The Ukrainian National Lobbyists Association joined the formation of the anti-corruption policy of the Ministry of Social Policy: lobbying is officially recognized as an element of democratic governance
The Ministry of Social Policy, Family and Unity of Ukraine, upon the proposal of the Ukrainian National Lobbyists Association, included the risk of unlawful influence of lobbying entities on the Ministry’s employees in the register of corruption risks. At the same time, one of the key response measures is to develop an internal document on the mechanisms of interaction between the Ministry’s employees and lobbying entities.
This decision was the result of the work of the Working Group on Corruption Risk Assessment at the Ministry of Social Policy, Family and Unity of Ukraine, established by Order of the Ministry of Social Policy No. 90 of March 11, 2026. At the suggestion of the Ukrainian National Lobbyists Association, a representative of the association, Anti-Corruption Commissioner Yana Tsymbalenko, was included in the group.
The Ministry notes that, based on the results of the corruption risk assessment, the working group formed and approved the relevant risk register, which includes the risk of “the possibility of unlawful influence of lobbying entities on employees of the Ministry of Social Policy”. The response to this risk should be to introduce transparent and regulated mechanisms for interaction between civil servants and lobbying entities.
In fact, it is an important institutional step of the state towards official recognition of lobbying as a legitimate and necessary democratic instrument of interaction between the state, civil society, business and professional associations within the framework of public law.
The Ukrainian National Lobbyists Association emphasizes that the lack of regulated mechanisms of interaction between the authorities and stakeholders creates the basis for non-transparent influence on the decision-making process. That is why the introduction of a civilized lobbying mechanism is a necessary component of the state’s modern anti-corruption policy.
In its appeal to the Ministry, the Ukrainian National Lobbyists Association emphasized that regulated lobbying is allowed:
- reduce corruption and influence peddling risks;
- to transform the influence on government decisions into a transparent and accountable form;
- ensure equal access of stakeholders to the decision-making process;
- improve the quality of management decisions by engaging the expert community.
The Ukrainian National Lobbyists Association is a leading professional organization that systematically works to develop the institution of transparent and ethical lobbying in Ukraine, implement international standards of interaction between the government and stakeholders, and create a culture of open representation of interests in accordance with the practices of the European Union.
The inclusion of mechanisms for interaction with lobbying entities in the Anti-Corruption Program of the Ministry of Social Policy, Family and Unity of Ukraine for 2026-2028 is an important signal for the entire public administration system. This demonstrates Ukraine’s gradual transition to the European model of open governance, where lobbying is seen not as a hidden influence but as a transparent mechanism for public participation in shaping public policy.
