The Parliamentary Committee on Humanitarian and Information Policy supported the draft law, which provides for the creation of the Ministry of Demography and Diaspora of Ukraine. People’s deputy from the “Servant of the People” faction Yevgenia Kravchuk reported this in a comment for “Suspilny”.
According to Kravchuk, the committee adopted the main draft law, but taking into account the proposals of an alternative document. Now the draft law needs to be finalized.
“The committee supported it as the main draft law, but taking into account the proposal of an alternative one. That is, we will finalize it, and in fact this is support for the idea of President Zelenskyi, the creation of a separate ministry that will deal with Ukrainians who are abroad and whom we want to return, that is, it is actually a ministry diaspora”, Kravchuk said.
She also added that the committee is waiting for the government’s response on this issue, as support from the government is essential for successful implementation. Kravchuk emphasized that currently about 6 million Ukrainians are abroad, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) does not have sufficient resources to fully deal with all issues related to them.
The draft law stipulates that within three months after its publication, the government must create the Ministry of Demography and Diaspora of Ukraine, as well as establish the Fund for Restoring the Demographic Potential of Ukraine.
On August 19, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the initiative to create a new state institution during a meeting with Ukrainian ambassadors. The main task of the new ministry will be to maintain relations with millions of Ukrainians living abroad, as well as to protect common national interests. The head of state explained that the creation of the Ministry of Demography and Diaspora is due to the fact that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs cannot effectively work with 7.5 million Ukrainians who are abroad, and the new ministry will specialize in these issues.
