President of the Venice Commission Gianni Buquicchio has called the adoption by the Ukrainian parliament of the law “On the High Anti-Corruption Court” a testament to Ukraine’s intention to continue the path of reforms and European integration.
“It is with great satisfaction – I would even say with great joy – that I learnt of today’s decision by the Verkhovna Rada to adopt the law on the High Anti-Corruption Court. According to the reports the law as adopted is in line with the recommendations of the Venice Commission,” the Commission chief said in his statement posted on the Commission’s website on Thursday.
The official congratulated the Ukrainian MPs on the vote and thanked all those who contributed to the adoption of the law.
“This is an important step forward for Ukraine and for Europe, most of all for the citizens of Ukraine who have suffered for too long from the evils of corruption. Today’s vote shows that Ukraine is determined to continue on the path of reform and European integration,” said the VC chief.
He also urged all those involved to ensure the rapid formation of the court and to provide it with appropriate means for functioning.
As reported earlier, the Verkhovna Rada passed presidential draft law “On the High Anti-Corruption Court” (No. 7440) at the second reading.
The insurance companies of Ukraine in January-March 2018 collected net premiums in the amount of UAH 8.119 billion, which is 26.7% more than for the same period a year earlier, according to the website of the National Commission for State Regulation of Financial Services Markets. According to the regulator, the volume of gross insurance premiums collected by insurers for the period amounted to UAH 11.619 billion (6.6% more).
The commission notes that an increase in gross insurance premiums occurred for almost all types of insurance: auto insurance (KASKO, OSAGO, Green Card) by UAH 461.2 million, or 20.7%, insurance against fire risks and risks of natural phenomena by UAH 1.046 billion, or 41%, insurance of liability to third parties by UAH 365 million, or 72.2%, credit insurance by UAH 224.8 million, or 3 times, life insurance by UAH 193.8 million, or 30.6%, insurance against accidents by UAH 163.6 million, or 65.9%, medical insurance by UAH 143.8 million, or 18.9%, and medical insurance by UAH 69.9 million, or 40.3%.
The share of net insurance premiums in gross insurance premiums for the first quarter of 2018 rose by 11.1 percentage points from the first quarter of 2017 and amounted to 69.9%.
In January-March of the current year, insurers paid UAH 3.099 billion of net insurance claim fees, which is 37.2% more than in the same period a year earlier. The level of net payments grew from 35.3% to 38.2%.
The share of counterfeit crop protection agents on the Ukrainian market is from 20% to 30%, Deputy Head of the biosecurity department and Head of the crop protection department of the State Service for Food Safety and Consumers’ Protection of Ukraine Viktor Stefkivsky has said. The expert said that the figure reaches 50% in retail. Director of the biosecurity and seed supervision department of the authority Andriy Chelombitko also pointed out growth in the volumes of low-quality and counterfeit crop protection agents, which is provoked by the current moratorium on inspections of legal entities.
“During the period when the moratorium is in effect, a lot of unfair “traders” took advantage of the situation and began mass distribution of counterfeit pesticides and agrochemicals for agricultural use, including through the retail network. This not only affects Ukraine’s reputation as a reliable partner in the turnover of high-quality vegetable products, but also causes irreparable harm to the environment and human health,” Chelombitko said.
As the experts said, the demand of Ukrainian agricultural producers in agrochemicals is about 100,000 tonnes per year and it is equivalent to the amount of about $2 billion, which is “extremely attractive for counterfeits.”
The European Parliament will vote on the third macro-financial assistance program for Ukraine in the framework of the plenary session on June 13. The program envisages the allocation of EUR 1 billion. According to the information posted on the website of the European Parliament, a voting on a package of further macro-financial assistance for Ukraine is scheduled for Tuesday, June 12, and Wednesday, June 13. MEP Jaroslaw Walesa is to report on it.
As reported, the EU Council approved the allocation of financial assistance to Ukraine in the amount of EUR1 billion, which is expected to be used by the Ukrainian authorities within the next two years. The purpose of allocating funds is “economic stabilization and a program for structural reforms.”
This is the third package of financial assistance to the Ukrainian authorities from the EU since 2014. In 2014, the EU sent aid to Ukraine in the amount of EUR 1.6 billion, and in 2015 – EUR 1.8 billion.
Bosch in Ukraine expects at least 15% growth in sales in 2018 compared with 2017, when the figure stood at EUR 74 million, growing by 5% on 2016, Director General of Robert Bosch Ltd. Vitaliy Bulda has said. “2017 year was the most successful in our history, and taking into account GDP growth in the first quarter by 3.1% and good prospects, we expect the large development of business in 2018,” he said at a press conference.
Bulda said that the company expects that growth would be seen almost in all business directions of the company. Commenting on the further prospects of the company in Ukraine in next five or ten years, Bulda expressed confidence that the company could grow by 15-20% every year.
In 2017, almost all business directions showed growth in Ukraine, and Mobility Solutions had the largest pace of growth, in particular, car parts and equipment sales grew by 18% in euros.
Bosch Car Service network remains the largest independent chain of vehicle servicing stations in Ukraine, and today it has 104 stations: 88 Bosch Car Service stations and 16 Bosch Diesel Service stations.
The Sikorsky Kyiv international airport (Zhuliany) serviced 223,200 passengers in May 2018, which is 2.46 times more than in May 2017, the airport has reported. The number of passengers serviced on international flights totaled 223,200 and on domestic flights – 7,600.
The number of flights in May 2018 totaled 2,920 (arrivals and departures), which is 138% more than a year ago, including 2,494 international flights and 426 domestic flights. The most popular international destinations in May 2018 were Antalya (Turkey), Minsk (Belarus), Ankara (Turkey), Warsaw (Poland), Dubai (the UAE), Rome (Italy) and Budapest (Hungary), and internal – Odesa, Zaporizhia and Lviv.
In January-May 2018, the airport serviced 856,800 passengers, which is 68.9% more than in January-May 2017. The number of passengers serviced on international flights totaled 824,000 and on domestic flights – 32,800.
The number of flights in January-May 2018 totaled 10,522 (arrivals and departures), which is 41.2% more than a year ago, including 8,759 international flights and 1,763 domestic flights.
During the UEFA Champions League finals which Kyiv hosted from May 25 through May 27, the airport serviced 421 flights of business aviation, 148 regular flights and 56 charter flights. A total of 29,000 passengers were serviced in three days.
On May 26, 2018, the airport serviced almost 11,000 passengers first in the whole history of the airport.
The Sikorsky Kyiv international airport (Zhuliany) is located in the business center of the capital, seven km from the city center. It is the second largest airport in Ukraine in terms of the number of flights and passenger traffic. The airport has three terminals with a total area is 21,000 square meters. Terminal B is separate facility for business-class service, it is part of the Fixed Base Operator (FBO) system. The airport’s runway is able to handle B-737 and A-320 aircraft.
