PRESS RELEASE*
The following issues are scheduled for discussion at the March 24, 2011 meeting of the Government of the Russian Federation:
1. Results of the fulfilment of the action plan to improve state administration in 2009-2010
The report on the results of the fulfilment of the action plan to improve state administration has been submitted by the Ministry of Economic Development.
The action plan to improve state administration in 2009-2010 was approved under Government Executive Order No. 1862-r of Dec. 5, 2009 and envisages a complex of systemic and sectoral measures. The plan of measures identifies the following areas in which state administration must be improved:
1) improving control and supervisory and permissive functions with the primary aim of scaling down state regulation, eliminating administrative barriers, eliminating overlap in scopes of authority, introducing accreditation and self-regulation in certain spheres of activity and reducing the number of types of activities subject to licencing;
2) improving the delivery of state services, optimisation of paid-for services, completing the list of state services, making a transition to the “one-stop” form of rendering state services (including the use of multifunctional centres) and utilising e-forms on the state services portal, completing the consolidated register of state services;
3) ensuring public access to information on the activities of federal bodies and local government bodies as part of implementing Federal Law No. 8-FZ of Feb. 9, 2009 On Ensuring Access to Information on the Activities of Government Bodies;
4) improving the state civil service system and counteracting corruption. This area includes the optimisation of the size of the staff at state bodies and the reduction of budgetary spending on their upkeep, the implementation of departmental plans for counteracting corruption and monitoring the effectiveness of these plans, the improvement of state procurement procedures and the sale of property by implementing measures to introduce electronic online trading.
The improvement of state administration is necessary for successful competition on world markets, for the creation of an investment climate attracting Russian and foreign investments, to substantially increase foreign direct investments, to form favourable conditions for small and medium businesses and to accelerate overall economic growth and economic modernisation.
2. Introducing amendments to some acts of the Government of the Russian Federation concerning the inclusion of power network facilities in the integrated national (all-Russia) power grid and the maintenance of the register of such facilities
The draft resolution of the Government of the Russian Federation has been submitted by the Ministry of Energy.
The draft is aimed at improving the decision-making procedure in referring power network facilities to the integrated national (all-Russia) power grid and the procedure of maintaining a register of such facilities.
The draft specifies the procedures for providing information and documents required for making a decision on including power network facilities in the integrated national (all-Russia) power grid.
In addition, the draft aims to create conditions for the prompt introduction of the register of power network facilities, which are part of the integrated national (all-Russia) power grid.
3. Draft federal law On Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation Concerning Mandatory State Dactyloscopic Registration
The draft federal law has been submitted by the Interior Ministry.
The primary purpose of the draft law is to expand the category of persons subject to mandatory state dactyloscopic registration and to bring certain legislative acts in line with current regulatory legal acts concerning state dactyloscopic registration in the Russian Federation.
The draft law would introduce an amendment to the Federal Law On Weapons (Article 1) that envisages mandatory state dactyloscopic registration of employees at legal entities who perform special statutory duties involving the registration, possession, carrying and use of arms.
Section A of Part 1, Article 2 of the draft law introduces amendments to the language of Section G, Part 1, Article 9 of the Federal Law On State Dactyloscopic Registration in the Russian Federation aimed at eliminating ambiguities in the interpretation of the conditions that make dactyloscopic registration mandatory. That will rule out variant interpretations of the provision that makes mandatory dactyloscopic registration for citizens of the Russian Federation, foreign nationals and stateless persons suspected of committing a crime, accused of committing a crime or convicted of committing a crime, as well as persons under administrative arrest.
Section B of Part 1, Article 2 of the draft law expands the list of persons subject to mandatory state dactyloscopic registration to include citizens who stand in for employees of internal security organisations and legal entities who under the charter perform duties involving the use of arms.
As regards expanding the category of persons, the draft law establishes that members of internal security and legal entities who have under the charter tasks connected with the registration, possession, carrying and use of arms should be subject to mandatory state dactyloscopic registration.
The draft law proposes that the fingerprints of the said categories be taken by internal affairs bodies and determines the length of the period when dactyloscopic information obtained by internal affairs agencies is to be stored.
In addition, Article 3 of the draft law would introduce an amendment to the Federal Law On Internal Security whereby the members of internal security organisations that are not legal entities and perform duties involving the registration, possession, carrying and use of weapons are subject to dactyloscopy.
4. Draft federal law On Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation that Establish Liability for Violating the Rules of the Use of Airspace
The draft federal law has been submitted by the Transport Ministry.
