Published: March 24th, 2016

March 24, 2016, 12:00

Lomonosov housing MSU

On the theme:

The round table devoted to features, challenges and opportunities for interaction between government and society. Once again experts will discuss mechanisms for effective and civilized lobbyism, the need to create professional standard in the field of representation of business interests in government agencies, as well as the credibility and content of legislative regulation of lobbying processes.


Moderator:

Irina Tolmacheva, MEF coordinator


Among participants:

M. Bashirov, I. Begtin, E. Voitenko, I. Glushkov, I. Klotchkov, E. Korchevoi, S. Naumov, L. Orlov, A. Porfiriev.

As a result of significant changes in the country over the past 20 years in the socio-economic sphere a private interests which require protection manifested. This was the starting point for the creation and development of the institute of lobbying, but also laid bare all the shortcomings of the Russian society of the transition period. How to make the mechanisms of lobbying more transparent and accessible was discussed by the participants of the round table "The civilized lobbyism: effective interaction between government and society", which took place on March 24, 2016 at the Moscow Economic Forum. Organizer and moderator was Irina Tolmachev, coordinator of the MEF. During discussion the questions on effective instruments of interaction between government and society, and the need to train qualified staff, who will be able to implement projects, the need for a civil society that will fight for their rights were raised. The experts shared their vision of the professional standards of representation of business interests in government, what should be a law on lobbying, made a proposal to establish a voluntary register of lobbyists, that subsequently will be an important step for the formation of civilized lobbyism in Russia.

The participants in their speeches emphasized that the people of our country the word lobbying has negative associations such as corruption and bribery, but these approaches should be excluded, and the lobbying should strive for transparency and legitimacy. Moderator Irina Tolmacheva noticed that it was not possible to drive the Russian lobbyism in the frame, although there have been attempts in the past 20 years, but they did not lead to fruitful results. The lobbying sphere is a very complex and multi-faceted, it intertwines political and economic interests. Impressions of the event shared a special GR-correspondent Sergey Mulyar: "The main argument, which turned on the section - is the question of the regulation of the industry. Does the registry needed should look like law and whether it is needed at all.

Irina Tolmacheva moderator of evalutated the debate as "perky happened." This assessment is true. The vividness was imparted not only by the caustic questions from the audience, but also by the contradictory positions and views within the community of GR professionals. Perhaps this fact and the fact that the regulation of such a sensitive sector as the interaction with the government can fully affect the interests and business and society ( "from grandmother fighting for her rights in the state managing company to the lobbyists of large corporations" - quote from one of the section participants) and cause for a loud resonance, It stops the power to take steps in this direction.

But which turn this matter will take in the near future will not depend on the business or society needs, but entirely on the position of the State. In that the participants were unanimous. Variations of where the development will go were discussed as well. While we watch the events, individual participants who bet on the actual amount of the benefit of one of the options will be waiting for their win. So betting on the GR to regulate the industry in Russia began its work on this forum. A good reason to earn. The good organization of the forum should be noted. It can be seen that the initiators approached seriously. We look forward to the next meeting."

Source: PR department of MEF