This week the Parliament should consider draft law 9260 on changes to the Tax Code, which will allow the Government to submit the country's budget for 2019 for the second reading. We must be conscious: the timely adopted budget is the continuation of the initiated reforms, further social support of citizens, timely financing of state development programs and support of communities. The Vice Prime Minister/ Minister for Regional Development, Construction, Housing and Communal Services of Ukraine Hennadii Zubko said during a conciliation council meeting at the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.

On behalf of the Government, the Vice Prime Minister thanked the people's deputies for their cooperation and for those crucial laws that had already been voted in favor of the 2019 budget package initiatives in the 1st reading.

"Timely approval of the budget means the timely transfer of pensions. From January 1, the Pension Fund will have to carry out another recalculation of military pensions, and from March 1 - the automatic recalculation of pensions to all 12 million retirees. It also concerns the further increase of wages for teachers from January 1 next year. While the military on the frontlines from January 1 should receive at least UAH 10 thousand", urged Hennadii Zubko.

The official stressed that today the support of the Parliament for core reforms, such as decentralization, energy efficiency, deregulation backed by Ukrainians, President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko, Government and international partners is vital.

"Just the aforesaid reforms yield the result nowadays. Decentralization is highly appreciated by people and our international partners. The success of this reform was commended by Federal Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel during her recent visit. An energy efficiency reform is the only way towards energy independence of the country and a significant assistance for Ukrainian families. We can not reduce the price of gas, but pursuing this reform, we can reduce utility bills for people several-fold. Deregulation in construction demonstrates success. Due to the legislative changes, Ukraine improved its performance by 105 positions in the World Bank Doing Business rating by the indicator Dealing with Construction Permits last year and ranked 35th, while this year it joined the TOP-30. Therefore, we have no right to slack as it influences the future of our country", noted Hennadii Zubko.

The key bills that are considered of topmost priority to be adopted, according to the Vice Prime Minister, include:

• in decentralization No. 8051 "On the Principles of the Administrative and Territorial Straucture of Ukraine" and No. 8836 "On Service in Local Self-Government Bodies";
• in housing and communal services and energy efficiency No. 7083 "On the Settlement of debts of district heating providers and centralized water suppliers for consumed energy and No. 4564 designed to ensure the legality and transparency in the issues of confirmation of belonging fuels to alternatives;
• in the construction sector No. 7266-1 Amendments to the Law "On the Regulation of Urban Development" regarding the transfer, termination or temporary suspension of the powers of state architectural and construction control bodies.