The National Association of Lobbyists of Ukraine (NALU) has announced the introduction of an anti-corruption officer within its structure, stating its intention to become a model of transparent regulation of the lobbying profession and calling on the National Agency for Corruption Prevention (NAZK) to engage in open dialogue on monitoring the activities of lobbyists.
Oleksiy Shevchuk, Chairman of the Board of the National Association of Lobbyists of Ukraine, announced that the Association is introducing the position of anti-corruption officer in accordance with European approaches to transparency and requirements adopted after the NALU was included in the European Parliament’s Transparency Register.
“The National Association of Lobbyists of Ukraine is introducing an anti-corruption officer, complying with EU requirements and confirming that the profession of lobbyist in Ukraine must be transparent, understandable, and operate exclusively within the legal framework and pay taxes,” Shevchuk said at a press conference at the Interfax-Ukraine agency on Wednesday.
According to him, the NALU is the first public organization in Ukraine to formalize the institution of an anti-corruption officer in the professional community of lobbyists. “No gray schemes, no gray money, no tax-free payments. We are setting an example of how modern lobbying should work—as transparent interaction between business and parliament, not corruption,” the chairman of the board emphasized.
At the same time, Shevchuk criticized the NACP’s approved procedure for monitoring the activities of lobbyists, which, according to him, was adopted without public consultation with the professional community. He considers this approach to be interference by a state body in an independent profession.
“The National Agency for Corruption Prevention is actually trying to establish control over the profession of lobbyists by adopting documents without discussion with the market. Just as the state does not interfere in the work of lawyers, private executors, or notaries, it should not usurp influence over lobbyists. Any accountability mechanisms must be discussed publicly with the professional community,” he stressed.
The head of the NLA emphasized that in the absence of open discussion, the association will appeal to parliament, the government, the Office of the President, and European institutions with a report on the risks of excessive interference by the NACP in the regulation of lobbying.
Lyudmila Kozhura, director of the Vadym Hetman KNEU Law Institute and Doctor of Law, in turn, stressed that for European democracies, systematic interaction between state regulators and lobbyist associations is an established practice.
“If Ukraine is moving towards the European community and adopting the best democratic standards, the state must establish regular dialogue with the National Association of Lobbyists of Ukraine. In the EU, the US, and Canada, regulators systematically hold consultations and discussions with lobbyist associations. This format of cooperation should also be introduced in Ukraine, and we are open to this interaction,” Kozhura stressed.
The anti-corruption commissioner of the NALU is Yana Tsymbalenko, an associate professor at Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute, a candidate of sciences in public administration, and an expert in corruption prevention. She noted that any new tools related to the transparent profession of lobbying in Ukraine should be implemented openly.
“Lobbying is not corruption; lobbying is anti-corruption if it is carried out transparently and in the interests of society. The profession of lobbyist requires not only a high level of professionalism, but also a clear understanding of ethical standards and the consequences of decisions made. However, the NACP’s decision to regulate the activities of lobbyists seems premature, to say the least, without broad professional discussion. As the authorized person for corruption prevention, I will ensure maximum transparency in the Association’s activities and prevent any shady practices,” Cymbalenko emphasized.
Executive Director of the National Association of Lobbyists of Ukraine Vitalia Globa reported that the NALU board unanimously supported the introduction of the institution of anti-corruption commissioner and a public appeal to the NACP.
“The National Association of Lobbyists of Ukraine is open to dialogue, cooperation, and professional participation in the preparation of regulations concerning the regulation of the lobbying profession. At the same time, we insist that no decisions regarding the professional activities of lobbyists can be made without the involvement of the relevant association, without professional discussion and transparent procedures,” she added.
Vitalia Globa recalled that earlier, the NALU sent an official notification to the NACP stating that the Association is the first professional organization in the field of lobbying and protecting business interests in Ukraine, brings together leading experts, and is ready to cooperate on regulatory decisions.
NALU representatives also reported that the Association has already developed guidelines on transparency rules for lobbyists and a model contract with businesses, and is preparing educational programs in cooperation with leading universities and international partners. Offline meetings with representatives of lobbying communities in the UK, the US, and EU countries are expected to be held.
The National Association of Lobbyists of Ukraine brings together more than 40 specialists, which is about 40% of the total number of lobbyists registered in the transparency register. The organization calls for an open discussion of the NACP draft document with the involvement of industry representatives, in particular from the fuel, agricultural, energy, and tobacco sectors.
https://interfax.com.ua/news/press-conference/1121804.html
