The Verkhovna Rada approved a draft law on lobbying in its first reading Wednesday, completing one of the remaining requirements laid out for it by the European Commission as part of Ukraine’s bid to join the EU.
Ukrainian lawmaker Yaroslav Zhelezniak of the Voice party announced the vote on Telegram, which had 309 supporters and none against.
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The draft law provides a legal framework for lobbying in Ukraine based on international standards.
It sets the lobbying rules and is meant to ensure transparency and curtail corruption.
One way it does this is by establishing the Transparency Register, which is to be administered by the National Agency for Corruption Prevention (NACP).
It’s hoped that the lobbying law will help build a dialog between the state and society – including citizens, civil society organizations, and businesses for when new laws are made.
The draft law must pass a second reading and then be signed by President Volodymyr Zelensky to take effect.
It law is also a step on the path to Ukraine’s EU membership, something Ukraine came closer to in December when the European Council voted to launch accession talks with Kyiv.
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