Important Draft Laws. Issue 57: Joint Procurement of Medicines With the EU, New Rules for Employing Foreigners, and Protection for Displaced Persons

If some of these drafts are adopted, Ukraine will be able to conduct joint procurement of medicines and vaccines with the EU during emergencies, and Poland’s state-owned bank, BGK, will be able to provide loans directly to Ukrainian public and private projects. Another initiative seeks to mandate accessibility of TV programs and online videos for persons with disabilities. A separate set of changes concerns foreigners and individuals with multiple citizenships: it would introduce a single permit for residence and employment, as well as a ban on holding public office for holders of passports from other states (with an exception for those forcibly passportized in occupied territories). Several other draft laws relate to the war, proposing restrictions on foreign travel for employees of critical enterprises who have been exempted from mobilisation for 45 days, and enabling courts to mitigate punishment for certain military offences, such as unauthorised abandonment of a unit or desertion.

Ukraine would be able to jointly procure medicines and vaccines with the EU to protect public health 

Bill No. 0354, which ratifies the Joint Procurement Agreement, would enable Ukraine to join the EU mechanism that allows countries to collectively purchase vaccines, medicines, protective equipment, and other medical goods during emergencies, such as pandemics or shortages of critical supplies. This would enable faster access to necessary products, typically at a lower price, because procurement is carried out in large batches for all participating countries.

To join a specific procurement, Ukraine would have to follow the standard rules: agree with other countries on the tender conditions; provide the necessary information (how much of the product it needs, for what amount, by what deadlines, and under which requirements); comply with the unified procedures defined by the European Commission; and refrain from conducting parallel purchases of the same goods. All these conditions are coordinated within a joint steering committee to which Ukraine would delegate its representative.

The agreement also outlines how countries would resolve potential disputes: first through negotiations, and if that does not work, through arbitration or the EU court. 

Ratification of the agreement on the operation of Poland’s state-owned bank BGK in Ukraine

Bill No. 0355 proposes ratifying an international agreement that would allow Poland’s state-owned bank BGK (Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego) to operate officially in Ukraine. Without this agreement, the bank cannot directly provide financial assistance to Ukrainian institutions, as current legislation does not permit it. Once the agreement is ratified, BGK would be able to provide the government, local authorities, state-owned enterprises, and private companies with loans, grants, guarantees, and technical assistance (for example, training, consultations, and preparation of project documentation). The bank would also be able to issue guarantees to Ukrainian banks—if such a bank finances a project, BGK would cover the costs if the funds are not repaid.

The agreement would grant BGK special conditions: its activities in Ukraine would be considered cross-border, carried out from its headquarters in Poland rather than through a Ukrainian financial institution. Therefore, neither BGK nor its representative office would have the status of a bank or other financial institution in Ukraine, and the requirements applicable to banks operating under Ukrainian law would not extend to them. BGK would not need to obtain a banking license or comply with other regulatory norms applied to Ukrainian banks. At the same time, BGK would submit an annual report to the Government of Ukraine on its activities in Ukraine under this agreement, with aggregated information on implemented projects, financing volumes, areas of fund use, and achieved results, while respecting banking secrecy.

Introduction of mandatory accessibility rules for TV programs and video content for persons with disabilities

Bill No. 14202 pertains to all companies and institutions that distribute video content—such as films, TV programs, news, shows, series, and talk shows—in electronic form via television or online platforms. This includes TV channels, streaming services (such as Megogo or SWEET.TV), YouTube channels, online cinemas, and local municipal broadcasters. The bill does not apply to audio media, including radio stations, podcasts, or audio services such as SoundCloud. It also does not apply to text-based or printed media.

It would require making video programs accessible for persons with disabilities. This primarily concerns people with hearing impairments (who need subtitles or sign-language interpretation) and people with visual impairments (who need an audio description of events—so-called audio description or “typhlo-commentary,” for example, a narrator speaking between dialogues: “A man/woman silently enters the room, sits on a chair, and smiles”).

Each TV or online channel would have to gradually increase the number of programs adapted for persons with disabilities, to reach 90% accessible content ultimately. To do this, every broadcaster would be required to develop an action plan—a document that clearly specifies which programs would be adapted, how, within what timeframe, and to what extent. The plan would have to be published on the company’s website and submitted to the National Council for Television and Radio Broadcasting.

At the same time, all broadcasters would follow a single set of mandatory rules approved by the National Council. These rules would define precisely how adaptation must be carried out (including subtitles, sign language interpretation, and audio description), the technical requirements for subtitle size, where subtitles should appear on the screen, the permitted formats, and other relevant details. The National Council would set deadlines for implementing the plans, establish the procedure for reporting on them, and grant exemptions from certain requirements to specific broadcasters (for example, those that broadcast exclusively abroad or only provide language-learning content).

According to the bill, social and political advertising would also have to be accessible for persons with disabilities. Regular commercial advertising is not included in the list of materials that require adaptation.

Specific provisions concern the National Public Broadcasting Company of Ukraine (NSTU)—Suspilne. Currently, it is required to air at least 5% of adapted programs daily between 7:00 and 22:00. The bill retains this requirement but specifies that news and other important programs included in the action plan must be made accessible first.

For the state-owned International Broadcasting Multimedia Platform of Ukraine, which produces programming for a foreign audience, a new rule would also be introduced: it must ensure the accessibility of part of its programs for persons with disabilities. This requirement was not previously stipulated directly in law.

At the same time, the bill would remove the provision stating that a separate authorised body carries out oversight of this broadcaster, because the National Council would monitor the accessibility of video content.