The draft law introduces more severe punishment for the violation of the rules of the use of Russia’s airspace.
Compared with the previous version, the new federal rules on the use of airspace approved by Government Resolution No. 138 of March 11, 2010 introduce changes in the air legislation of the Russian Federation by establishing both permission-based and notification-based use of the airspace of the Russian Federation.
Presently, liability for violating the rules of air transport safety and operations is established under Article 263 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, and for the violation of the rules of the use of airspace under Article 11.4 of the Code of the Russian Federation on Administrative Offences.
The draft law would introduce in the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation a new article, Article 271,1 that determines liability for actions involving the violation of the rules of the use of the airspace that have caused severe damage to health or the death of a person (five years’ imprisonment), or the death of two or more persons (seven years’ imprisonment).
Amendments are also to be introduced in the Criminal Procedural Code of the Russian Federation and the Code of the Russian Federation on Administrative Offences.
5. Draft federal law On an Amendment to Part 1, Article 11 of the Federal Law On Transport Security
6. Draft federal law On Introducing Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation as Part of Improving the Legal Position of Autonomous Institutions
The draft federal law has been submitted by the Finance Ministry.
The draft law describes the features of the sanctioning of subsidies granted for other purposes for autonomous institutions, as well as budget investments as stipulated for budget-supported institutions.
The draft law regulates the issue of the assets of autonomous institutions granted from the corresponding budget as financial support for the fulfilment of a state (municipal) assignment, as well as for other purposes that have not been used in the current fiscal year.
A provision is introduced for autonomous institutions whereby the expenses financed by subsidies granted from the corresponding budget to finance the fulfilment of a federal (municipal) assignment are incurred without submitting to the territorial agency of the Federal Treasury and the financial authorities of the constituent entity of the Russian Federation (municipal entity) of documents confirming the financial commitments in the event that personal accounts have been opened for them under established procedure with the territorial bodies of the Federal Treasury, and financial bodies of the constituent entity of the Russian Federation (municipal entity).
Autonomous institutions enjoy the right to fulfil their public commitments to natural persons in cash form, as well as to independently account the said operations as part of budget implementation.
The draft law would create legal grounds for the procedure to present claims to the assets of autonomous institutions in the event that personal accounts have been opened for them with the territorial bodies of the Federal Treasury, financial bodies of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation (municipal entities), as well as to provide autonomous institutions and their detached units with cash.
The draft law would also expand the list of spheres in which autonomous institutions are created by including in Article 2 of Federal Law No. 174-FZ on Autonomous Institutions of Nov. 3, 2006 mass media outlets (according to statistics, 33% of autonomous institutions are media outlets, which, under federal law, are subject to liquidation or reorganisation before May 10, 2011).
In addition, the draft law proposes amendments to Federal Law No. 210-FZ of July 27, 2010 On the Organisation of the Delivery of State and Municipal Services specifying that the multifunctional centre for rendering state and municipal services may also be an autonomous institution.
7. Draft federal law On Amendments to the Law of the Russian Federation on the State Border of the Russian Federation
The draft federal law has been submitted by the Federal Security Service.
The draft law would strike out from the law On the State Border of the Russian Federation any mention of the names of specific federal executive bodies replacing them with names depending on the established spheres of jurisdiction and the functions of federal executive bodies.
The adoption of the draft law will make it unnecessary to introduce amendments to the law of the Russian Federation On the State Border of the Russian Federation when federal executive bodies are created, reorganised, liquidated or renamed.
8. Draft federal law On Amendments to the Federal Law On Natural Curative Resources, Treatment and Health Locations and Holiday Resorts
The draft federal law has been submitted by the Ministry of Healthcare and Social Development.
The draft law envisages the creation of a legal framework for approval by the authorised federal executive body on the classification of natural curative resources, medical indications and counter-indications for their use for treatment and prevention.
The classification of natural curative resources by type, group and so on will ensure a uniform approach and uniform requirements for the study, assessment and use of natural curative resources for all users, organisations, and individual entrepreneurs, who search for, extract and use such resources.
9. Introducing an amendment to the Statute on the Ministry of Healthcare and Social Development of the Russian Federation
The draft resolution of the Government of the Russian Federation has been submitted by the Ministry of Healthcare and Social Development.
