Ukrainian parliament approves draft state budget for 2022 at first reading

The Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine's parliament, has adopted resolution No. 6000-P "On Conclusions and Proposals to the Draft Law of Ukraine on the State Budget of Ukraine for 2022," which means the bill on Ukraine's state budget for next year is considered adopted at first reading.

According to an Ukrinform correspondent, 273 MPs voted for a respective decision at a parliament meeting on Tuesday, November 2.

"On November 2, the Verkhovna Rada completed the consideration of the draft state budget for 2022 at first reading. Thus, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted the Verkhovna Rada resolution on conclusions and proposals to the draft law on Ukraine's state budget for 2022. Some 273 MPs voted for a respective decision," the Finance Ministry's press service reported.

When preparing the document for its first reading, MPs, factions, groups and committees of the Verkhovna Rada submitted 3,284 proposals to the draft state budget for 2022, submitted by the government to the parliament on September 15.

Minister of Finance Serhiy Marchenko thanked lawmakers for a productive discussion and understanding of the importance of a balanced budget.

"The draft budget is quite balanced and realistic to implement, which the IMF confirmed as part of the work of its technical mission and in a statement on the first review of the stand-by arrangement which our partners issued on Monday. The draft budget envisages sufficient funds to finance all priority needs of the state within the current tax legislation," Marchenko said.

The Cabinet of Ministers must submit the draft state budget for 2022 to the Verkhovna Rada before its second reading within two weeks.

op