«Lobbying is an influence that has a name, an address, and a signature». Interview with NACP Head Viktor Pavliushchyk

A little over a year after the adoption of the lobbying law in Ukraine, the Ukrainian business community is actively emerging from the shadows and adapting to the new legal realities. The launch of the Transparency Register has become a crucial tool in making the interaction between entrepreneurs and the state open, transparent, and accountable to society.

Results of the First Year of the Transparency Register

Assessing the initial results of the implementation, Head of the National Agency on Corruption Prevention Viktor Pavliushchyk notes positive dynamics. Prior to September 1, 2025, there was no obligation whatsoever to openly declare lobbying activities in the country. Now, hundreds of registered subjects and thousands of interactions with officials regarding dozens of regulatory acts have been recorded. Financial transparency, an OECD standard, shows that contract values in this area amount to millions of hryvnias.

European Model vs. American Stigma

Many citizens still view the very word «lobbying» with caution, drawing parallels with controversial American practices. However, the creators of Ukrainian legislation deliberately avoided directly copying the overseas model. European approaches were taken as the basis, placing the main emphasis on public registration and strict accountability. As Viktor Pavliushchyk emphasizes, legal lobbying is fundamentally different from backroom deals.

Contradictory Data

There are certain discrepancies in the assessments of how fast businesses are adapting to the new law. Some experts and entrepreneurs point out that the transition period is dragging on, and loopholes in legislation and «gray zones» still hinder the full realization of the institution's potential. At the same time, the NACP leadership insists that a threefold increase in the number of clients and beneficiaries in the second reporting campaign demonstrates real trust in the system.

Prospects and Minimization of Gray Zones

Work on improving anti-corruption and lobbying legislation continues. The agency's main task for the near future is to eliminate loopholes that allow bypassing the law by involving entities that do not fall under its scope. Openness of processes allows the state to receive quality expertise from business, and entrepreneurs to protect their interests legally.