As part of the ongoing cooperation between the Research Service of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine and the international programme INTER PARES – Parliaments in Partnership, an educational webinar was held on the topic “Transparency and Accountability: the Representation of Special Interests in the German Bundestag”.

The keynote presentation was delivered by Mr. Christian Heyer, Head of the Legal Directorate of the Bundestag, whose portfolio covers budgetary matters, legal affairs, public procurement, and the management of the Lobby Register.

Opening remarks were delivered by:

·      Mr. Denys Maslov, Member of Parliament of Ukraine, Chairman of the Committee on Legal Policy of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine;

·      Ms. Nóra Nestler-Szabó, International Parliamentary Support Coordinator, Bundestag, Germany;

·      Mr. Jonathan Murphy, Head of the INTER PARES Programme.

The webinar explored key dimensions of transparency and democratic accountability in the context of lobbying within the German Parliament. Participants had the opportunity to gain insights into:

- the operation and management of the Lobby Register in the Bundestag;

- the legal framework regulating the representation of special interests;

- the organizational structure of the responsible parliamentary directorate.

The event was part of a broader series of webinars designed to familiarize members of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine and its Secretariat with European best practices in good governance, transparency, and anti-corruption efforts.

Simultaneous interpretation for the webinar was provided thanks to the international programme INTER PARES – Parliaments in Partnership, which made the event accessible to a broader audience.