On the afternoon of November 14, the National Assembly Standing Committee met to give opinions on explaining, accepting and revising the draft Law on Electricity (amended) and the draft Law on Public Investment (amended).

Removing difficulties and obstacles to promote national development

Commenting on the draft Law on Public Investment, the opinions at the meeting basically agreed with the necessity, objectives, and viewpoints of amending the Law to continue to innovate, promote decentralization, improve the effectiveness of public investment management, and overcome shortcomings and limitations in the implementation process. Reporting on a number of major issues in the draft law, Chairman of the Finance and Budget Committee Le Quang Manh said that the draft after receiving comments from National Assembly deputies consisted of 103 articles, 6 articles less than the draft submitted by the Government to the National Assembly. The Standing Committee of the Finance and Budget Committee discussed and agreed to explain and accept in the direction of seriously implementing the instructions of competent authorities, reporting to the National Assembly for agreement with the Government's plan. The provisions kept as submitted by the Government are to increase the scale of public investment capital for important national projects to 30,000 billion VND (3 times); Decentralize the People's Committees at all levels to decide on investment policies for groups B and C managed by localities. Regarding the decentralization of authority to adjust the medium-term public investment plan, Mr. Le Quang Manh said that some opinions of National Assembly deputies suggested considering regulations on decentralization of authority to adjust the medium-term public investment plan with central budget capital between ministries, central agencies and localities from the National Assembly Standing Committee to the Prime Minister. According to the Standing Committee of the Finance and Budget Committee, the draft law proposes amendments to the content of the authority of the Prime Minister to decide on adjusting the medium-term public investment plan with central budget capital between ministries and central agencies (instead of this authority being of the National Assembly Standing Committee as prescribed in the current Law on Public Investment). In the spirit of innovation, aiming to increase flexibility in the management and implementation of the medium-term public investment plan, this provision is also consistent with the provision that the list of medium-term public investment plan projects is only a "project list" in Clause 6, Article 52 of the draft Law on Amendments. Adjustments to the medium-term public investment plan will be made more frequently to suit the practical situation. In addition, this adjustment "does not exceed the total medium-term capital decided by the National Assembly, ensuring effective use of capital and reporting to the National Assembly at the nearest session", so it will also ensure strictness, linked to the functions and authority of the implementing agency and the supervisory authority of the National Assembly and the National Assembly Standing Committee. Regarding the time for passing the Law, the Standing Committee of the Finance and Budget Committee recommended that the Standing Committee of the National Assembly report to the National Assembly for consideration and approval at the 8th Session. During the discussion, opinions at the Standing Committee of the National Assembly all agreed with the Government's proposal, noting to review further to ensure consistency with the legal system and avoid obstacles during implementation.

Speaking at the meeting, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man basically agreed with the major contents of the explanation and acceptance of the draft Law on Public Investment (amended). According to the National Assembly Chairman, the spirit is to remove difficulties and obstacles to promote the country's development, but the regulations must be based on the provisions of the Constitution and the law, without overlap or duplication. Commenting on the decentralization of authority to decide on investment policies for groups B and C from People's Councils at all levels to People's Committees at all levels, the National Assembly Chairman noted the implementation, for reform and innovation, but there must also be solutions in management and operation. The National Assembly will supervise through the supreme supervision of the National Assembly, the supervision of the National Assembly Standing Committee, in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution. Concluding the meeting, Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Nguyen Duc Hai stated that the National Assembly Standing Committee agreed with the scope of the law amendment, and basically agreed with the major issues reported by the examining agency. The Vice Chairman of the National Assembly requested relevant agencies to absorb the opinions of the National Assembly Standing Committee and National Assembly deputies to complete the Draft and submit it to the National Assembly for consideration and approval.

Explaining and accepting the draft Law on Electricity (amended)

The amendment of the Electricity Law aims to perfect regulations, to continue promoting the country's industrialization and modernization by 2030, with a vision to 2045, to meet the requirements of building a competitive, transparent, and efficient energy market, in line with the socialist-oriented market economy; diversifying ownership forms and business methods; removing all barriers to ensure transparent energy prices determined by the market. The amendment of the Electricity Law aims to connect with regional and world markets; apply market prices to all types of energy; not cross-subsidize electricity prices between customer groups, between regions; the State regulates reasonably through market instruments (taxes, fees, funds, etc.) and appropriate social security policies; legalize electricity price management; use energy economically and efficiently; encourage and promote the development of renewable energy sources, deploy electricity storage; There is a suitable bidding and auction mechanism for energy supply, especially for renewable energy and new energy projects. Reporting on a number of major issues in explaining, accepting and revising the draft Law on Electricity (amended), Chairman of the Committee for Science, Technology and Environment Le Quang Huy said that on November 14, 2024, the Standing Committee of the Committee for Science, Technology and Environment issued Report No. 3026/BC-UBKHCNMT15 on a number of major issues in explaining, accepting and revising the draft Law on Electricity (amended). Implementing the direction of the National Assembly Party Delegation, the National Assembly Standing Committee and the National Assembly Chairman, the Standing Committee of the Committee for Science, Technology and Environment has proactively and actively coordinated with the drafting agency and relevant agencies in the process of accepting and revising the draft Law according to the opinions of National Assembly deputies. Up to now, the draft Law has been reviewed, basically removing specific and detailed provisions under the authority of the Government, Prime Minister, Ministers, regulations on administrative procedures, only retaining provisions under the authority of the National Assembly and legalizing some necessary contents; it has been shortened from 130 articles to 88 articles (only 18 articles added compared to the current Electricity Law).

Concluding the session, Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Nguyen Duc Hai said that the National Assembly Standing Committee highly appreciated the efforts of the Committee on Science, Technology and Environment, the Ministry of Industry and Trade and relevant agencies in explaining and receiving the draft Law on Electricity (amended) and also requested the Minister of Industry and Trade to focus more on coordination to provide closer direction and ensure the quality of this Law project. Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Nguyen Duc Hai also requested that the agencies continue to review to fully receive the opinions of National Assembly deputies; complete the Report on receiving and explaining the draft law to ensure quality; pay attention to reviewing to ensure consistency and synchronization with the legal system and existing laws as well as relevant laws to be amended. Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Nguyen Duc Hai requested to ensure the implementation of the innovation policy of the Party, State and National Assembly in the work of law making; strictly implement the provisions of Resolution 27 and Resolution 118. Regarding the contents of the Agency in charge of reviewing and asking for opinions, the National Assembly Standing Committee agrees with the opinion of the majority of the Standing Committee of the Science, Technology and Environment Committee to submit this Law project to the National Assembly for approval at the 8th Session. Also in the program, the National Assembly Standing Committee gave opinions on submitting to the National Assembly for approval the proposal to appoint judges of the Supreme People's Court and consider approving the draft Resolution on appointing members of the National Council for Selection and Supervision of Judges./.