cooperation and readiness to keep pace with positive changes."

"I want to state: the report we are about to present today is a joint property of the whole deputy corps of Ukraine," Groysman said.

"The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine has always played a key part in the settlement of all considerable crises. We can lower the number of such crises thanks to making the Ukrainian Parliament a more predictable and stronger institution. This will be our joint victory," the Chairperson of the Verkhovna Rada said.