November 17, 2024 — The National Agency on Corruption Prevention (NACP) officially appealed to the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine to postpone the entry into force of the Law of Ukraine “On Lobbying.” The main reason was the incomplete development of the critical digital infrastructure — the Transparency Register — as well as the lack of allocated funding in the state budget.
What does NACP propose?
In its public statement, NACP emphasized the need to delay the launch of the reform in order to allow international partners, particularly USAID, to assist in building the necessary technical foundation for the Transparency Register. This register is intended to serve as an open online platform tracking lobbyists, their communications with public officials, and their reporting on influence-related activities.
What does this mean for the development of Ukraine’s GR market?
Although the law on lobbying was initially scheduled to take effect at the beginning of 2025, it became evident by autumn 2024 that more time was needed for technical and institutional preparation. NACP’s initiative brought the issue into the public spotlight and demonstrated that this reform requires more than political declarations — it demands real digital and institutional capacity.
At the same time, NACP reassured the public that this delay does not indicate the cancellation of the reform. The agency continues to work on the development of the register, ethical guidelines for lobbying entities, and cooperation with the business community.
Why should businesses take notice now?
The postponement of the law’s launch does not eliminate the obligations it will introduce. Companies planning to operate legally in the field of government relations and policy influence should already begin:
- assessing their current interactions with public authorities;
- developing compliance and ethics policies;
- preparing for possible registration in the Transparency Register.
Sources:
