On Wednesday, May 13, a number of strategic programs and operational measures aimed at supporting certain categories of the population and business were presented and approved at a session of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine.

In particular, the Minister of Economic Development, Trade and Agriculture Ihor Petrashko gave a presentation of the 500,000 Workplaces Program.

Among the key industries are road construction and transport infrastructure. It is planned to attract 154,000 employees here, in the field of urban development – 150,000, and in agriculture – 85,000. The Government proposes to attract people through state utility providers, state subventions, direct monetary support for business.

According to Ihor Petrashko, there are already available sources of funding for creating 216,000 jobs. "Today, given 490,000 officially registered unemployed, we can say that the statistics towards reducing their number will demonstrate the effectiveness of this Government’s plan or, if it proves its ineffectiveness - we will also see it in the performance and will be able to respond quickly," said Denys Shmyhal. The PM gave a commission to establish an interdepartmental working group headed by the Minister of Economic Development, Trade and Agriculture with the involvement of all line ministries and relevant associations.

Acting Minister of Energy and Environmental Protection Olha Buslavets presented the plan of Crisis Response Measures in Energy. The official noted that the current Ukrainian energy system is unbalanced.

"The first step that has been taken is a real energy balance. This allows for stable operation for all types of generation. The current targets on the agenda are to ensure selling coal and return 25,000 miners to work this month. The second is to ensure a stable price for electricity for energy-intensive consumers," said Olha Buslavets.

The plan of the Government's Anti-Crisis Energy Headquarters under the Cabinet of Ministers should also solve the problem of accumulating debts to Energoatom, which were formed in previous years.

In turn, Denys Shmyhal thanked the deputies for supporting this plan and reiterated that the price of electricity for the population this year remains unchanged – UAH 1.68 per kilowatt.

Minister of Finance Serhii Marchenko presented a comprehensive action plan for reforming and developing of the customs authorities, which consists of three key directions.

The first is functional. It is aimed to ensure state control at all stages of customs operations and reduces corruption risks. The main markers are reducing the human factor and digitalization.

"The second direction is motivational. We should ensur the customs is no longer associated among people and businesses with the corruption monster. Staff will be updated by 30-40%. A procedure for assessing the integrity of customs officers will be conducted. At that, we will clearly define all issues related to salaries and bonuses. And here everything will be transparent. The third direction is service. Maximum transparency and clarity of rules in line the best practices of Western countries. The deadline for the implementation of all measures is September 2020," said the Minister of Finance.

The Prime Minister expressed hope that there would be an institutional continuation of the reform of the customs service, having been launched earlier.

"It is rather critical to complete it fast, preferably this year. We do not want to turn the reform and efficiency improving into a neverending multiyear process. We are interested in a quality result: quality service, quality performance of the service," Denys Shmyhal stressed, adding that this issue had been raised during the talks with the ambassadors of neighboring countries and those donors who help implement structural reforms, including in the customs service.