Rada to consider 2021 national budget draft on Nov 5

Chairman of the Vekrhovna Rada, Ukraine's Parliament, Dmytro Razumkov says the consideration of the draft law on the 2021 national budget is scheduled for Thursday, November 5.

Read alsoZelensky vows not to reduce Ukrainian army budget in 2021He made the comment during a Conciliation Council meeting, as reported by an UNIAN correspondent on November 2.

"As I see it, we plan to consider the budget on Thursday this week," he said, adding that the profile committee should "consider the issue today as soon as possible."

Razumkov expressed confidence that the committee "will take the issue more than seriously, while all parliamentary factions and groups, and each MP will take responsibility in making a decision."

The parliament speaker also mentioned other bills to be considered this week, namely that related to judicial reform, the so-called draft law on "investment nannies," which creates appropriate support for major investors, and the bill on anti-corruption strategy.

In addition, Razumkov said he had received a letter by Health Minister Maksym Stepanov asking him to consider bill No. 3891, which provides for stricter liability for not wearing face masks amid the COVID-19 lockdown. According to the speaker, he would like to hear the relevant committees' opinion on the issue.

Key figures of the 2021 national budget:

• A 4.6% GDP growth;
• The hryvnia's average annual rate at UAH 29.1 per U.S. dollar;
• Revenue at almost UAH 1.1 trillion (US$38.7 billion);
• Spending at UAH 1.3 trillion (US$45.7 billion); and
• Budget deficit at UAH 270 billion (US$9.5 billion)

Next year's budget: Background

• On September 14, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the 2021 national budget draft.
• On September 18, 2020, the Cabinet presented the draft budget at the Verkhovna Rada.
• Deputy Chairman of the Holos (Voice) faction, First Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada's Committee on Finance, Tax and Customs Policy Yaroslav Zhelezniak earlier said that lawmakers submitted more than 2,400 amendments to the draft law on the 2021 national budget.
• The meeting of the Verkhovna Rada's Budget Committee to approve the amendments was canceled on October 16.
• On October 29, Zhelezniak said the consideration of the 2021 national budget in the first reading was tentatively scheduled for November 5.