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The National Assembly debated a number of legislative initiatives in the second reading at the regular sitting of May 2.

The RA Deputy Minister of Justice Armenuhi Harutyunyan presented the package of draft laws on Making Addenda and Amendments to the Law on Commercial Arbitration and on Making Addenda and Amendments to the RA Civil Procedure Code for debate by parliamentarians. As a result of the adoption of the drafts, it is expected to develop the institution of arbitration in Armenia. According to the key rapporteur, it is expected that the flow of foreign investment may increase, promoting the development of the business environment. Certain editorial amendments have been made in the drafts.

The RA Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Ruben Sargsyan presented the package of draft laws on Making Amendments and Addenda to the Labor Code of the Republic of Armenia authored by the Government for debate to Parliament. With the adoption of the legislative initiative, the separate provisions of the RA Labor Code will be brought into line with the Constitution and the international obligations assumed by the RA. According to the key rapporteur, certain legislative gaps, internal contradictions were eliminated, a number of provisions that gave rise to different perceptions were clarified, additional structures necessary for the full regulation of labor relations were introduced. The co-rapporteur, the Chair of the Standing Committee on Labor and Social Affairs Heriknaz Tigranyan informed that the revised version of the draft is also the result of the parliamentary hearings, during which many proposals were made.

The adoption of the package of draft laws on Making Amendments and Addendum to the RA Law on Notification of Implementation of Activity and on Making Amendments and Addenda to the RA Law on State Duties is conditioned by the reduction of administration, simplification, support to a number of spheres subject to notification in terms of making these sectors more attractive from the viewpoint of business and investment environment. The co-rapporteur, the member of the Standing Committee on Economic Affairs Davit Arushanyan added that the amendments are aimed at significantly improving the activity of medium and small businesses, avoiding unnecessary paperwork hassles.

The draft law on Amending the RA Law on Environmental Impact Assessment and Expertise and the related package of draft laws was presented by the RA Minister of Environment Hakob Simidyan. The adoption of the legislative initiative will provide an opportunity to ensure the obligations undertaken by the RA under international treaties. According to Hakob Simidyan, there have been dozens of working debates regarding the draft over the past year. From the first to the second reading, about 70 proposals were received, 47 out of which were from the RA NA Armenia Faction.

The RA Deputy Minister of Justice Levon Balyan presented the draft law on Making Addenda to the RA Criminal Code authored by the Government. The aim of the legislative initiative is to provide criminal legal measures aimed at protecting the sovereignty of the state.