Debates on a draft law on national security during its finalization for the second reading are expected as heated as those on the bill on the Anti-corruption Court, Verkhovna Rada Chairman Andriy Parubiy says, forecasting that the parliament will pass it in general in late May – early June.
“There will be no less complicated debate on it [the draft law on national security] than on the Anti-corruption Court. Perhaps, this bill triggers less public discussion, but it is no less important to Ukraine. It is fundamentally important for me to include the recommendations of both NATO and the European Union by the second reading, which were submitted, including to me as the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada,” he told reporters on April 12 in the margins of the 11th Kyiv Security Forum.
According to Parubiy, in particular, the recommendations related to setting up a parliamentary committee on intelligence, parliamentary and civilian control over the armed forces, which concern the reform of the Security Service of Ukraine, should be taken into account by the second reading.
“If talking about the timing [of the adoption of the document as a whole], it may take place at the end of May or the beginning of June,” Parubiy said.
As reported, the Verkhovna Rada on April 5 approved presidential draft law (No. 8068) on national security at the first reading.
In particular, the document states that the fundamental national interests are Ukraine’s integration into the European political, economic, legal, and security space, as well as the acquisition of the membership in the EU and NATO. The bill also lays down the procedure for presidential, parliamentary and public control over the national security agencies.
The bill also states that the amount of expenditures for financing the security and defense sector of Ukraine should be at least 5 percent of the planned GDP, of which at least 3 percent will be spent on the defense forces alone.