Introduction of a single permit for residence and employment for foreign nationals in Ukraine

Bill No. 14211 would change the procedure for employing foreigners and stateless persons in Ukraine. Instead of two separate documents—a permit to use foreign labour and a temporary residence permit—the State Migration Service (SMS) would issue a single document: a unified permit for temporary residence and employment. This permit would serve as the basis for issuing a residence card and would allow a person to reside and work in Ukraine simultaneously.

Foreign nationals who receive a job offer for a specific position from a Ukrainian employer can obtain a permit. They would submit applications through a Unified State Web Portal for the Employment of Foreign Nationals, to be administered by the State Employment Service (SES). The SES would have 30 days to verify the information and forward it to the Migration Service, which would decide whether to issue or deny the permit.

Once the permit is issued, the individual would have three months to enter Ukraine, conclude an employment contract, and obtain a temporary residence card. If the agreement is terminated, the foreign national would have an additional three months to find a new employer. If they do not see one within that time, the SMS will revoke the permit. Other grounds for revocation would include a criminal conviction, a threat to national security or public order, a deportation or entry ban decision, and changes in a person’s status (for example, acquiring Ukrainian citizenship or refugee status). Additionally, the SMS would be able to revoke the permit if the employer fails to pay the Unified Social Contribution within two months of the start of employment. The revocation decision must be sent electronically to both the foreign national and the employer within three working days. Such a decision may be appealed administratively or in court.

A foreign national would be required to inform the Migration Service of any changes in their employment relations, personal data, or employment conditions.

Restrictions on holding public office for persons with citizenship of other states

Bill No. 14230 proposes prohibiting individuals who hold citizenship (or subjecthood) of another state from occupying positions in state and local government bodies, the Armed Forces, law enforcement agencies, or political parties—that is, persons who did not renounce foreign citizenship after acquiring Ukrainian citizenship, who retain a second passport, or who conceal the fact of holding another citizenship. If foreign citizenship is discovered, the person would be required to be dismissed from that position.

The prohibition would not apply to multiple citizenship recognised under the Law “On Citizenship of Ukraine.” Its provisions cover those who automatically acquired multiple citizenship by birth, obtained Ukrainian citizenship through a simplified procedure (for example, as citizens of EU member states or other allied countries), and similar categories. Individuals with recognised multiple citizenship would be permitted to hold positions in government bodies, subject to certain restrictions. Senior positions, as well as those involving access to state secrets, cybersecurity, management of personal data, mobilisation, local urban development programs, management of municipal property, and similar functions, would remain closed to them.

Another exception would apply to Ukrainians from occupied territories who were forcibly issued Russian citizenship. They would be able to take positions in government bodies after undergoing a special screening conducted by the Security Service of Ukraine, the National Police, or other state authorities; this screening includes, among other things, a psychophysiological examination using a polygraph. Refusal to undergo the screening would be considered a refusal to accept the position. The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine would determine the procedure for conducting the screening.

Restrictions on leaving Ukraine for employees of critical enterprises who receive a 45-day temporary exemption from mobilisation

In October 2025, Parliament adopted a law that allows enterprises critical to defence, the economy, or the country’s functioning to temporarily exempt from mobilisation those employees liable for military service who violated military registration rules. These may include individuals without military registration documents, those who failed to register, did not update their personal information, or are wanted for violating mobilisation legislation. They are granted a temporary exemption for up to 45 days—a kind of probation period during which they can remedy the violations. After that, they may be eligible for an exemption on general grounds for a longer period. These changes will take effect on 4 December 2025.

Bill No. 14210 proposes temporarily restricting the right to leave Ukraine, specifically for such individuals. If a critical enterprise employee liable for military service receives the 45-day temporary exemption, they would not be allowed to cross the state border. The restriction would remain in place until the employee brings their documents into order and receives a proper exemption.

This measure is intended to prevent abuses in which a person obtains a temporary exemption solely to leave the country. Those exempted on general grounds, as is currently the case, would still be able to travel abroad—for example, on business trips. The new restriction would apply only to individuals who violated military registration rules and received the 45-day temporary exemption to remedy those violations.

Abolition of the ban on lighter punishment for certain military offences

Bill No. 14213 proposes allowing courts to impose lighter sentences or grant probation in cases involving certain military offences. These include failure to obey an order, threats or violence against a superior, unauthorised abandonment of a unit or place of service, desertion, as well as unauthorised abandonment of the battlefield or refusal to use a weapon. Currently, courts are not permitted to mitigate punishment for these acts if they are committed during martial law or combat operations.

Prohibition on evicting displaced persons from temporary accommodation during martial law

The Law “On Ensuring the Rights and Freedoms of Internally Displaced Persons” currently does not contain an explicit ban on evicting internally displaced persons (IDPs) from temporary accommodation facilities (TAFs), even if they pay for utilities. As a result, displaced persons may be forcibly evicted, for example, when local authorities remove a building from the list of TAFs.

Bill No. 14219 proposes to change this situation. It would prohibit state authorities, local self-government bodies, and property owners from evicting displaced persons from temporary accommodation for the duration of martial law and for six months after it ends. This protection would apply provided that the person—or someone on their behalf—pays for utilities at regular rates. The only exception would be when a person is absent from the accommodation for more than 60 days without prior notice, except in cases where they are participating in the country’s defence. Despite the aim of ensuring housing for IDPs, the bill could have the opposite effect: property owners who are unwilling to rent out housing for an indefinite period without the ability to terminate the lease might refuse to rent to internally displaced persons.