On July 1, a meeting of the Higher School of Lobbying was held with the participation of People’s Deputy Oleh Dunda
As part of the Higher School of Lobbying, established by the Ukrainian National Lobbyists Association, a professional meeting was held with Oleh Dunda, a member of the Ukrainian Parliament.
The participants discussed current issues related to the development of the lobbying sector, improvements to legislation, the interaction between lobbyists and public officials, as well as the role of local self-government in Ukraine’s future recovery efforts.
Separately, the prospect of establishing a working group within the relevant committee of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine was discussed, with the aim of drafting amendments to the lobbying legislation with the involvement of representatives of local councils, experts, and the professional community.
An important focus of the discussion was the development of a roadmap for interaction between “local council members and lobbyists.” According to UNLA’s plan, this document is intended to serve as a practical tool for transparent, lawful, and ethical communication between lobbyists and local government representatives.
During the meeting, participants also discussed the professionalization of lobbying, the development of professional standards, education for lobbyists, self-regulation, ethical guidelines, and appropriate tax regulations.
Special attention was paid to the future of education in Ukraine. Participants noted that the war, migration, demographic challenges, and a decline in the number of applicants are already having a significant impact on institutions of higher education. At the same time, excessive regulation, complex accreditation procedures, and additional administrative barriers may hinder the development of universities, particularly international educational programs.
The meeting participants emphasized that higher education requires greater flexibility, trust, genuine university autonomy, and government support—not just tighter control.
The event was attended by representatives of the Ukrainian National Lobbyists Association, the Higher School of Lobbying, and the professional community, including Andriy Yosypov, Dmytro Buzanov, Yana Tsymbalenko, Violetta Rybachkovska-Sukhanova, Vitalia Nesterenko, Ivan Synetar, and other colleagues.
Following the meeting, the participants reaffirmed their shared position: the development of the lobbying industry in Ukraine must be based on professionalism, transparency, legality, and accountability. Lobbying should become a civilized tool for interaction between society, business, and the government, rather than a shadowy mechanism of influence.
The Ukrainian National Lobbyists Association continues to work on fostering a professional culture of lobbying, developing the Higher School of Lobbying, and preparing practical tools for transparent interaction with public authorities.
