“Recently, the Ukrainian business community appealed to the Verkhovna Rada with a call to finally adopt all the necessary changes to the Law of Ukraine “On Lobbying”, which was to work since January 1, 2025. The document was approved in 2024 and its start was scheduled for the beginning of this year. However, through bureaucratic, legal and administrative delays, including the relevant launch”, – WRITE ON: ua.news
Recently, the Ukrainian business community appealed to the Verkhovna Rada with a call to finally adopt all the necessary changes to the Law of Ukraine “About lobbying” which was to work since January 1, 2025.
The document was approved in 2024 and its start was scheduled for the beginning of this year. However, through bureaucratic, legal and administrative delays, including the launch of the relevant transparency register (an electronic tool that will provide open access to information about lobbying and reporting entities), the start of the law was postponed to September 1, 2025
Therefore, although the Lobism Institute officially appeared in the Ukrainian legislation in February 2024, it has not yet been implemented in practice. We must admit that such things often happen in Ukrainian lawmaking because of a number of reasons, and in itself is not a sign of any compulsory or deliberate delaying the process.
In general, the topic of lobbying in Ukraine is not new. It is often discussed in the context of the need to combat corruption. And just this law should regulate the appropriate institute, give everyone the same rules and thus increase the transparency of promoting certain interests. But while there is no effective start, the lobbying is in the moment of zero.
What does the lobbying law provide for what it is – lobbying, how is it different from corruption and will this document go in favor of Ukraine? UA.news political observer Nikita Trachuk He understood the question.
Lobbying law in Ukraine: which envisages
The Law on Lobbying was adopted on February 23, 2024. It identifies key ones concept : lobbying, subject, object, sphere, subject, client, beneficiary, etc.
The main one in this law was the creation of a transparency register that will administer the NACC. It should include all lobbyists (individuals and legal entities, including foreign missions).
The law establishes that lobbying is “activity to influence or attempt to influence, withholding, changing, changing or canceling legal acts in the interests of the beneficiary (commercial or other), for remuneration or reimbursement of expenses.”
It is detailed: the subject can be any person, and objects – bodies of state power and power of local self -government, including their officials. The principles of the institution – legality, transparency, accountability, responsibility, professionalism and ethics.
The law, among other things, provides for:
- The obligation of registration and reporting on clients, amounts and other costs for lobbying activities;
- Administrative liability (fine and even prohibition of lobbying for a certain period or forever) for appropriate actions without status or in violation of the principles of integrity;
- Restrictions for political parties, media, religious organizations and election candidates – they cannot be lobbyists or use lobbyists to promote their own interests.
It is worth noting that NGOs are actively criticized law. Among the causes called activists: non -inclusivity, mismatch with international standards, as well as fuzzy terminological definitions (“commercial interest”, “attempted influence”, etc.), which gives a broad discretion (ie irresponsible powers) to the controlling bodies.
In particular, the organization “Opora” noted that the codes of ethics were developed without public discussion, and the consultation procedures remained opaque. Critics have also noticed that many rights have already been available without lobbyist status, so business may not be registered and stayed in the shadow field and after the introduction of compulsory status.
Lobism: What is it?
Lobism is a one -off or systematic impact on the decision of the authorities to promote the interests of certain groups or persons. Unlike corruption, in lobbying, this effect is open and normatively regulated.
The most striking example of the successful functioning of this institution is the United States. In America, lobbying is regulated by regular reports, rigid frames are operating, and a developed professional lobbying market is formed.
It is a multibillion -dollar industry, but it is provided with transparency and responsibility. American lobbyists submit permanent reports, public information, are clear and compulsory for all codes of ethics, etc.
A great example of a lobbyist in mass culture – Remi Denton, a character of the famous acute political thriller “Card House”, which shows the dark side of American political life. It is an imposing, intellectual and polite person in an expensive costume that has contacts and influence in the wide circles of US political party.
Different characters turn to Mr. Denton during the series for the services he successfully provides. At the same time, the “card house” demonstrates that sometimes such services are at the border of the law, even in somewhere crossing it. And so, similar things also happen in the field of lobbying.
There is also a lobbying institute in the European Union. In particular, Works EU Transparency Register is a database of those who influence the policy of the European Commission and the European Parliament.
It has more than 12.5 thousand participants as of February 2024. There are different approaches in EU Member States: some have official laws (France, Poland, Lithuania), others have self-regulation (Germany, Italy).
Ukrainian law imitates practices such as register, reporting, ethical standards, control by an independent body, etc. But in addition to formal copying, it is important to adapt the experience, eliminate the shortcomings and predict effective implementation.
Lobism is corruption?
Many people wonder: what is the main difference between lobbying and corruption? After all, it seems that it is actually about legalized bribery. But in fact, everything is somewhat more complicated.
Lobbying is an open, legal channel of regulated influence. Compensation is public, registry and reporting exist not on paper, but in practice, but available to journalists and ordinary citizens.
Corruption is a secret, illegal reward without any reporting and with hidden ultimate goals. When legitimate lobbying works, it often displaces illegal arrangements and buries corruption schemes somewhere under the soil. They do not disappear at all, but they exactly lose on a scale.
Lobbying in Ukraine: Will Corruption Overcome
In theory – yes, at least partially. But only for certain conditions.
First, lobbying is a way to bring shadow practices into light, make them public, accountable and controlled. This is a big step forward in the face of total parasitic corruption, which destroys the state no worse than an external enemy.
Secondly, routine practical implementation is also very important. The reister must work, reporting should be submitted, and control should be independent and effective.
Outside, the law will remain simply a beautiful wrapper without a real semantic filling. Administrative penalties (fines, lobbying, etc.) are prescribed in the law, but without constant monitoring they will not work.
Third, it will formalize GR -industry (Government Relations – literally “interaction with the authorities”), where businesses and expert groups represent interests through transparent and professional channels, and not through the same bribery of deputies.
However, there is a risk that without the proper rules, the game can return to the shadow field. If the terms remain evaluated (“commercial interest”, “influence, attempt”), it can then be used for pressure on “disagreeable” lobbyists or failures in control.
The success of the lobbying institute will depend directly on political will: whether the same business will be influenced in the most fair and transparent way. If so, corruption risks will be reduced and state formation will be more effective. If not – we will observe the next restoration of “shadow” in the legal field.
Summarizing, the lobbying institute in Ukraine means a potential change in the paradigm of business and power interaction: from sidelines to transparency, from corruption to a legal GR market. The law has all attributes: registry, reporting, responsibility, ethical framework. It is part of the implementation of the anti -corruption strategy and obligations to the same EU.
However, all the risks are ahead: lack of implementation, sometimes blurred wording, the likelihood of avoiding registration or abuse of power. In order for the Institute to work fully, transparency, independent control, active position of civil society and business are needed.
It is important to remember that lobbying is not a panacea, but just a tool. If used correctly, it is capable of transforming Ukrainian management towards professionalism, integrity and accountability. If not, the results will not be expected.