REUTERS
Further progress needs to be made on delayed measures, including in the energy sector and with regard to fiscal policy.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) insists on the urgent parliamentary consideration of the draft law on an anti-corruption court, taking into account the amendments that will ensure its compliance with the country's obligations under the program of cooperation with the Fund.
"It is now important that the authorities move expeditiously with parliamentary consideration of the draft law on the anti-corruption court, while ensuring that the necessary amendments are adopted during the parliamentary process to make the approved law fully consistent with program commitments and the recommendations of the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe," the IMF said in a press release following the visit of the Fund's technical mission to Ukraine.
"Further progress also needs to be made on other delayed measures that are necessary to achieve program objectives, including in the energy sector and with regard to fiscal policy. Discussions will continue in the coming weeks," reads the report.
As UNIAN reported earlier, in March 2015, the IMF approved a four-year Extended Fund Facility (EFF) program worth $17.5 billion. Of the amount, Ukraine has received four tranches worth $8.7 billion. The program is expiring in March 2019.
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The IMF says that to receive the fifth tranche, Ukraine needs to ensure that the pension reform is consistent with the objectives of cooperation, as well as to pass a law on privatization, bring gas tariffs in line with import parity, create an anti-corruption court, and adopt a budget for 2018 with a deficit of no more than 2.5% of GDP.
The National Bank of Ukraine expects that Ukraine will be able to borrow up to $2 billion in IMF funds in 2018.