“Analysis of the first registrations in the Register of Lobbyists and the impact of the new law “On Lobbying” on the market and the interaction of business with the state.”, — write: www.pravda.com.ua
However, for Western countries, lobbyists or entire lobby groups are full-fledged participants in social and political life, who have their own weight. And they work publicly and openly – unlike how it was in our country until recently. I will talk about the first steps of Ukraine on the way to legalizing lobbyists.
The way to the legalization of lobbyists In February 2024, the Verkhovna Rada adopted the European Integration Law of Ukraine “About lobbying”. The document introduces legal regulation of lobbying activities in accordance with international standards, provides transparent mechanisms for the interaction of government representatives with interested parties, and establishes control over the activities of lobbyists.
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In Ukrainian legislation, for the first time, the key terms and principles of lobbying were defined, the rights and obligations of lobbying subjects and objects of influence were established, and the creation of an open Transparency Register was provided for, the administration of which was entrusted to NACP.
The law actually went into effect upon launch Transparency registerwhich took place on September 1, 2025. Initially, it was assumed that its creation would be financed by means of international technical assistance, but the process was delayed due to USAID’s withdrawal from Ukraine.
The legislative initiative is active promoted representatives of lobbying organizations interested in the existing mechanism for defending corporate interests, but at the same time caused concern among a number of public organizations: by advocating reforms, they will run the risk of being audited by the NAKC.
Who is registered in the Transparency Register (lobbyists) The non-governmental organization “Anti-Corruption Headquarters” analyzed the first ones 92 subjectsregistered in Transparency registersand revealed certain trends.
During the two months of operation of the Register, the NAZK registered 92 lobbying subjects, including 48 legal entities (52%) and 44 natural persons (48%), which indicates an almost equal distribution between legal entities and natural persons.
On the one hand, several individual lobbyists can act on behalf of one legal entity. On the other hand, those who lobby the interests of companies or associations can be registered in the Register as independent natural persons.
Which companies have the most? Analysis of 48 legal entities by sector shows the following structure:
- associations and public associations — 31%,
- consulting, legal and PR companies — 21%,
- bar associations — 13%,
- tobacco industry — 10%,
- retail and wholesale trade — 9%,
- other sectors: industry, finance and education — about 16%.
Among the legal entities, business associations and industry associations predominate, which represent the collective interests of business and play the role of mediators between the state and the private sector. In particular, among them: the European Business Association, the Union of Ukrainian Entrepreneurs, the Ukrainian Food Retail Alliance, the European-Ukrainian Energy Agency, the Ukrainian Grain Association, Ukrtyutyun, the Association of Manufacturers of Innovative Medicines and others.
Consulting, legal and communication companies specializing in government relations and GR support are also actively represented, including Ader Haber Government Affairs, Good Politics, Artzinger Lobbying Solutions, Government Relations Consulting, Global Solution Partners, Lobby Alliance Corner, Lobby Club, AB Impact, Axilium Group and others. They form the professional core of the lobbying services market, providing analytical, legal and public support to clients.
A separate group consists of law associations, including Alarius, Globa and Globa, Ekvum, Fincord Intelligence, Hillmont Partners, and the Garantia Law Office. Their activities are aimed at legal support of lobbying processes, development of analytical conclusions, consulting on regulatory and legal issues and representation of clients’ interests in state bodies.
Among the industries that are present in the Register, the tobacco industry occupies a prominent place. It includes such Ukrainian representative offices of multinational companies as Philip Morris Ukraine, V.A.T.-Pryluky, Imperial Tobacco Ukraine, British American Tobacco Sales and Marketing Ukraine and JT International Company Ukraine and the Ukrtyutyun association. Their activities are aimed at shaping policy in the field of production and distribution of tobacco products and tobacco products for heating and advertising. It is noteworthy that one of the key operators of the market, the former company TEDIS Ukraine, the newly created DT Solutions, as of October 2025, is not yet registered in the Register of Lobbyists, despite its significant role in the distribution of tobacco products in Ukraine.
The Register also includes representatives of retail and wholesale trade: Roche Ukraine LLC, Procter & Gamble Ukraine LLC, Metro Cash & Carry Ukraine LLC, and Vigydna Purcha LLC. They focus their efforts on lobbying for tax conditions, import regulation, simplification of customs procedures and ensuring the stability of economic activity.
Other sectors include industry (ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih, Orlen), finance (State Savings Bank of Ukraine) and education (Vinnytsia National Agrarian University), which indicates the expansion of the range of interested parties seeking to participate in policy formation.
How the registry will change the lobbying market The general structure of the Register shows that there are many interested in officially being lobbyists and providing such services. The active registration of almost a hundred subjects during the first two months shows the high interest of business associations, consulting, legal and lobbying companies in providing professional services in the field of representation of interests.
This distribution demonstrates that the Ukrainian lobbying market is gradually acquiring the characteristics of a mature system, where the interaction between business and the state takes place transparently and within the legal framework.
The appearance of the Register of Lobbyists increases confidence in the lobbying market. After all, on the one hand, lobbying legalizes relations between companies and their subjects, providing an opportunity to officially influence state authorities within the limits of the law, to participate in the development of draft laws and other legal acts in an open and accountable manner.
On the other hand, this creates conditions for the growth of the value of lobbying services, as the official status and transparent reporting increase the reputational value of such companies.
However, the mere fact of launching the Register is not yet a success. Whether the perception of Ukrainians about who lobbyists are will change will depend on the extent to which lobbying subjects themselves are ready to adhere to the principles of openness, we will regularly report about meetings with the authorities, concluded contracts with companies, real rewards and volumes of services provided. It is the level of this reporting that will determine real transparency and trust in the lobbying system in Ukraine.
Serhii Mytkalyk, chairman of the board of the NGO “Anticorruption Headquarters”
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