KYIV. Oct 31 (Interfax-Ukraine) – The draft law "On the Freedom of Movement and a Free Choice of Place of Residence in Ukraine," which provides for a simplified procedure to register newborns in Ukraine, may be passed by the Verkhovna Rada by the end of this year, MP Serhiy Berezenko, a member of Petro Poroshenko Bloc's faction in the parliament, has announced.

Speaking at a news conference at Interfax-Ukraine on October 31, the MP said that the bill is already registered with the parliament under number 9218. "I hope that it will be considered by the Verkhovna Rada soon to be included into its agenda and then it will be handed over to the relevant committee. i.e. the human rights committee," he said.

When asked when the bill can be voted into law, he said, "I hope that if we work hard together [with other MPs in the parliament], this bill can be voted into law by the year's close." Berezenko added that six months after it is adopted, i.e. by next summer, the law will come into effect in Ukraine.

The MP said that the bill provides for a simplified procedure to register newborns so that such a service would be provided directly at maternity clinics.

"Over 60% of children are not registered anywhere after their birth up until the age of adulthood. This is due to a lot of problems, including those of pecuniary nature that arise when a child is born," he said.

Thus, as the MP explained, the bill will provide the mother with an opportunity to approach a maternity clinic where her child is born and receive eight services there at once, such as the state registration of the birth of a child, the registration of the place of residence of a newborn child, the allocation of social aid upon birth, the registration of the baby in the electronic health care system to be assigned a child's doctor, the determination of the child's citizenship, and the certification of the parents of a family with many children.

In his turn, speaking at the press conference, Gregor Virant, the former Minister of Interior and Public Administration Governance of Slovenia, told the journalists about the introduction of a similar legislative norm in his country, which turned out to be a success. He said that at present 90% of registrations of newborns and relevant administrative services are done in a similar fashion.