This was emphasized by the Director of the Economic Security Bureau of Ukraine Vadym Melnyk during a meeting with representatives of business associations and civil society institutes of the Lviv region. The event was held as part of a working trip of the Bureau's management to the Territorial Administration of the ESBU in the Lviv region.

As the Director noted this meeting aims to establish a dialogue between the Bureau and business for coordination in matters of the economic security of the state.

Business representatives were presented with the "Project of the regional plan to combat the shadow economy" which provides for actions and measures aimed at reducing the scale of smuggling, evasion of income declaration and facts of VAT fraud.

The document was developed by specialists of the Territorial Administration of the Armed Forces together with scientists, experts and representatives of the Lviv regional Military Administration. It was also presented to representatives of international organizations and received favorable reviews.

"Today the opinion of the business environment is important for us. After all business fills the budget and attracts investments into the economy. It is necessary to create conditions for transparent work and communication with subjects of economic activity, with institutions of civil society," noted Vitaliy Dragunov.

The participants of the meeting noted that law enforcement agencies and business representatives have no conceptual worldview differences regarding where the country should move economically.

The main thing is that bigger risks for the economy should not be found in those enterprises that pay taxes and fill the budget. "If we "beat" real business, we will actually beat the budget. Instead, it is necessary to attack the shadow sector, which harms the budget, harms "white" business, including by creating unhealthy competition. With a business that clearly follows the "rules of the game" established by the state there should be normal partnership relations so that it works successfully, receives profits for itself and pays more to the budget. The pressure on such a business is unacceptable, - noted Vadym Melnyk.

The event was attended by the heads of the central office and regional representation of the ESBU, representatives of the European Business Association, the Association of Taxpayers of Ukraine, the International Women's Club Business Woman Club, the Business Community "Bort", the Association "Lviv Cluster of Information Technologies and Business Services", the Women's Business Chamber, The Committee of Entrepreneurs of the Lviv region and other institutions of civil society.