Key customs, financial legislation identified by top economist

The first customs reform legislation to be considered
by parliament will be on a common transit regime and an authorized economic
operator, Danylo Hetmantsev, an economic adviser to the president, said in an
interview with the Interfax-Ukraine news agency published on Aug. 26. These
bills await approval in the second reading, he said. Other bills in the
pipeline involve improving the customs post-audit procedure, as well as
improving the protection of intellectual property rights during customs
crossings, said Hetmantsev, the likely head of the parliamentary finance,
taxation and customs committee.

In the financial sphere, among the first legislative
items will be the second reading of the so-called “split” legislation to
regulate the financial services market, Hetmantsev said. “Some don’t want its
approval, but we support it nonetheless,” he said. “And not because the IMF
agrees. That’s secondary. It’s because the activity of the financial services
commission is absolutely ineffective. Everyone recognizes that.”

Zenon Zawada: These bills
are likely to be approved at the first session of parliament on Aug. 29.