At an extraordinary meeting on November 26, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine approved two draft laws: "On the State Budget of Ukraine for 2021" (prepared for the second reading) and "On the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine".

Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal noted that in order to approve the draft State Budget to the second reading, the Government had carried out a lot of joint work and consultations with MPs and experts.

"Most of the submitted proposals were taken into account, based on the priority of expenditures, the available capacity of the resource part of the budget and the state of the national economy. A key aspect is that the budget remains balanced and realistic to implement. Next year, we expect economic growth, which will allow us to continue to increase spending on medicine, education, defense and other sectors," said the Prime Minister.

According to the Prime Minister, the revenues of the draft State Budget for 2021 are projected at UAH 1 trillion 92 billion, and expenditures - at UAH 1 trillion 328 billion.

"It is possible to reduce the state budget deficit relative to GDP from 6% to 5.5%. In this year's budget, the deficit was set at 7.5%," said Denys Shmyhal.

The Head of Government stressed that a balanced budget for 2021 is proposed, not providing for an increase in taxes for business and at the same time improving funding for the social sphere, medicine, and providing support to entrepreneurs affected by the pandemic.

"This budget remains a budget of opportunities for the development of both industry and small and medium-sized businesses," said Denys Shmyhal.

In the draft law "On the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine", according to the Prime Minister, the Government proposes to establish the powers of the Verkhovna Rada to decide on the dismissal of the Director of the National Bureau on the grounds clearly stated in law.

"At that, an important provision of the proposed bill is the position that the current head of NACB continues to exercise his powers until a new head is appointed," the Head of Government stressed.

The Prime Minister added that in this way the Government strengthens the "anti-corruption architecture" and remains true to anti-corruption policy.