Servant of the People Supports Government Bills for IMF and EU Funding

During a significant meeting held on Wednesday evening, representatives from Ukraine's Cabinet of Ministers convened with lawmakers from the Servant of the People (Sluha Narodu, SN) party to deliberate on essential matters concerning funding from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the European Union (EU). According to information obtained by NV, the SN faction has agreed to support government bills that propose the continuation of a military tax at a rate of 5% for three years following the end of the war, as well as a bill concerning taxation on digital platforms, commonly referred to as the 'OLX law.' These measures are deemed necessary to ensure the continued flow of funding from international financial institutions.

However, despite backing two out of three proposed bills, the document that seeks to abolish VAT exemptions on international parcels valued at up to 150 euros has yet to receive approval from SN lawmakers. This issue remains open for further discussions.

A source within the presidential faction revealed that the meeting, which included Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko, Finance Minister Serhiy Marchenko, and Deputy Prime Minister Taras Kachka, was constructive. 'The military tax and digital platforms—yes, the SN faction will support these; the issue of parcels is still under discussion,' the source noted, emphasizing the importance of backing government initiatives.

Another participant in the meeting confirmed that the outcomes of the discussions would become apparent today and tomorrow, as the parliament is set to review key laws related to obtaining funding under the Ukraine Facility Plan (UFP) from the EU and the IMF. 'The meeting was constructive; we will see the results on the scoreboard,' he stated.

At the same time, another source from the SN faction pointed out that Prime Minister Svyrydenko remained silent throughout the entire session. 'David [Arahamia, head of the SN faction in the Verkhovna Rada] was putting in all his efforts to persuade the faction,' he explained, highlighting the efforts made to reach an agreement.

NV's editorial team reached out to the Prime Minister's press service for comments on the outcomes of the meeting with the SN faction; however, no response was received from the government at the time of publication. The day before, Arahamia announced a joint meeting of the SN and top government officials, which will focus on the upcoming week of voting on bills aimed at fulfilling international obligations, particularly concerning the IMF, Ukraine Facility, World Bank, and others.

Previously, Andriy Motovylovets, deputy head of the SN faction, noted that lawmakers would concentrate on reviewing three tax bills submitted by the Cabinet of Ministers. Specifically, these bills include: taxation on digital platforms (No. 15111, the so-called OLX law), the extension of the military tax at 5% for three years after the war (No. 15110), and the cancellation of VAT exemptions on imported parcels valued at up to 150 euros (No. 15112).

Thus, the support of the SN faction for government initiatives represents a vital step toward ensuring the stability of funding for Ukraine amid the challenging economic situation resulting from the war. The outcomes of the voting will not only determine financial support from international partners but also influence the future development of the country's economy.