Academic elite working on state reforms: The Board of Trustees of the Ukrainian National Lobbyists Association made key decisions
Today, a regular meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Ukrainian National Lobbyists Association was held, which became an important step in strengthening the institutional and scientific capacity of the organization. The meeting was focused on strategic strengthening of the Association’s expert core and identification of key areas of participation in the formation of modern state policy.
The Board of Trustees includes leading scholars with significant academic and practical experience in lawmaking, constitutionalism, and European integration.
Among them is Vasyl Kostytskyi, Academician, Doctor of Law, Professor, Honored Lawyer of Ukraine, one of the participants in the drafting of the 1996 Constitution and Member of Parliament of Ukraine of three convocations. His many years of experience include both scientific and theoretical research in the field of statehood and legal theory, as well as practical lawmaking. The author of numerous scientific papers and legislative initiatives, he combines academic depth with an understanding of the real mechanisms of state power. Within the framework of the Association’s work, he will coordinate the area related to the formation of the concept of a social contract and the development of proposals for amendments to the Constitution of Ukraine.
The team also includes Olha Susska, a professor and well-known researcher in the field of social communications, media policy and social transformations. Her scientific works are devoted to the analysis of the information space, the influence of media on the formation of public opinion and the role of communication in the processes of state-building. In the context of the UNLA’s activities, her expertise is extremely important for building a high-quality public dialogue around legislative initiatives and building trust in the institution of lobbying as a transparent mechanism for representing interests.
The third member of the renewed Board of Trustees is Yaroslav Melnyk, Doctor of Law, Senior Researcher at the Department of Research and Adaptation of Ukrainian Legislation to EU Law of the Institute of Lawmaking and Scientific and Legal Expertise of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. His professional activity focuses on the methodology of lawmaking and harmonization of Ukrainian legislation with the EU law. Given the intensification of European integration processes, the participation of such a specialist significantly enhances the UNLA’s expert potential.
A number of strategic decisions were made during the meeting.
Participation in the development of codes
The inclusion of the Association’s representatives in the working groups on the preparation of the Statehood Code and the Veterans Policy Code was discussed. It is not only about expert support, but also about the formation of the conceptual framework for future codified acts.
European integration of legislation
The UNLA representatives were approved to join the pool of experts on the analysis and adaptation of Ukrainian legislation to the norms of the European Union. This step is aimed at ensuring systematic compliance of the national legal order with European standards.
Social contract and constitutional changes.
The initiative to formulate a separate concept of amendments to the Constitution of Ukraine as part of the work on a new model of the social contract was supported. In the current conditions of transformation of state institutions, this work is of particular importance, as it is about updating the basic principles of interaction between the state and citizens.
Scientific and theoretical publications
The Board of Trustees approved the preparation and printing of a number of scientific and theoretical manuals, including the concept of the Statehood Code, the concept of the social contract, and lobbying and advocacy in Ukraine. The publications should become a methodological basis for professionalization of the sector and formation of standards of fair interaction between civil society and the government.
Thus, the Ukrainian National Lobbyists Association is consistently strengthening its role as an intellectual and expert platform capable of initiating and supporting systemic changes in the field of public policy, constitutional development and European integration. The involvement of reputable scholars with deep experience in lawmaking and scientific work demonstrates the Association’s commitment to improving the quality of legislative initiatives and laying the foundation for long-term reforms based on the rule of law and a strategic vision of the state’s development.
