How does lobbying work in Ukraine, and how does industry expertise help shape legislative initiatives?
Oleksiy Shevchuk, chairman of the board of the Ukrainian National Lobbyists Association, partner and spokesperson for Barristers law firm and attorney-at-law, outlined the key principles of the Ukrainian lobbying model, the role of the professional community, and the mechanisms for interacting with parliament during a legal roundtable.
The focus is on the systemic role of UNLA as an institution that sets market standards, brings together expertise from various sectors, and ensures the development of high-quality legislative initiatives.
What Has Changed Under the Lobbying Law
According to Oleksiy Shevchuk, the passage of the relevant law has significantly streamlined the process of submitting bills to parliament. This has created a more transparent and structured model for interaction between the business community, experts, and lawmakers.
How the Ukrainian lobbying model works
The Ukrainian model is based on collaboration between industry experts and professional lobbyists. Specialists from the agricultural, construction, investment, and other sectors provide substantive expertise, which, combined with lobbying tools, is transformed into legislative initiatives.
A key element is the P2P2MP (People to People to Members of Parliament) formula—an approach unique to Ukraine that outlines the path from professional initiatives to their presentation to members of parliament.
The Role of UNLA in Shaping the Market
The Ukrainian National Lobbyists Association plays a central role in the development of the industry. The organization has an ethics committee and a board of trustees, which ensure the preparation of well-reasoned legislative proposals for various sectors of the economy.
It is the institutional work of the UNLA that sets standards for transparent lobbying and promotes the development of a professional environment.
The Higher School of Lobbying as a Platform for Dialogue
The Higher School of Lobbying is a unique platform that brings together lobbyists and members of parliament. It serves as a venue for presenting developed initiatives, discussing legislative changes, and forming a shared vision for the industry’s development.
Lobbying as a Distinct Profession
Lobbying in Ukraine has already established itself as a distinct profession. According to the Classification of Economic Activities (KVED 70.21), this activity is officially recognized as a separate category.
As Oleksiy Shevchuk emphasizes, lobbying is not a supporting role but a full-fledged profession that ensures effective communication between the business community, the expert community, and the government.
At the heart of the modern model of Ukrainian lobbying lies systematic collaboration among experts, the institutional role of the Ukrainian National Lobbyists Association, and a clear mechanism for transforming ideas into legislative decisions.