Federal Law No. 162-FZ of June 22, 2010 On Introducing an Amendment to Article 7 of the Law of the Russian Federation On Employment in the Russian Federation vests federal executive bodies in the field of employment with the powers to forecast the balance of labour resources under a procedure established by the Government of the Russian Federation.
The draft resolution proposes to authorise the Ministry of Healthcare and Social Development to develop a forecast on the balance of labour resources.
Such a forecast will be developed by the Ministry of Healthcare and Social Development with the participation of federal executive bodies that develop state policy and legal regulations in corresponding spheres of activity directly influencing the number of employees in the economy.
10. Introducing amendments to the Statute on the Federal Property Management Agency
The draft government resolution submitted by the Ministry of Economic Development proposes that a more precise definition be given for the powers of the State Property Management Agency (Rosimushchestvo) in the sphere of land relations under the Statute on the Federal Property Management Agency.
According to the Prosecutor General’s Office, Section 5.38 of the current statute limits the parties who under law have the right to obtain plots of land from a body of land that constitutes state property with the prior approval of a project’s location.
In this connection, the draft resolution proposes that a more precise description be given for the powers of Rosimushchestvo established under Section 5.38 of the statute in light of the above observation.
It is also proposed to detail the powers of Rosimushchestvo to dispose of land plots that are federal property.
11. Introducing amendments to subsections 5.1.5 and 5.6.10 of the Statute on the Federal Water Management Agency
The draft resolution of the Government of the Russian Federation has been submitted by the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment.
The draft resolution would replace the word “water reservoir” with the words “bodies of water” in the Statute on Rosvodresursy (Agency for Water Resources).
In accordance with sections 5.1.5 and 5.6.10 of the current statute, the agency organises measures to protect reservoirs that are entirely within the territories of the corresponding constituent entities of the Russian Federation and whose water resources meet the drinking and domestic water needs of two or more constituent entities of the Russian Federation in accordance with the list of such reservoirs established by the Government of the Russian Federation and grants the right to use such reservoirs. A list of 70 such reservoirs was approved by the Government of the Russian Federation under Executive Order No. 1578-r of Nov. 16, 2006.
Federal Law No. 118-FZ of July 14, 2008 introduced amendments to the Water Code of the Russian Federation concerning the said list, replacing the words “water reservoir” with the words “bodies of water” (the latter concept including lakes and reservoirs). The Government of the Russian Federation by Executive Order No. 2054-r of Dec. 31, 2008 approved the list of bodies of water (as a result of which two lakes – Lake Baikal and Lake Onega – were added to the list of 70 bodies of water).
The change in the jurisdiction of the Rosvodresursy Agency stipulated under the draft resolution eliminates uncertainty on the issues of nature conservation and the issue of permits to use lakes Baikal and Onega or parts thereof.
12. Introducing amendments to the Statute on the Ministry of Sports, Tourism and Youth Policy of the Russian Federation
The draft resolution has been prepared in order to bring the Statute on the Ministry of Sports, Tourism and Youth Policy in line with the provisions of Article 17 of Federal Law No. 120-FZ of June 24, 1999 On the Basic Principles of the System of Preventing Homelessness and Juvenile Delinquency. It would vest the Ministry of Sports and Tourism with powers to coordinate the activities of executive bodies of constituent entities of the Russian Federation in the sphere of youth policy, including organisational and methodological support and the coordination of the activities of social institutions, clubs and other institutions under the jurisdiction of the above-mentioned bodies with respect to the prevention of homelessness and juvenile delinquency. The Ministry of Sports and Tourism would also be vested with powers to provide organisational and methodological support and to coordinate such activities pursued by institutions under the ministry’s jurisdiction, as well as to assist children’s and youth non-governmental associations, social institutions, funds and other institutions and organisations whose activities are connected with preventing homelessness and juvenile delinquency.
13. Measures towards the preparation and holding of the Rugby-7 World Cup in Moscow in 2013
The draft executive order of the Government of the Russian Federation has been submitted by the Ministry of Sports and Tourism.
The draft envisages the formation of an organising committee for the World Cup. The Ministry of Sports and Tourism will provide organisational and technical support to the Organising Committee. It is also charged with developing a plan of the primary measures aimed at the preparation and holding of the World Cup.
The expenditure connected with the holding of the World Cup will be within the budget allocations of the federal budget for 2013 to the concerned federal executive bodies.
14. Creating the Organising Committee for the preparation and holding of celebrations to mark the 250th anniversary of the State Hermitage Museum
The draft executive order of the Government of the Russian Federation has been submitted by the Ministry of Culture.
