What Happened
The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine has registered an alternative draft law No. 13653-1 on the accelerated consideration of European integration bills. The initiative was submitted by a group of deputies, including Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze, Yaroslav Yurchyshyn, Solomiya Bobrovska, Roman Lozynskyi, and others.
This proposal complements the earlier draft law No. 13653, registered by Speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk and a group of MPs, which also aims to simplify the procedure for adopting legislation needed for Ukraine’s EU accession.
What the Bill Proposes
Under the alternative draft, European integration bills could be considered in one (first) reading only, provided several conditions are met:
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✅ Positive recommendation from the main parliamentary committee;
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✅ Expert opinion without comments from the committee responsible for compliance with EU law and Ukraine’s international obligations;
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✅ Positive opinion from the Cabinet of Ministers;
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✅ No objections from people’s deputies of Ukraine.
If these conditions are met, the Verkhovna Rada may adopt the law in one reading as a whole.
Key Procedural Details
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Timeline for amendments: MPs and committees will have 7 working days to submit proposals or amendments after the main committee publishes its opinion. Each amendment must be justified and reference specific provisions of EU acquis it implements.
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Extraordinary sessions: The bill allows inclusion of European integration laws in the agenda of an extraordinary Rada session without a separate vote.
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Fallback mechanism: If objections arise or the main committee recommends otherwise, the bill will be considered under the traditional two-reading procedure.
Why This Matters
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Faster EU integration: The law would streamline Ukraine’s legislative alignment with EU acquis, reducing time for the adoption of crucial reforms.
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Predictability for investors: By accelerating EU-related legislation, Ukraine demonstrates commitment to a transparent and stable legal environment — an important signal for foreign businesses and financial partners.
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Political consensus: The fact that both ruling and opposition MPs are advancing similar bills shows broad parliamentary support for the European course.
✅ Key takeaway: If adopted, the accelerated procedure will significantly speed up the adoption of EU-related reforms in Ukraine, ensuring that alignment with EU law does not get stuck in lengthy parliamentary debates. For investors and international partners, this signals faster regulatory harmonization with the European market.
