site.btaParliament Adopts Bill to Ratify Agreement on Bulgaria's Participation in OECD’s Programme for Ukraine

The National Assembly adopted on first reading Friday a draft law on the ratification of the Agreement on Bulgaria's Participation in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) programme for Ukraine with a voluntary financial contribution of EUR 60,000. The draft law was approved with 121 votes in favour, 42 against, and four abstentions.

The report of the Foreign Affairs Committee states that the OECD programme for Ukraine aims to support the country's reform efforts on its path towards EU and OECD membership. It states that the activities and measures set out in the programme total EUR 16.5 million over the four-year period. It is to be financed entirely by voluntary contributions from OECD member countries, candidate countries and partners willing to support it.

The report of the Foreign Affairs Committee points out that Bulgaria is consistent in its support for the sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognised borders, as well as for its European perspective. Bulgaria's inclusion in the OECD programme for Ukraine by providing a voluntary financial contribution will be a further confirmation of this country's firm commitment to supporting Ukraine's reconstruction and economic development, the text says. 

Vazrazhdane leader Kostadin Kostadinov said that his parliamentary group will not support this proposal to help "poor" Ukraine. He insisted that they will have proposals between the two readings of the bill, adding that the amount is not so big and CC-DB, GERB-UDF and MRF should pay it out of their own pockets.

The MPs voted that the time limit for motions between the two readings should be three days.