A regional branch of the National Association of Lobbyists of Ukraine has been opened in Dnipro to promote the lobbying profession, represent business interests, and facilitate interaction with government authorities.

A regional branch of the Ukrainian National Lobbyists Association has opened in Dnipro

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A ceremony was held in Dnipro to mark the opening of the regional branch of the Ukrainian National Lobbyists Association (UNLA), which marked an important milestone in the development of this new profession and the institution of transparent lobbying in Ukraine.

The event brought together representatives from various sectors of society—those who generate knowledge, apply the law in their daily professional work, make management decisions, and shape the country’s legislative policy.

The event was attended by members of the Ukrainian Parliament, judges from appellate courts of general jurisdiction, commercial courts, and administrative courts, as well as rectors and representatives of leading institutions of higher education, including Alfred Nobel University, the National Technical University “Dnipro Polytechnic,” the University of Customs and Finance, Dnipro State University of Internal Affairs, and American University Kyiv (AUK).

During the event, participants were introduced to a profession that is new to Ukraine—the lobbyist—as well as the legal framework governing its activities and the role of lobbying in a modern democratic state.

Particular attention was paid to the provisions of the Law of Ukraine “On Lobbying,” which, for the first time, established legal mechanisms for the transparent representation of interests in the process of shaping public policy and legislation.

The participants were briefed on the key concepts of the new legislation, specifically:

  • what constitutes lobbying and what distinguishes it from other types of activities;
  • who can be the subject and object of lobbying;
  • which is the subject of lobbying;
  • What lobbying methods are permitted under Ukrainian law;
  • what constitutes a commercial interest within the meaning of the Act;
  • Key considerations when entering into lobbying agreements;
  • the principles of openness, transparency, and integrity in the activities of lobbying entities.

The presentation also covered the organizational structure of the National Association of Lobbyists of Ukraine, its main areas of activity, and the range of services the association provides to its members and partners.

A separate segment of the event was dedicated to the achievements of NALU during its first year of operation.

Among the association’s key achievements are:

  • the establishment of the Higher School of Lobbying—Ukraine’s first educational center for training professionals in the field of lobbying;
  • development of educational programs and professional courses;
  • developing and publicly presenting positions on current reforms;
  • representing the interests of Ukrainian stakeholders at the national and international levels;
  • the signing of Ukraine’s first contract for lobbying services;
  • the start of the practical training session at the Higher School of Lobbying;
  • the start of the development of the professional standard “Lobbying Professional (Lobbyist)”;
  • submission of applications to the National Qualifications Agency for the development of professional standards for “Lobbying Professional (Lobbyist)” and “Government Relations Professional.”

The UNLA’s initiative to establish a permanent mechanism for cooperation between the judicial system, the academic community, and the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine drew particular interest among the participants.

During the discussion, it was proposed to establish a systematic collaboration through which representatives of the judiciary could provide information on gaps, conflicts, and inconsistencies in the law that arise during law enforcement.

Going forward, it is planned to address these issues in collaboration with researchers and experts from relevant universities, as well as with the participation of the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine, in order to develop scientifically sound proposals for improving the legislation.

Once an expert position has been formulated and the necessary technical discussions have been held, the resulting proposals will be forwarded to the relevant committees of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine for further legislative consideration.

The participants noted that this model of cooperation will ensure a strong link between judicial practice, academic research, and legislative activity, which will help improve the quality of Ukrainian legislation and advance the rule of law.

The opening of the UNLA regional office marked another step forward in the development of the professional lobbying community and the establishment of a modern system of transparent interest representation in Ukraine in line with European standards.

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