“Education for lobbyists is a prerequisite for the sustainable development of the profession,” said Dovidas Vitkauskas at the opening of the Odessa chapter

The Ukrainian National Lobbyists Association continues to share materials from the grand opening of the UNLA Odessa chapter. One of the speakers at the panel discussion on the role of professional lobbying was Dovidas Vitkauskas, an advisor to the Lithuanian government and former head of the European Union project “Support for Judicial Reform in Ukraine.”

The speaker presented a European perspective on the regulation of lobbying activities. He noted that advocacy is an integral part of democratic processes, but it requires uniform and clear rules for all participants. In his view, transparency in contacts, professional ethics, and effective oversight mechanisms serve as safeguards against behind-the-scenes influence, conflicts of interest, and opaque backroom decisions.

Separately, Dovidas Vitkauskas addressed the issue of training professionals in this field. According to him, an educational component for lobbyists is a mandatory requirement, not merely a desirable one. The debate centers solely on what the level of this education should be: is specialized professional training sufficient, or is a full higher education degree required?

Dovidas Vitkauskas discussed the characteristics of lobbying in the European Union and Lithuania, comparing approaches to transparency and oversight in this area.

In conclusion, Mr. Dovidas confirmed that the establishment of lobbying as a distinct, recognized profession is the foundation for adequate legal protection of lobbyists as entities engaged in business activities.