Ukraine has taken stock of the first year of its lobbying legislation with national authorities, practitioners and international partners.
The progress made during the first year of implementation of Ukraine’s lobbying legislation was reviewed at the event “Lobbying in Ukraine: Initial Results and Prospects”, held in Kyiv on 1 September 2026. The event was jointly organised by the National Agency on Corruption Prevention (NACP) and the Council of Europe and brought together 35 representatives of key national stakeholders, including public authorities, practising lobbyists and civil society.
The event provided a platform for dialogue and cooperation and aimed at developing a shared vision for the further evolution of lobbying legislation, ensuring alignment with Council of Europe standards.
Denys Maslov, Minister of Justice of Ukraine, Viktor Pavlushchyk, Head of the NACP, and Hanne Juncher, Director of Security, Integrity and Rule of Law at the Council of Europe were among the high level participants launching the event.
Mr Maslov stressed that while influencing government decision-making is inherent to any democratic system, such influence must be transparent, comprehensible and accountable to the public. Marking the anniversary of the lobbying law’s entry into force, he noted that the milestone provides an opportunity to assess future priorities and ensure that lobbying becomes a recognised and legitimate component of Ukraine’s democratic governance.
In her remarks, Ms Hanne Juncher stressed the significance of transparent and accountable lobbying for Ukraine’s democratic development, particularly in the current context. She recognised the adoption of the Law as an important step towards strengthening public trust and reassured the Council of Europe’s support for Ukraine’s anti-corruption reforms.
Mr Viktor Pavlushchyk noted that Ukraine had already made significant progress in this area: “The past year has demonstrated that transparent lobbying in Ukraine is not only possible but is becoming an established practice. At the same time, further efforts are required to develop the institution and raise awareness among all stakeholders.”
During the event, the European standards and the international experience on lobbying was presented by a Council of Europe expert, covering regulatory approaches from across Europe, mechanisms to prevent undue influence, and the EU Transparency Register’s role in enhancing law-making accountability. The representatives from the OECD also highlighted OECD recommendations and approaches to lobbying with specific examples from Ukraine and other countries.
A round-table discussion moderated by the Council of Europe focused on practical experiences, good practices, challenges, gaps, and prospects for further legislative development.
The event was livestreamed on YouTube and made available for those who wish to follow the discussions in detail.
The activity was organised within the framework of the project Anti-Corruption Transformation in Ukraine.
