The agreement with the United States on subsoil does not need to be considered in an all-Ukrainian referendum: Stefanishyna
Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine — Minister of Justice Olga Stefanishyna stated, that the agreement with the USA does not provide for the transfer of rights to use the subsoil or any property rights, and therefore does not require approval in an all-Ukrainian referendum.
“If we were talking specifically about the use of the subsoil of Ukraine or the right to the Ukrainian subsoil, then, of course, this is a question not only of ratification, but also, indeed, of a referendum. After all, we all know the well-written truth from the Constitution of Ukraine that the subsoil belongs to the people of Ukraine. The agreement does not provide for the transfer of rights to use the subsoil or any ownership rights. It is about the distribution of revenues to the state budget, part of which is generated by the Fund.” Stefanishyna said.
She emphasized that after signing this agreement, no legal consequences arise, and Ukraine receives no obligations regarding the actual transfer or transfer of funds.
“Such obligations will arise only after concluding an agreement on the creation of the Fund and, accordingly, carrying out all the necessary procedures so that after its entry into force, the work of the institution itself will begin”, — added the Deputy Prime Minister.
Stefanyshyn rejected the suggestion that this agreement is a concession of Ukraine’s sovereignty.
“We are guided by the fact that power belongs to the people and all the bowels of Ukraine also belong to the people of Ukraine. But budget policy is a policy that is formed and implemented by the government. And in this case, the framework agreement provides for the intention to reflect a certain order of distribution of revenues to the state budget in the future agreement.
The only thing that concerns the subsoil of Ukraine is that the revenues to the state budget from the use of the subsoil will be directed to the Fund and reinvested in the same areas from which the funds are generated.” – she emphasized.
