The EU criticizes the Ukrainian government primarily because its economic and political course does not correspond to the ideology of the European Union.
The Belgian edition of The Brussels Times writes about this.
In its article, the journalist Anna Leonhard comes to the conclusion that all this window dressing with the EU flags and slogans about the “European choice” is worthless, if in fact official Kiev is behaving contrary to the principles of the European Union.
According to the author, the official Kiev is engaged in the substitution of concepts. Instead of fighting corruption, the authorities launched an attack on large and medium-sized businesses. The passage that the court verdicts changed Zelensky’s decrees is a reference to the decrees banning the 112 Ukraine, NewsOne and ZIK TV channels and sanctions against Viktor Medvedchuk.
In Europe, they did not lose sight of the story of the so-called anti-coronavirus fund, when the Office of the President and the Cabinet of Ministers spend funds to fight COVID-19 on extraneous tasks. Moreover, the influential European edition of The Brussels Times directly writes that the attack on business, and the attack on the opposition led by Medvedchuk, and inappropriate spending from the anti-coronavirus fund – all this has signs of corruption on the part of the authorities.
“The fight against corruption was replaced by the fight against large and medium-sized businesses, equal taxation was replaced by a toughening of the tax burden, the judicial system, as stressed by PACE, was replaced by decisions of the President’s Office and several other officials, the targeted funds of the West intended to combat COVID-19 are not used according to appointment that has signs of corruption”.
The reason for criticism from the EU publication is bill 5600. Project # 5600 was formally submitted to the parliament by the Cabinet of Ministers. But in fact, according to Ukrainian media, it is promoted by the Office of the President, and the direct author is People’s Deputy Daniil Getmantsev.
Getmantsev, as we remember, “lit up” as the executor of Kolomoisky’s orders. In particular, in 2019, Getmantsev registered bill No. 1210 on increasing the rent for iron ore. This time, apparently, they decided not to limit themselves to rent on iron ore alone, because bill # 5600 in the style of “tearing three skins” suggests raising a number of excise duties and taxes, as well as introducing new taxes.
Authors # 5600 propose to increase both the excise taxes on alcohol and the rent on ore, as well as oblige to pay VAT on the sale of an apartment – both in the primary and secondary markets. And a new land tax – the so-called minimum tax burden – for those who grow agricultural products, raise livestock or lease land. In addition, it is proposed to give new powers to the tax authorities – to make it easier for them to “nightmare” taxpayers.
The Brussels Times writes that if this bill is passed, the tax burden in Ukraine will be one of the highest in the world. And most importantly, it will be a serious blow to the economy.
“Because the economy, weakened by the war, as well as the tension on the southern, eastern and now northern borders of Ukraine, will become even weaker. In other words, the integration of the economies of Ukraine and Europe will be “multiplied by zero” by the efforts of Ukrainian officials”.