Kyiv hosted a professional seminar on lobbying as a tool for business development and European integration of Ukraine
On January 29, 2026, Kyiv hosted a seminar-lecture organized by the Ukrainian League of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (ULIE) in cooperation with the Ukrainian National Lobbyists Association (UNLA). The event brought together business representatives, experts, academics, and practitioners in the field of business interaction with government authorities.
The seminar was dedicated to modern approaches to legal and transparent lobbying, the role of this institution in shaping public policy, and preparing Ukrainian business for integration into the European economic and legal space.
Anatoliy Kinakh, President of the ULIE, welcomed the participants. He emphasized that in the context of a full-scale war, the key task for the state and business is to maintain the stability of the national economy and prepare for post-war recovery.
“The main issue we have been focusing on since the first days of the full-scale invasion is the sustainability of the national economy in the face of war and the restoration of society’s self-sufficiency. It is not only about territorial integrity, but also about protecting our right to develop as a modern, democratic, competitive state,” Anatoliy Kinakh emphasized.
He emphasized the irreversibility of Ukraine’s European integration and the importance of not only the formal terms of accession to the EU, but also the dynamic implementation of European standards – the rule of law, equality of all before the law, investor protection and the formation of a civilized market economy.
The ULIE President also emphasized the need for a new industrial and innovation policy, as the current structure of the Ukrainian economy remains predominantly raw material-based.
“About 80% of our exports today are raw materials. This is not the economy of the 21st century. Therefore, the issues of industrial and innovative development and the formation of a modern legislative framework for industrial policy are a priority for us,” he said.
Anatoliy Kinakh highlighted the preservation of human potential, development of entrepreneurship and formation of the middle class as the basis for economic sustainability, public trust and democratic processes.
The opening remarks were delivered by Oleksiy Shevchuk, President of the Ukrainian National Lobbyists Association, who outlined the role of the UNLA as a professional platform for business support in the context of the new lobbying legislation.
“The law on lobbying was adopted as one of the requirements of the European Union. Today, it has begun to really work with the launch of the Transparency Register. My key task was to unite the best experts in lobbying, business, law and science and create an effective professional community,” said Oleksiy Shevchuk.
He said that in a short time, the UNLA was able to achieve systemic results: it managed to include the professions of lobbyist and government relations professional in the state classifier, initiated the development of professional standards, and formed a powerful expert think tank with the participation of leading universities and business representatives.
During the presentation part, representatives of the UNLA spoke. NALU Board Member, attorney Oleksandr Chernykh presented the association’s activities, and UNLA Representative in Brussels Oleksandr Kamenets focused on the peculiarities of lobbying in the European Union and practical aspects of preparing Ukrainian business for integration into the EU single market.
The event culminated in a lecture and presentation part. Liudmyla Kozhura, Doctor of Law, Professor, Director of the Vadym Hetman Kyiv National Economic University Law Institute, revealed the theoretical foundations of lobbying, comparative legal models of its regulation in Ukraine, the United States and the United Kingdom, as well as legal liability for violations of legislation in this area.
Associate Professor of Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute, corruption prevention expert Yana Tsymbalenko focused on the issues of shadow lobbying, corruption risks and mechanisms to counteract the hidden influence of business on the government, emphasizing the ethical dimension and the role of corporate culture.
The seminar demonstrated the growing demand from businesses for legal, transparent and professional tools for interacting with the state.
The cooperation between the ULIE and UNLA, enshrined in the Memorandum, has become an example of consolidating the efforts of the business community and the expert community to shape modern economic policy, develop the lobbying institution, and prepare Ukraine for full integration into the European Union.
