The meeting participants discussed various aspects of collaboration between the Government and the Federation Council during the law-making process.
Mikhail Mishustin’s opening remarks
Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matvienko’s remarks
Question by Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Social Policy Yelena Perminova
Question by Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Foreign Affairs Grigory Karasin
Excerpts from the transcript:
Mikhail Mishustin and Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matvienko
Mikhail Mishustin meets with Chamber Council members of the Federal Assembly of the Federation Council
Mikhail Mishustin meets with Chamber Council members of the Federal Assembly of the Federation Council
Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matvienko
Mikhail Mishustin and Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matvienko
Mikhail Mishustin: Ms Matviyenko, colleagues,
Welcome to the Government House. First of all, I would like to congratulate, from the bottom of my heart, you and all members of parliament in your person on the International Day of Parliamentarism which is celebrated today.
In this connection, I find it important to note that the Federation Council is doing a lot to strengthen cooperation with legislators from other countries. It worthily upholds Russia’s interests, including within the framework of the Interparliamentary Assembly of CIS Member States, headed by Valentina Matviyenko. This includes efforts to monitor elections at various levels and to draft decisions on the development of the legal space.
I would like to specially thank you for actively promoting our regions abroad. With the assistance of senators, Russian territories are now actively involved in business and cultural forums, which is needed to launch dialogue with partners in friendly states.
I would like to discuss the results of our joint work.
We have established positive practical collaboration, with ministers taking part in meetings of the Federation Council during government hours, and senators regularly taking part in strategic sessions and working groups together with members of the Government. We also interact, while drafting bylaws. All this helps jointly accomplish objectives set by the President.
A year ago, a regular meeting
of representatives of the upper house’s Council and Government members was held.
Acting in line with a long-established good tradition, they voiced
well-prepared proposals. Over 20 instructions were issued following our
meeting, and almost all of them have been fulfilled. Most regulatory documents
have already been approved, and we monitor the implementation of these
decisions whenever necessary.
At the last meeting, we talked about updating Russia’s Spatial Development Strategy. This work was completed in December. The president emphasised its importance in unlocking the potential of all Russian regions, which is important for harmonious development of the country, as well as justice and equal opportunities for its citizens. This approach will be reflected in the measures to implement the strategy, with the drafting nearing completion.
We also had an in-depth discussion about staffing in healthcare and education; a number of specific decisions have already been taken to improve both areas.
First and foremost, I am talking about the Concept for the Development of Mentorship until 2030, which aims to raise the prestige of the teaching profession. The Government supported this initiative from the senators, which was developed under your leadership, Ms Matvienko.
As for doctors, in line with the president’s instruction we have revised the conditions of the Zemstvo Doctor and Zemstvo Paramedic programmes. Now, doctors and mid-level healthcare professionals are allowed to change their workplace within the same region. And payments have been doubled: up to 2 million roubles for doctors and up to 1 million for paramedics, obstetricians, and nurses. We expect this measure to help bring more specialists into healthcare institutions, particularly in rural areas.
We should also note the steps taken to reduce the bureaucratic burden on teachers at educational institutions. Senators and deputies worked together to prepare the relevant legislation, which is just one example of how effectively both chambers of the Federal Assembly are cooperating.
It is important that the Federation Council is also paying special attention to the quality of educational materials. The initiative to involve the Russian Academy of Sciences in textbook evaluation has already been passed into federal law. It will allow us to incorporate the most current achievements in science and technology into education.
We expect senators to continue to work productively with the Government, addressing issues that truly matter to people.
A significant package of proposals is related to raising the level of social protection for our citizens, especially those in need, including expectant mothers. Under your leadership, Ms Matvienko, senators presented amendments to the Government’s draft legislation. The issue was to increase maternity benefits for women who lost their jobs. The law is already in effect.
We have also seen new labour code provisions go into force, thanks to the work of both the State Duma and the Federation Council. These include permanent mechanisms to combat violations of labour rights, including late payment of wages.
Together with the deputies, you have also improved access to medication in rural areas. Now, even if there is no pharmacy nearby, people can get the medicine they need at the closest medical facility.
All of these regulations were adopted last year, but targeted social support remains a top priority for senators this year as well.
The recent proposals include free legal assistance of all types for parents
of large families. This is a popular, in-demand initiative that was implemented
by deputies and senators, in coordination with the Government.
An important issue of making laws jointly with the Federation Council is the preparation of additional support measures for the participants in the special military operation (SMO) and their families. As part of the process, another important legal norm has emerged.
Parents and spouses, who take care of SMO veterans, from now on cannot be refused an unpaid leave. We certainly have to give our loved ones the opportunity to take care of our defenders.
Also, the State Duma is currently considering a draft law that exempts SMO participants and their families from paying state fees in court when additional costs for required procedures have to be incurred to establish legally relevant facts.
The Government supports this proposal from the deputies and senators. We will also continue to help our men and their families.
The Federation Council focuses on the tasks of our country’s development, the implementation of national projects, the formation of the federal budget, and the fulfillment of presidential instructions. Representatives of your chamber of the Federal Assembly often initiate new bills to achieve these goals. I will name some of them.
It was done, for example, as part of the improvement of control and supervisory activities, when the senators’ proposals were supported by the Government.
Special conditions have been created for strategic, socially and economically important organizations. Now they will be able to enter into agreements with supervisors to eliminate violations detected during inspections. This opportunity was provided for core enterprises, housing and utilities services, and government agencies, as well as for the production of medicines.
This procedure is applicable to eight types of control, including energy, environmental safety, industrial safety, and others. Exceptions to this procedure are available for eight types of control except when our citizens’ lives and health are in jeopardy.
The relevant legislative amendments came into force this year. We hope that they will allow the inspected organisations to avoid both production shutdowns and staff layoffs.
I would also like to thank you, Ms Matvienko, for your recommendations on the preservation of cultural heritage sites. We supported an initiative prepared by you and your fellow senators to create a single registry for monitoring such buildings, which will contain information about those that need to be restored to make them accessible to people again and include them in economic turnover. According to preliminary estimates, the efforts may involve more than a thousand cultural heritage sites whose preservation is essential for us and for future generations in Russia.
The Government also supports proposals that contribute to the preservation of our scientific achievements. The senators demonstrated this approach during the preparation of the law on biological collections and bioresource centres, which is necessary for further research as well as for the country’s overall food security.
Together with the [State Duma] deputies, members of the Federation Council have contributed to establishing basic regulations for creative industries, thus ensuring the creation of new jobs and industries for representatives of creative professions. Another example of our successful cooperation is that we discussed the relevance of such legal solutions during the strategic session last week.
Colleagues,
Each legislative norm is checked by its application, practice, and reality. You are facing a very difficult yet highly necessary task, which is to exercise parliamentary control over new norms and how existing legal instruments are evolving.
The President emphasised the need to connect all forms and mechanisms of feedback with people in order to objectively assess the progress of transformations and see how their outcome meets the expectations of society and the obligations of the state.
I am sure that this is how you, as representatives of the constituent entities of Russia, will continue to act.
I would also like to thank you for your extensive work last year, and ask Ms Matvienko to take the floor.
