Rada creates working group to align civil weapons bills with EU standards - what is expected
Kyiv • UNN
The Verkhovna Rada Committee has established a group to adapt draft laws on civilian weapons to EU norms. Representatives of European institutions and law enforcement agencies will be involved in the work.
The Verkhovna Rada Committee on Law Enforcement has decided to establish a working group to harmonize draft laws No. 5708 and No. 5709 on civilian firearms with European legislation. It is planned to involve representatives of European institutions, law enforcement agencies, and People's Deputies in its composition. However, there is currently no talk of "rewriting" the draft laws following the terrorist attack in Kyiv on April 18. Oleksandr Danutsa, a People's Deputy and member of the law enforcement committee who headed the relevant group, told UNN about this in a comment.
Details
Today, April 27, a meeting of the law enforcement committee took place, where, in addition to rejecting the resolution on the dismissal of Ihor Klymenko from the post of Minister of Internal Affairs, a number of issues were considered, in particular regarding the terrorist attack of April 18, as well as draft laws No. 5708 and 5709.
The committee members decided to create a working group on the harmonization of the draft laws of Ukraine "On the Right to Civilian Firearms" (reg. No. 5708) and "On Amendments to the Code of Ukraine on Administrative Offenses and the Criminal Code of Ukraine for the Implementation of the Provisions of the Law of Ukraine 'On the Right to Civilian Firearms'" (reg. No. 5709) with the provisions of Directive (EU) 2021/555 of the European Parliament and of the Council of March 24, 2021, on control of the acquisition and possession of weapons and European Union law (EU acquis), which will be headed by the chairman of the subcommittee on the organization of public safety and order, Oleksandr Danutsa
For reference. EU Directive 2021/555 establishes the framework for the circulation of civilian weapons: categories A, B, C, D; storage requirements; marking and control over cross-border movement. This is a pan-European level of regulation. However, specific rules—who can carry weapons and how—remain within the competence of national governments. Consequently, European countries have different regulatory models.
As the head of the working group Oleksandr Danutsa told UNN in a comment: "We have the Committee's version (of the draft law) prepared and voted on by it for the second reading.".
Comments from the Main Legal Department of the Verkhovna Rada have been provided for this version, which are valid and will be taken into account in accordance with Part 6 of Article 118 of the Rules of Procedure of the Verkhovna Rada. Separately, there is the case of harmonization with EU legislation. The newly created working group will deal with the latter. The personal composition of the working group is minimal and involves only representatives of European institutions, government specialists responsible for harmonizing Ukrainian legislation with EU law, and those who will directly monitor the implementation of legislative norms (Ministry of Internal Affairs, National Police, Prosecutor General's Office, Supreme Court). And, of course, People's Deputies of Ukraine if they wish
When asked whether there are plans to rewrite the specified draft laws from scratch, the People's Deputy replied: "There is a corresponding procedure for rewriting a draft law; for now, it is not being discussed."
As for bringing it to the floor quickly, that is a procedural decision. Theoretically, it could be brought to the floor even tomorrow if there is a corresponding decision by the Conciliation Council
Kyiv shooter had legally registered weapon - Klymenko18.04.26, 19:23 • 13043 views
To a clarifying question about whether an "updated" comparative table for the second reading of the specified draft laws will be provided after the group's meetings/decisions, the representative of the people replied: "It will definitely be provided to the committee. Then it's the committee's decision.".
Earlier, People's Deputy and member of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Law Enforcement Yulia Yatsyk noted in a comment to UNN: "Perhaps, after recent events, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Prosecutor General's Office, or other interested bodies will propose their own points for introducing amendments as if from the committee.".
I don't think the adoption of this law will be fast. Rather, it looks like a lightning rod for the shameful situation in which the police found themselves
It should be noted that back in 2021, a group of People's Deputies led by former Interior Minister Denys Monastyrskyi, who at that time headed the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Law Enforcement, registered two draft laws: No. 5708 "On the Right to Civilian Firearms" and No. 5709 "On Amendments to the Code of Ukraine on Administrative Offenses and the Criminal Code of Ukraine for the Implementation of the Provisions of the Law of Ukraine 'On the Right to Civilian Firearms'".
Both documents were adopted in the first reading just before the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation in 2022, and since then, the documents have been "stuck" in parliament.
UNN has analyzed the specified draft laws in detail and what they entail.