Draft bill #9432 of June 28, 2023 

Sponsor: the President of Ukraine 

Status: adopted in full, awaits to be signed by the Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada 

Who is affected: residents of Ukraine, government bodies, local governments, educational establishments, cultural establishments, medical establishments, businesses, civil servants, heads of local state administrations, their first deputies and deputies, military officers, mid-level and senior police officers, prosecutors, tax and customs officers, and heads of state-owned enterprises 

Summary:  

  • English becomes the language of international communication in Ukraine; 
  • the law does not apply to legal relations in the field of judicial proceedings, criminal proceedings, cases of administrative offenses, as well as to relations regarding the consideration and resolution of administrative cases;  
  • sets English language proficiency requirements for certain categories of officials. English language proficiency is required for: 
    • All civil servants of category “A” and civil servants of categories “B” and “C” (according to the list determined by the government);   
    • Heads of local state administrations, their first deputies and deputies;  
    • prosecutors;  
    • military officers, sergeants and non-commissioned officers serving under contract (the list of positions will be established by the government);  
    • middle and senior police officers of the National Police of Ukraine, senior officers of other law enforcement agencies and civil defense service (the list is to be established by the Cabinet of Ministers); 
    • tax and customs officers, the list of positions of which is established by the government; 
    • heads, members of the executive body, members of the supervisory board (board of directors) and other officials of state-owned enterprises and business entities in which the state holds more than 50% of the authorized capital;  
    • heads of state research institutions and higher education institutions;  
    • employees in the field of education and science, the list of which is established by the government;  
  • English language proficiency may be required for candidates for positions in local self-government bodies if their work is related to international cooperation;  
  • in case of mobilization or martial law in Ukraine or in some of its regions, the requirement of English language proficiency does not apply to military personnel and police officers during this period; 
  • the requirements for the level of English language proficiency and the procedure for conducting the exam are established by the Cabinet of Ministers; 
  • officials with B2 level of English are entitled to a 10% salary supplement; 
  • government bodies, local governments and universities are required to have a website duplicated in English;  
  • emergency assistance to foreigners and stateless persons who do not speak the state language is provided in English or another language acceptable to the parties; 
  • when crossing the border by foreigners and stateless persons, border and customs control is carried out in English or another language acceptable to the parties; 
  • the state shall assist in mastering the English language by:  
    • mandatory study in kindergartens, schools, vocational education institutions, and universities;  
    • providing financial assistance to adults for learning English; 
    • advanced professional development of English teachers;  
  • information about cultural and artistic events in cultural institutions may also be duplicated in English;  
  • information about museum objects, museum collections, documents of the National Archival Fond, which are displayed in state and municipal museums, archival institutions and exhibitions, along with the state language, is also provided in English;  
  • information and orientation signs about the tourist resources of Ukraine, along with the state language, are also in English; 
  • information, announcements, notices and inscriptions on all types of passenger transport, at railway stations, bus stations, airports are duplicated in English;  
  • the law enters into force on the day of publication, but certain provisions enter into force sequentially: 
    • the requirement of mandatory English proficiency for category “A” civil servants, heads of local state administrations, and their deputies – two years after the termination of martial law; 
    • the requirement to speak English for civil servants of categories “B” and “C” and other persons subject to such a requirement – four years after the termination of martial law;  
    • English language proficiency requirements for local government officials, the use of English in the work of public authorities and local governments, when crossing the state border, receiving emergency calls, duplication of websites of universities and research institutions, as well as in the fields of culture, transport and healthcare – two years after the entry into force of this law;  
    • The norms on a 10% salary supplement will be introduced after the termination of martial law and will be in effect for four years; 
    • External independent testing in English, not a foreign language – four years after the law enters into force;  
    • final certification in English for all students is introduced five years after the law comes into force for educational institutions where English is the first foreign language, and seven years after that for educational institutions where English is the second foreign language; 
    • English learning in kindergartens – from September 1, 2026;  
  • the government should develop and approve a state targeted program to promote the study and use of English and provide for reimbursement to cinemas for screening films in English from the state budget. 

What is right:  

  • it will facilitate the acquisition of English as a language of international communication; 
  • the provisions of the law expanding the use of English will come into force gradually, which will allow for adaptation to changes. 

What is wrong:  

unreasonable expediency of reimbursement from the state budget for the costs of showing films in English. The law on the Ukrainian language as the state language stipulates that the language of distribution and screening of films in Ukraine is Ukrainian. Currently, cinemas have enough capacity to show films in English. Such films must be subtitled in the state language, and the total number of foreign language film screenings cannot exceed 10% of the total number of screenings in a cinema per month. 

Background information: The law on the Ukrainian language as the state language stipulates that the state promotes the study of languages of international communication (primarily English) in state and municipal educational institutions.