The draft executive order proposes creating an organising committee for the preparation and holding of events to mark the 250th anniversary of the State Hermitage Museum in 2014.
The Organising Committee will include Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Zhukov (as its chairman), Culture Minister Alexander Avdeyev (as its deputy chairman), Advisor to the President of the Russian Federation Yury Laptev, St Petersburg Governor Valentina Matviyenko, Kultura State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company Director Sergey Shumakov, as well as executives of the Ministry of Economic Development, the Finance Ministry, the Foreign Ministry, the Defence Ministry, Rosimushchestvo, Rospechat and Rossvyaz.
15. Allocating to the Government of the Republic of Dagestan funds from the Reserve Fund of the Government of the Russian Federation for the Prevention and Liquidation of Emergency Situations and the Aftermath of Natural Disasters to compensate for damage caused during the counterterrorist operation carried out in Derbent (Republic of Dagestan) on Sept. 10, 2010
The draft executive order of the Government of the Russian Federation has been submitted by the Ministry for Emergencies.
The draft executive order proposes allocating to the Government of the Republic of Dagestan in 2011 out of the Reserve Fund of the Government of the Russian Federation for the Prevention and Liquidation of Emergency Situations and the Aftermath of Natural Disasters funds to support the expenditures incurred to compensate for the damage caused by legitimate actions aimed at quashing a terrorist act in the city of Derbent (Republic of Dagestan) on Sept. 10, 2010 in the amount of 549,700 roubles, including 200,000 roubles for assistance to citizens who lost their property (100,000 roubles apiece to two families who lost all their property) and 349,700 roubles to finance urgent restoration work to be distributed among facilities in accordance with the supplement to the draft executive order.
16. Allocating to the Government of the Republic of Dagestan funds from the Reserve Fund of the Government of the Russian Federation for the Prevention and Liquidation of Emergency Situations and the Aftermath of Natural Disasters and issuing state housing certificates as part of the liquidation of the consequences of a fire in the village of Anchikh (Akhvakhsky District, Republic of Dagestan) on Aug. 5, 2010
The draft executive order of the Government of the Russian Federation has been submitted by the Ministry for Emergencies.
The draft executive order stipulates the allocation to the Government of the Republic of Dagestan in 2011 from the Reserve Fund of the Government of the Russian Federation for the Prevention and Liquidation of Emergency Situations and the Aftermath of Natural Disasters of budget funds in the amount of 35,800,000 to pay compensation to citizens who lost all of their prime necessities (100,000 roubles per person for a total loss of property) and to issue to the Government of the Republic of Dagestan in 2011 94 state housing certificates to be distributed among citizens who lost their homes as a result of the above-mentioned fire.
17. Allocating to the Government of the Republic of Dagestan funds from the Reserve Fund of the Government of the Russian Federation for the Prevention and Liquidation of Emergency Situations and the Aftermath of Natural Disasters for the purpose of liquidating the consequences of torrential rains and squall-force winds on the territory of the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania in June 2010
The draft executive order of the Government of the Russian Federation has been submitted by the Ministry for Emergencies.
As a result of torrential rains and squall-force winds on the territory of the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania in June 2010 embankments, roads, bridges, housing and utilities objects, and social and agricultural facilities have been damaged to various degrees and more than 200 families have lost part of their properties.
The draft executive order envisages the allocation to the Government of the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania in 2011 from the Reserve Fund of the Government of the Russian Federation for the Prevention and Liquidation of Emergency Situations and the Aftermath of Natural Disasters 213,970,600 roubles to cover part of the costs of liquidating the consequences of torrential rains and squall-force winds in June 2010.
18. Meeting disbursement commitments connected with the implementation of the Agreement on the Establishment of an International Anticorruption Academy as an international organisation
The draft executive order of the Government of the Russian Federation on the issue has been submitted by the Foreign Ministry.
The draft executive order has been prepared pursuant to the instructions of the President of the Russian Federation to the Government of the Russian Federation to meet the expenditure commitments connected with the implementation of the agreement on the establishment of an International Anticorruption Academy as an international organisation (Executive Order No. 890-rp of Dec. 24, 2010). The agreement was signed by the Foreign Ministry on behalf of the Russian Federation on Dec. 29, 2010.
19. Monitoring the state of food security in the Russian Federation
Moscow,
March 23, 2011
* Press releases by the Department of Press Service and Information contain materials submitted by the executive federal bodies for discussion by the Government of the Russian Federation