Lobbying as a tool of state sustainability: why Ukraine needs transparent influence on decisions
Lobbying has long ceased to be a shadowy word with a negative connotation. In today’s world, it is an integral part of the political and economic system, a tool for representing interests and a way to influence decisions that shape the future of states, markets and societies. For Ukraine, which is struggling for its existence and at the same time going through a difficult path of European integration, the issue of lobbying is not about reputation, but about efficiency, survival and the ability to be heard.
Why Ukraine critically needs lobbying right now
Today, international politics is not just about diplomacy at the level of states. It is a competition of interests, strategies, and arguments between businesses, industries, regions, and coalitions. Decisions on financial support, sanctions mechanisms, reconstruction parameters, market access, and EU priorities do not emerge by themselves; they are determined by specific officials, specialized committees, working formats, and expert communities. In this system, the winner is not the one who is morally right, but the one who can systematically, consistently, and professionally explain his or her position. Ukraine is often forced to react to decisions that have already been made, instead of influencing them at the stage of formation. The reason is simple: the lack of structured, legal and permanent lobbying representation.
Institutional lobbying and corruption risks
One of the main problems in Ukrainian discourse is the identification of lobbying with corruption. In fact, these phenomena are opposite in nature. Corruption operates in the shadows, while lobbying operates in the public domain. In the EU, the US, and Canada, lobbying is regulated by law: there are registers of lobbyists, codes of ethics, and requirements for transparency of contacts and reporting.
When there is no legal lobbying, the influence does not disappear – it simply becomes invisible. Without rules and accountability, it turns into a threat, while institutionalized lobbying works as a preventive measure against corruption.
Ukraine without systemic lobbying: lost opportunities
Ukraine’s voice on the international stage often remains fragmented. The state, business, regions, NGOs, and professional associations often act in parallel rather than synchronously. As a result, Ukraine is late with its arguments, loses out on wording in regulatory documents, or lacks resources due to the lack of a clear position at the time of decision-making.
The countries of Central and Eastern Europe have gone this way before. They created systems of representation that allow them to influence EU policy not after the fact, but at the stage of its design. For Ukraine, this experience is not a theoretical but a practical reference point.
Lobbying as a tool for reconstruction and integration
Postwar reconstruction is not only about the scale of destruction, but also about the competition of projects, models, and approaches. International funds, donors, and institutions work according to their own logic of priorities, criteria, and procedures. In order for Ukrainian projects to receive funding, they must be clear, well-reasoned, and fit into the political context of their partners.
In this process, lobbying acts as a translator between Ukrainian needs and the international language of politics and investment. It helps not only to promote individual interests, but also to coordinate the positions of the state, business, and civil society.
Transparent lobbying as part of European integration
The European Union is a space of open competition of interests. Silence or appeals to emotions do not work here. Policy briefs, clear positions, analytics, and systematic presence in the decision-making process work. For Ukraine, as a candidate country, the ability to conduct such a dialog is part of political maturity.
In this sense, lobbying is not an addition to diplomacy, but its continuation with other tools. It allows Ukraine to be not only the object of decisions, but also their co-author.
Why lobbying is an investment in the future
Lobbying is not a threat to democracy. It is the infrastructure of modern politics. The question is not whether there will be lobbying in Ukraine, but whether it will be transparent, professional and accountable. In the context of war and reconstruction, Ukraine cannot afford to stay away from the processes that determine its future.
Influence is not a privilege. It is a responsibility. And today Ukraine must learn not only to fight for its freedom, but also to systematically defend its interests.
Nazarii Volianskyi
Head of Development, Director of the Ukrainian National Lobbyists Association in Poland, Member of the Board of the Association of Taxpayers of Ukraine
