Greetings, distinguished colleagues and fellow Ukrainians.

At the session of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine today we are presenting the Government's Priority Action Plan for 2023.

This document will help to streamline the activities of the Cabinet of Ministers and central executive authorities this year.

This also places more responsibility on all of us, because each item is assigned to specific executives and specific timelines.

The Government's Action Plan contains more than 500 objectives. These are draft laws, resolutions, programs, and projects.

These are positive transformations for both citizens and businesses. These are new reforms. This is the transformation of Ukraine. We have to do it right now not waiting for the end of this war.

This is all for our victory. For recovery. For a strong and renewed Ukraine.

The first key point is security and defense.

All the taxes paid by citizens and businesses will be directed to defence and security, will be allotted for new weapons, equipment and better provision for the Ukrainian army

Among the core objectives in this direction are envisaged the following:

- Development of the defence industry. New ammunition production facilities, new missile programmes, supplying the army with drones, including those manufactured by Ukrainian companies.

- Cooperation with partners for the joint production of new weapons.

- Involvement of the private sector in the development of the defence industry. Public-private partnerships. Dual-use technologies.

- Mine clearance of the de-occupied territories.

- Implementation of the Peace Formula of President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

The second point is further Integration into the EU and NATO.

Ukraine is implementing 7 recommendations of the European Commission. Now, in particular:

We are launching self-screening of legislation for compliance with European laws

We set the goal to launch membership negotiations this year.

We are planning to update the Action Plan for the implementation of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement.

We will prolong activities to further integrate into the EU's internal market. We plan to extend transport and economic visa-free regimes. We want to get a roaming visa-free regime and start the process of joining the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA).

We are establishing the Horizon Europe Programme Office in Ukraine. We will develop the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) within Ukraine. We are building joint border crossing points and integrating our customs.

As for NATO, the main point is the further implementation of NATO standards. The Programme of Work on Military Standardisation for 2024-2026 is being developed. Deepening political cooperation between Ukraine and NATO for Ukraine's victory and providing security is underway.

The third priority is energy security and the energy front.

We are successfully completing this most challenging heating season in our history. Despite all the russian terror, we have withstood it. We have done what many thought was impossible.

The current key objective is to trigger restoring the energy sector in line with new standards. We shall build new facilities and strengthen the protection of existing ones.

Preparations for the 2023-2024 heating season are starting in the same way right now.

We will work to increase the capacity for import and export of electricity with the EU countries.

We will implement the principles of the European Green Deal in Ukraine. Peculiar attention will be paid to the development of green energy. We plan to approve a long-term strategy for the development of hydrogen energy.

The fourth point of the Action Plan is the restoration of Ukraine.

Our central message is as follows… Reconstruction starts now. We are not waiting for the war to end.

This year's recovery will have four main areas: energy, housing, demining, and critical infrastructure.

We plan to intensify the Financial Ramstein format to identify sources of funding for reconstruction projects. According to preliminary estimates, we need USD 17 billion for this year alone.

We engage in conducting the second stage of damage assessment and recovery needs. This is a joint work of the Government of Ukraine, the World Bank, the EU and the UN.

The Government will also introduce a unified digital analytical and information system for managing the process of infrastructure reconstruction. The efficiency and transparency of the reconstruction process are the two main principles to follow.

Right now we are finalizing the State Register of Damaged and Destroyed Property. At the same time, we are launching a compensation program for damaged and destroyed housing.

The restoration of critical infrastructure will also include its modernisation.

The expansion of the capacity of railway checkpoints, the expansion of transshipment of Danube ports, and the increase of number of road checkpoints – all these are on the agenda of the Government.

The fifth priority for this year is macrofinancial stability and business support.

In 2022, we found the right balance between financing the record budget deficit and helping businesses to survive. This work continues this year.

We must ensure the financing of all critical expenditures. We are working with our partners, we are working on a new programme with the IMF.

We are planning large-scale deregulation for business. We will continue to eliminate unnecessary permits and licences.

All major support programmes for small and medium-sized businesses remain in place and are even being expanded. Those include loans within the 5-7-9 program framework, non-refundable grants under the eRobota, portfolio guarantees.

Just like last year, we will help farmers with sowing, harvesting and storage activities.

We will be introducing OECD standards. We are continuing our policy of reducing the role of the state in the economy. This means not only carrying on with small-scale privatisation but also resuming large-scale privatisation to provide incentives for economic recovery.

The sixth point is the social policy. The support for citizens in difficult life circumstances.

We propose a new social contract between the state and the citizen. We will improve the targeting of payments and increase them for those who really need them.

We are introducing the principle of guaranteed basic social assistance, which will depend on the level of income and will be aimed at supporting the most vulnerable segments of the population.

Due to further digitalisation social services will become more accessible and convenient.

We prolong the programs of assistance to internally displaced persons - it applies to benefits, housing and employment.

Targeting of payments will be improved through better quality registers.

Barrier-free environment. Means for rehabilitation. Support for people with disabilities. All this is what we place emphasis on.

Among other priorities are as follows:

Veteran policy. This refers to the formation of an effective system of transition from military service to civilian life. A three-level system of psychological assistance. Convenient services within the eVeteran project. New principles for the work of military medical commissions.

Quality education, support of science and innovation. We are working to provide educational institutions with quality shelters. We continue the reform of the New Ukrainian School. We expand the areas of grant support from the National Research Foundation.

Further decentralization and regional development. The Government will pursue the decentralization reform and expand assistance to communities. A plan for regional recovery and development as well as a new regional development strategy until 2027 will be approved.

Effective public administration. This means digitalization, effective management of state property, and de-bureaucratization. We will continue to introduce new digital services for citizens and businesses. Digitalization in subsoil use, waste management, forestry.

Sanctions policy and rule of law. russia must pay for all its crimes against our country. We will work on establishing an international tribunal. He noted that Ukraine was preparing an international treaty for the confiscation of russian assets in the West and was working to improve the effectiveness of the sanctions policy.

Healthy nation. Medical reform will continue. The Affordable Medicines program will extend. We are also introducing new approaches to the work of medical and social expertise

Environmental protection. The basic principles of climate policy will be defined. The environmental initiative "Large-Scale Reforestation of Ukraine". Relations in the field of waste management will be regulated, and other environmental protection measures will be implemented.

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We set ourselves ambitious and challenging tasks in all areas. Each minister will be personally responsible for the implementation of projects and reforms envisaged for his or her department.

We are working for victory, for recovery, for a strong, peaceful, European state - Ukraine.

Thank you for your attention! Glory to Ukraine!