Lobbying in the Czech Republic Under the New Law

What has actually changed in the Czech Republic

Until mid-2025, lobbying in the Czech Republic operated without specific statutory regulation. Companies and interest groups could influence the drafting of laws without mandatory transparency, which led to debates about the fairness of the legislative process.

The new law responds to this situation; its aim is not to ban lobbying, but to set clear rules for it. The law treats lobbying as a legitimate part of the democratic process that provides expert input for decision-making. Adoption of the regulation was linked to drawing funds from the National Recovery Plan.

Specifically, the law introduces a mandatory public register, notification obligations, and sanctions for breaches. This change formalises relationships between the private sector and public administration.

For your company, this means a fundamental change, because lobbying is no longer an informal activity but a regulated activity subject to public scrutiny.

Who qualifies as a “lobbyist” under the law and who it applies to

The law defines key terms: lobbying, lobbyist, lobbyist (intermediary), and lobbied person. Understanding these definitions is essential for proper application of the law.

Lobbying means communication with a lobbied person conducted for the purpose of influencing the discussion, adoption, or amendment of a legal regulation. The key feature is that the activity is carried out on an ongoing basis, or that it is targeted at changing legislation in the interest of a specific entity.

Who is who:

1. Lobbyist: A natural or legal person in whose interest lobbying is carried out (typically your company).
2. Lobbyist (intermediary): A natural person who actually performs the lobbying and communicates (an employee, an external contractor).

Without entry in the register, you must not carry out lobbying, as registration is a constitutive prerequisite for the lawful performance of this activity.

An example of lobbying is an effort to directly influence a lobbied person when preparing a law, for example by proposing an amendment to a specific section. A legal entity cannot speak for itself, so it must designate natural persons who will act on its behalf.

By contrast, it is not lobbying where it concerns ordinary dealings with authorities in administrative proceedings or the exercise of rights in court proceedings.

Who the law applies to – who the “lobbied persons” are

The law exhaustively defines the group of persons in relation to whom lobbying is regulated. These persons are referred to as lobbied persons.

Lobbied persons include in particular:

• The President of the Republic and the Head of the Office of the President of the Republic.
• Members of the Chamber of Deputies and Senators of the Parliament of the Czech Republic.
• Members of the Government, their deputy ministers, and state secretaries.
• Heads of central administrative authorities and their deputies.
• Government commissioners and members of the boards of selected institutions.
• Advisers to members of the Government, MPs, and Senators.

By contrast, regional and municipal councillors, ordinary officials at ministries, and assistants to MPs (unless classified as advisers) remain outside the regulation. The law primarily focuses on the central level of legislation.

The practical impact is that if a mayor is dealing with a local ordinance, it is not lobbying under this law, but if you approach an MP, it is lobbying.

Who must comply with the new law in practice

The new law applies to a broad range of entities, in particular:

• Commercial companies: Especially in regulated sectors such as energy, pharmaceuticals, or banking.
• Industry associations and federations: For example, the Czech Chamber of Commerce or professional chambers.
• Non-governmental organisations (NGOs): If they systematically advocate for legislative change.
• Professional lobbying agencies: Entities offering lobbying as a service.
• State-owned enterprises: If they influence legislation outside the scope of their tasks.

Communication within administrative or court proceedings, the exercise of the right of petition, or the activities of trade unions within the tripartite framework do not fall under the law.

Practical impacts for companies: Registration and obligations

From the effective date of the law, strict rules apply to all entities that come into contact with lawmakers.

Transitional period

The law established a transitional period for entities that were already lobbying before it took effect. These entities were required to submit an application for registration by a specified date in order to continue their activities without interruption. If you missed this period, you must not lobby until you are registered.

Registration (procedure for new applicants)

If you want to start lobbying now, you must register before commencing lobbying activities. The process includes preparing supporting documents, identifying the lobbyist, and defining the area of interest.

The application is submitted electronically to the Ministry of Justice. The Ministry primarily reviews the integrity of the person lobbying, with an obstacle being a final conviction for criminal offences related to corruption or lobbying.

The Ministry will make the entry within the prescribed time limit. Only upon delivery of the notification of registration does the authorisation to lobby arise.

Obligations after registration

Lobbyists have three main obligations. The first is the duty to inform: with each contact with the lobbied person, you must state that you are acting as a lobbyist and whom you represent.

The second obligation is to submit public lobbying statements. This report is usually filed semi-annually and contains details of who met with whom and on what. The third obligation is to report changes in the registered details without undue delay.

Sanctions for breach of the law

Failure to comply with the rules is punished as an administrative offence, with the supervisory authority being the Ministry of Justice.

The main sanctions apply for lobbying without registration, failure to submit a lobbying statement, or providing false information. Fines may reach up to 3% of a legal entity’s net turnover.

In addition to financial loss, a key risk is publication of the offence. A record of a breach of transparency rules may lead to reputational damage in ESG ratings or a loss of trust among business partners.

Exemptions: What is not lobbying

The law defines situations that are not lobbying, even if they involve dealings with the state. This includes interactions within administrative and court proceedings or the exercise of the right of petition.

This also includes individual civic communication, provided it is not a systematic activity in the interest of an entrepreneur. Exemptions also include official consultation procedures and ordinary operational communication between state-owned enterprises and their founder.

The lobbying register in practice

The lobbying register is a public information system containing lists of lobbyists, lobbied persons, and public lobbying statements.

The law provides for the protection of trade secrets; however, the basic fact that you are lobbying in relation to a particular law is public. Competitors may therefore find out which legislation you are interested in.

How a specific company should proceed: A practical plan

The first step is an internal audit to identify who in your company communicates with public administration and politicians. You must distinguish whether this involves lawyers in administrative proceedings or management dealing with legislation. If the audit reveals lobbying activity, register the company as a lobbyist and the relevant employees as lobbying persons.

Next, implement a system for recording meetings, because each lobbying person must keep a record of the date, the name of the lobbied person, and the topic. Without these records, you will not be able to compile the mandatory report.

Instruct employees on the obligation to identify themselves and on the prohibition of providing unauthorised benefits to lobbied persons, which is regulated by related conflict-of-interest legislation.

The final step is to set up regular reporting and reminders of deadlines for submitting statements.

If you are unsure how to set up your processes, the legal team at ARROWS, a Prague-based law firm, can assist you with a comprehensive compliance programme.

Read also:

• Czech Lobbying Act: Mandatory Register, Obligations and How to Comply
• Do You Need an Ethics Line or Whistleblowing Mechanism in Czechia?
• Who Is Really Liable in the Czech Republic When the Company Gets Fined: The Firm or the CEO?
• Can I Be Personally Liable as a Director of a Czech Company?
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