The Cabinet of Ministers has extended restrictions on trade with Russia until December 31, 2024.
According to the Cabinet’s representative in the Verkhovna Rada Taras Melnychuk in Telegram, the relevant decisions were taken at a government meeting on Friday.
In particular, the government decree of December 30, 2015 № 1147 “On the ban on the importation of goods originating from the Russian Federation into the customs territory of Ukraine” until December 31, 2024 (inclusive) was extended.
In addition, the decree of December 30, 2015 No. 1146 “On the rates of import duty in respect of goods that originate from the Russian Federation” was extended until December 31, 2024.
CABINET OF MINISTERS, restrictions on trade, Тарас Мельничук
The National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) together with international partners, in particular the World Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), are preparing a new mechanism for settling military risks, which they plan to present no later than the first quarter of 2024.
As noted on the NBU Facebook page, during the meeting of the regulator’s management with participants of the insurance market, the head of the National Bank Andriy Pyshnyy emphasized the importance of the introduction of insurance of political-military risks, which should be fully operational next year.
It was also noted that one of the priorities of the National Bank in 2024 is the development of a competitive, adaptive and cost-effective insurance market.
“New requirements for insurance companies bring us closer to European standards of regulation and supervision. Therefore, the implementation of new norms is a priority, and integration into the European community is task No. 1. We will have to move as fast as possible, but you can count on comprehensive support and mature constructive dialog,” Pyshny said, speaking about the importance of such changes for domestic insurance.
It was noted that in 2024, in particular, will begin the application of risk-oriented prudential supervision and improvement of requirements for the solvency of insurers, as well as a new type of supervision of market behavior of insurers to control compliance with the rules and standards of financial services.
“The National Bank is strengthening its staff with specialists who will evaluate insurers’ business models using a risk-based approach. Special attention will be paid to the assessment of insurers’ assets – property and securities, the value of which should be market-based,” Deputy Head of the NBU Dmytro Oleinik said during the meeting.
Separately, emphasis was placed on the importance of the work of financial monitoring units of insurers as a safeguard to attract companies to money laundering schemes, in particular for the purpose of tax evasion, and to limit ties with Russia.
At the same time, it was noted that the work continues in the Parliament to finalize the text of the new law “On compulsory insurance of civil liability of owners of land vehicles,” which should be adopted under the IMF program by the end of May next year.
Now insurance companies will have to prepare for the renewed field inspections by the National Bank in order to eliminate possible violations of the law in advance, emphasized representatives of the regulator.
Andriy Pyshnyy, EBRD, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, NATIONAL BANK OF UKRAINE, NBU, WORLD BANK
Motor (Transport) Insurance Bureau of Ukraine (MTSBU) has made 6.763 thousand payments from the Victims Protection Fund (VPF) in January-November 2023, which is 33.2% more than in the same period of 2022. According to the MTSBU report on its website, the total amount of such payments increased by 44.6% to UAH 393.7 million compared to January-November.
The largest volume of payments – UAH 269.5 mln, or 68.5% in terms of the amount and 4.3 thousand in terms of the number of payments for damage caused by the perpetrators of road accidents who do not have a valid CMTPL insurance policy. Compared to the corresponding period of 2022, the number of such payments increased by 33%, the amount – by 89.1%.
This trend is increasing due to the socio-economic consequences of the war.
For drivers of privileged categories from the FZP during the reporting period, almost 1.1 thousand payments were made for the amount of UAH 72.9 million, which is 28.8% more in number and 46.7% more in amount than in the same period of 2022.
In January-November 2023 the MTSBU paid UAH 12,1 mln on liabilities of insurance companies that have ceased their activity and recognized as bankrupt.
For the liabilities of companies that have ceased to operate in the MTPL insurance market, but recognized bankrupt in accordance with the procedure established by law, payments were made at the expense of the guarantee contributions of such insurers in the amount of UAH 34.4 million available in the MTSBU FZP.
The MTSBU also notes that the minimum regulatory payments for accidents caused by an unidentified vehicle (such cases are paid only on the fact of threat to life and health) remain UAH 4.4 mln, and those caused by cars that were seized as a result of unlawful actions – UAH 0.22 mln.
Motor (Transport) Insurance Bureau of Ukraine, Victims Protection Fund, МТСБУ
The Verkhovna Rada has legalized medical cannabis and made it possible to use medical preparations containing cannabis (Cannabis) for the treatment of cancer and post-traumatic stress disorder. For the bill № 7457 on regulating the circulation of plants of the genus of hemp (Cannabis) for medical, industrial purposes, scientific and scientific-technical activities to create conditions for expanding access to patients to the necessary treatment of cancer and post-traumatic stress disorder, received as a result of wars, voted as a whole 248 people’s deputies at the plenary session of the Verkhovna Rada on Thursday.
The bill creates regulatory conditions for the legal limited circulation and use of cannabis, its resin, extracts and tinctures for medical, industrial purposes, scientific and scientific-technical activities.
The law comes into force six months after its promulgation.
Ukraine has received 1.5 billion euros of macro-financial aid from the European Union, Prime Minister Denis Shmygal said.
“Thus, the total budgetary support from the European Union this year reached 18 billion euros. These funds help us to maintain economic sustainability and fulfill social obligations,” Shmygal wrote in his Telegram channel.
He also thanked the EU for the weighty and timely assistance to Ukraine and expressed hope for further support.
The portfolio of domestic government bonds (government bonds) of Ukrainian banks increased by UAH 4.355 billion (by 0.7%) – to UAH 632.116 billion, legal entities – by UAH 2.404 billion (by 1.8%) – to UAH 135.172 billion, individuals – by UAH 0.321 billion (by 0.6%) – to UAH 51.515 billion.
According to the NBU, the total portfolio of government bonds increased by UAH 7.087bn (by 0.5%) – to UAH 1554.292bn from UAH 1547.205bn a day earlier, in the ownership of the National Bank and therobschina remained unchanged, non-residents – changed slightly.
The official exchange rate for December 21 – 37.5516 UAH/$1
