Adoption of the draft law on reforming the system of state governance
The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine adopted a draft law concerning the reform of the state governance system in the field of maritime and inland water transport. This decision was made as part of Ukraine's commitments under the Association Agreement with the European Union. The draft law, titled 'On Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of Ukraine Concerning Commercial Navigation and Shipping on Inland Waterways', envisages substantial changes in this important area.
Main objectives and changes of the draft law
According to the information, the draft law is included in the Ukraine Facility Plan and provides for the implementation of norms from 23 acts of European Union legislation. One of the main objectives of this draft law is to abolish a number of redundant procedures and documents that are not foreseen by international conventions or EU law. This, in turn, is expected to simplify the processes related to shipping.
Among the key changes proposed by the draft law are:
- Updating the Commercial Shipping Code of Ukraine.
- Clear delineation of powers between the Ministry of Development, the Shipping Administration, the head of the sea port, and the captain of the sea port.
- Implementation of a national single maritime window to simplify and optimize administrative procedures.
Olexiy Kuleba, expressing his opinion, noted that 'Ukraine is already today forming a new model of a maritime and shipping state.'
These changes can significantly impact the development of maritime transport in Ukraine and improve the competitiveness of Ukrainian ports on the international stage.
The adoption of this draft law is an important step towards Ukraine's integration into the European economic space, as it meets the commitments made under the Association Agreement with the EU. The reform will help reduce administrative barriers, which, in turn, may stimulate the development of the maritime transport sector, improve ship servicing, and increase the efficiency of port operations, which is critically important for Ukraine's economy. It may also create new opportunities for attracting investments in this sector.