Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has signed a law introducing amendments to the law on the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) of Ukraine on improving coordination and control in the field of national security and defense.
According to a statement posted on the parliament’s website, respective bill
No. 1343, which was submitted by the head of state, was adopted by the Verkhovna
Rada at first reading on December 11 and at second reading and as a whole on
December 25 this year, and then it was sent to the president for signature. On
Dec. 29, the document was returned with the president’s signature.
Under the 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.
