The adoption by October of this year of amendments to the Customs Code regarding the reform of the State Customs Service and amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC) regarding the rights of the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAP) on extradition and the revision of the “Lozovoy amendments” became two new structural beacons in the updated EFF International Extended Funding Program monetary fund (IMF).
According to the document published on the website of the Foundation on Saturday night, based on the results of the fourth review of the EFF program, the deadlines for the implementation of three more lighthouses were also postponed: the audit of finances and debts of the thermal utility energy company – from the end of June to the end of October, the assessment of the effect of current tax benefits – from the end of July to the end of September 2024 and the creation instead of OASK of the new administrative court for consideration of disputes with such state bodies as the NBU, NABU or NAZK – from the end of July to the end of December. It is noted that the new court will also consider administrative cases related to the procedures of selection commissions with independent experts.
With regard to the upcoming fifth revision, scheduled for the end of September, the beacon of adoption of the law on the restart of the BEB by the end of June has already been fulfilled.
Until the sixth review at the end of the year, the updated program also includes beacons for identifying state-owned companies most affected by the war, with an assessment of fiscal risks, completion of an external audit of NABU efficiency with the participation of independent experts (by the end of September), a diagnostic review of the pre-war practice of medium-term budget preparation, and the development of a state property policy , dividend policy and privatization strategy (until the end of October).
By the end of December 2024, the principles for the rehabilitation of banks must also be prepared, a Cabinet resolution with an action plan and deadlines for establishing a clear link between medium-term budget planning and capital expenditures, with the Ministry of Finance being given supervisory powers, and the introduction of a supervisory risk assessment methodology to inform on the priorities of supervisory activities must be adopted .
As reported, the draft law on amendments to the Customs Code regarding the establishment of specifics of service in customs authorities and the attestation of officials of customs authorities (#6490d) was adopted as a basis. In the updated program, there is a need to subordinate the State Customs Service to the Ministry of Finance, select management with the participation of international experts, re-certification and the creation of a disciplinary committee.
