You're reading: Hroisman signs law to expand powers of National Security and Defense Council and its secretary

Verkhovna Rada Chairman Volodymyr Hroisman on Dec. 26 signed the law expanding the powers of the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) and its secretary.

The respective report was posted on the parliament’s website on Dec. 26 evening.

“The law has been submitted to the president for signature,” reads the report.

As reported, 253 MPs voted for the introduction of amendments to the respective law on Dec. 25.

Earlier, the parliament ordered its committees to improve the bill on Dec. 23. A total of 302 deputies voted for that decision.

On Dec. 11, the Verkhovna Rada approved in principle a bill adjusting the National Security and Defense Council law, which broadened powers of that body and allowed the NSDC to make decisions “regarding the declaration of war”.

The bill entrusts the NSDC with the right to approve its regulations which will guide its activity along with the NSDC law.

The NSDC is also entitled to coordinate and control the activity of government agencies in the fight against corruption, public security and anti-crime measures.

The NSDC can not only present its proposals to the president but also make decisions regarding strategic national interests of Ukraine, improvement of the national security and defense system, reorganization and liquidation of executive power bodies operating in this field, and national security and defense articles of the draft state budget.

The NSDC can make decisions on political, economic, military, information and other issues consistent with the scope of potential and real threats to Ukraine’s national interests, as well as “the declaration of war, partial or total mobilization, the martial law or the emergency situation.”

The NSDC can decide on urgent measures in the resolution of national security crises.

In the case of early termination of powers of the Ukrainian president, the Verkhovna Rada chairman rather than the prime minister shall be the acting head of the National Security and Defense Council.

The new edition of the NSDC law envisages that the Council may compromise individuals appointed by the president in addition to the statutory members.