--- title: "Transparency or Illusion: How Lobbying Works in the US and EU and What Mistakes Ukraine Should Avoid" description: "πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡ΈπŸ‡ͺπŸ‡Ί Lobbying: The US and EU have learned transparency, but not equality. Ukraine in 2026: the register works, but there are hidden threats. Analysis of the mechanics of influence and mistakes to avoid. #Lobbying #Politics #Ukraine" date: 2026-08-14T08:04:01.000Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/lobbying-usa-eu-ukraine-2026-en tags: [lobbying, ukraine-politics, usa-politics, eu-regulation, transparency, business-law] publisher: "XAB.info" --- # Transparency or Illusion: How Lobbying Works in the US and EU and What Mistakes Ukraine Should Avoid ![Collage illustrating lobbying in the US and EU: US Capitol, EU flag, handshake, and Ukrainian parliament building](https://xab.info/media/2026/08/14/lobbying-usa-eu-ukraine-2026/lobbying-usa-eu-ukraine-2026-1.webp) ## 🎯 Key Points - The adoption of the lobbying law in Ukraine moved the dialogue between business and power into the legal field, but does not guarantee equality of influence. - The American model (LDA) relies on detailed financial reporting and the separation of lobbying from election financing. - The European model (EU Transparency Register) focuses on the transparency of contacts and voluntary registration with elements of mandatory compliance. - The main risk for Ukraine is the register becoming a tool for large players and ignoring the problem of "revolving doors". August 14, 2026 β€” this is the date when the Ukrainian lobbying regulation system has already been operational for several years. The adoption of the Law of Ukraine "On Lobbying" and the launch of the NAPK Transparency Register marked a turning point, moving the interaction between business and the state from the shadows into the legal field. However, looking at the experience of Western partners, it becomes obvious: registering lobbyists is not a panacea in itself. As data from the US and Europe shows, transparency in lobbying is not synonymous with transparency in decision-making. ### The American Model: "Show Who Pays" The US historically views lobbying as an integral part of the political system. Here, the right to influence power is not restricted but maximally visualized. The foundation of this system is the Lobbying Disclosure Act (LDA). It requires professionals and organizations not just to register, but to provide detailed reporting: who the client is, on what issues work is being conducted, which specialists are involved, and how much money is spent on it. Furthermore, the US maintains a strict separation between lobbying and election campaign financing. The activities of political committees (PACs and Super PACs) are regulated separately, creating a complex but transparent ecosystem of influence. An additional layer of control is provided by the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), which requires the disclosure of activities by persons acting on behalf of foreign principals. The American approach can be characterized by the formula: "show who stands behind the influence and how many resources are spent on it". ### The European Approach: The Logic of Interaction Transparency There is no single lobbying law in the European Union mandatory for all member states. Regulation is concentrated at the level of EU institutions and is based on a voluntary basis with elements of mandatory compliance for access to the buildings of the European Parliament and the Commission. The central tool is the EU Transparency Register. Unlike the US, where the emphasis is on financial reporting, the European model focuses on the quality of interaction and participation in the policy-making process. The system requires disclosure of information about the goals of lobbying activities and contacts with officials. This creates a culture of openness, however, the lack of strict federal legislation at the level of the entire Union sometimes leads to gaps in reporting standards between Brussels and national capitals. ### Contradictory Data There is a fundamental discrepancy between the theoretical goal of registers and their practical effect. On the one hand, supporters of reforms (including Ukrainian legislators and the business community) argue that registration moves the dialogue to a mode of "permanent presence" and legitimizes business interests. As noted by Serhiy Kovtun, Deputy Director of the Legal Department of the EVA network, new legislation allows business positions to acquire official status rather than remaining mere petitions. On the other hand, factual analysis shows that data transparency does not guarantee equality of influence. In the US and EU, large corporations have the resources to create entire lobbying departments, while small businesses often cannot afford professional representatives. Thus, the register records inequality but does not eliminate it. Moreover, in both jurisdictions, the problem of "revolving doors" persists β€” the transition of officials to the private sector and back, which creates hidden channels of influence not always caught by formal registers. ### Lessons for Ukraine: Avoiding Past Mistakes For Ukraine in 2026, Western experience serves not as an instruction for copying, but as a map of minefields. The key conclusion is that creating a register is only the first step. For the system to work, it is necessary to ensure real data verification and strict sanctions for concealing information. It is also important to consider that the formalization of lobbying changes the very nature of the dialogue: business moves from "reacting to facts" to systematic participation in lawmaking. The main challenge for the Ukrainian system is to prevent the register from becoming a "tick box" for large players who already have access to power, and to ensure real protection of the interests of small and medium-sized businesses. Only if lobbying becomes a tool for the competition of ideas, rather than resource power, can the reform be considered successful. ## ❓ FAQ ### Q: What is the Lobbying Disclosure Act (LDA)? **A:** It is the main federal law of the US regulating the registration and reporting of professional lobbyists, requiring the disclosure of information about clients, issues, and financial expenditures. ### Q: Is there a single lobbying law in the EU? **A:** No, there is no single law for all member states in the EU. Regulation is based on the EU Transparency Register, which focuses on interaction with Union institutions. ### Q: Does the register guarantee transparency in decision-making? **A:** No, the register records facts of interaction and influence, but does not guarantee that decisions are made impartially. Large players may have more resources for influence than small ones.