KYIV, Aug 17 – Most people in Ukraine have serious reservations about obligations the country has undertaken in exchange for lending from international organizations and multilateral institutions, according to a survey by the Social Monitoring Center.

For example, 54.6% of respondents consider it harmful for Ukraine to receive EUR 1.2 billion loan from the European Union under obligations to allow hefty salaries for members of the supervisory boards of state-owned companies, which include many foreigners, Interfax-Ukraine reported.

Other issues that respondents have complained about is giving foreigners an opportunity to procure medicines for Ukraine, to appoint approved people as heads of the tax, customs and judicial system, according to the survey.

About 19.3% of respondents consider this to be neither useful nor harmful, while only 13% believe it is useful, and 13.1% did not answer the question.

Some 75.5% of respondents do not support the obligations that the Ukrainian authorities undertook in the agreements with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on the introduction of market prices for gas and heat for the population. Some 14.7% support the initiative, and 9.8% found it difficult to answer the question.

Some 82.7% indicated that they do not agree that the Ukrainian authorities, within the agreements with the IMF, undertake an obligation to reduce the number of schools and teachers. Some 9.4% agree with this and 7.9% did not answer the question.

Some 65.8% of respondents noted that they do not agree with the fact that, within the agreements with the IMF, the Ukrainian authorities undertake obligations to continue the reform of the health care system, known as the "Ulana Suprun Reform." Some 20.4% of those surveyed agree with this and 13.8% found it difficult to answer.

Some 7.7% of respondents believe that the Ukrainian government is completely independent in its economic policy, 42.6% – "in some issues – independent, in others – it is influenced by other countries and international organizations," 42.8% – "completely dependent on the influence of other countries and international organizations." Some 6.9% found it difficult to answer.

Some 15.2% answered that inviting foreign citizens to work at Ukrainian authorities (Cabinet of Ministers, regional heads) and to manage Ukrainian state-owned companies (Ukrzaliznytsia, Naftogaz, etc.) was useful (15.2%). Some 28.4% indicated that neither useful nor harmful and 46.6% – harmful. Some 9.8% did not answer the question.

The survey was conducted from August 2 to August 11, 2021. Some 3,012 respondents took part in it. The method of collecting information is a personal interview at the place of residence of the respondent, the standard deviation is from 1.1% to 1.9%. (tl/ez)