Slovenia’s banking sector continues to exhibit conservative lending trends, with growth concentrated in the household segment. Lending to non-financial corporations remains flat on a year-on-year basis, while household deposits are on the rise. Despite steady progress in digitalization, cash remains dominant – nearly 64% of payment transactions at physical locations in 2024 were conducted in cash.

Following the March 2025 amendment to Hungary’s Fundamental Law, which elevated the use of cash as a constitutionally protected right, significant legislative changes entered into force on 1 July 2025. These amendments aim to bring existing legal provisions in line with the constitutional recognition of the freedom to pay with cash, thereby guaranteeing that consumers can continue to choose their preferred method of payment, including cash, when purchasing goods or using services.

At the meeting of the Social-Economic Council of the Republic of Serbia, a decision was made on an extraordinary increase in the minimum wage in Serbia, which enters into force on 1 October 2025.

Amid the shifting geopolitical landscape in Europe—marked by heightened pressure on defense capabilities and the imperative to enhance strategic resilience—Romania occupies a pivotal position in the region’s security architecture.

It’s mid-July, the summer is in full swing, and most of us are either on annual leave or eagerly counting down the days until we can finally unplug and recharge. That’s why I decided to dedicate this light, summer-friendly topic, perfect for reading in the shade at +35°C, to reminding us that the right to paid annual leave is not only one of the fundamental human rights, but also a necessary response to the lifestyle we lead.

In a rapidly evolving global landscape, regulatory expectations are becoming increasingly complex. While transitional periods may offer a degree of flexibility, the pace of regulatory change demands continuous attention from market players and dedicated resources to maintain compliance and achieve long-term operational resilience.

The fight against software piracy has entered its second phase, marking a significant shift from the earlier era of physical piracy to the current challenges of combating digital piracy.

In light of a judgment rendered in proceedings for the annulment of an unlawful decision terminating an employment contract upon expiry of the probationary period, a question has arisen which, from the standpoint of legal theory and the fundamental principles of labor law, arguably should not be a matter of dispute: should a termination decision issued upon the expiry of the probationary period include a statement of reasons?

On 03.07.2025, the Albanian Parliament approved Law No. 56/2025, adding a new provision to Law No. 7764, dated 02.11.1993, “On Foreign Investments”, as amended. This law was published in the Official Gazette on 11.07.2025.

On 27 June 2025, the Assembly of North Macedonia adopted a new Electronic Communications Act (ECA). This landmark legislation represents a comprehensive overhaul of the country's digital regulatory framework, aligning it with the European Electronic Communications Code (Directive 2018/1972) (the "Directive") and the Gigabit Infrastructure Act (Regulation 2024/1309) (the "Regulation").

By Resolution No. 847 of 14 July 2025, the Government amended the Criteria and Procedure for designating enterprises, institutions, and organizations as critically important for the functioning of the economy and the maintenance of vital public life during extraordinary periods (the "Criteria").

Starting 1 July 2025, Hungary will implement a new procedure aimed at clarifying employment relationships and addressing cases where employers fraudulently evade taxes and social security contributions. The initiative is designed to protect employees while also reducing the administrative burden on employers.

In a significant move towards economic recovery and strategic growth, Ukraine and its international partners have launched several finance initiatives aimed at mobilizing capital and transforming critical sectors. These efforts, including the United States-Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund and other programs announced in 2025, showcase a commitment to rebuilding Ukraine through blended finance models. This article explores these developments and their implications for Ukraine’s future.

In June 2025, a foreign currency (Swiss franc) loan agreement was annulled by the Pest Central District Court, since the creditor bank had failed to properly inform the debtor (who had been a consumer) about the exchange rate risk arising from the agreement. As a consequence, the whole agreement is invalid retroactively from the date of its conclusion, so that the bank is only entitled to recover the amount it lent to the debtor; beyond that, all repayments, interest and charges must be repaid to the debtor.

The long-awaited Bulgarian foreign direct investment (FDI) screening regime is now fully operational.

With the adoption of the Amendment and Supplement to the Investment Promotion Act (the “FDI Act”) in March 2024, along with the publication in the State Gazette of the long-awaited secondary legislation – the Amendment and Supplement to the Rules on the Implementation of the Investment Promotion Act (the “Rules”) –on 22 July 2025, the FDI screening regime became applicable in Bulgaria. Transactions by foreign investors in the areas outlined in the law, above the set thresholds, would need to obtain FDI approval before closing.

A new legislative proposal aims to introduce several exciting innovations in civil litigation. The objectives include speeding up court proceedings, increasing public oversight over litigation, modernizing legal education and academic research, enhancing the Supreme Court’s (Kúria) function of ensuring legal uniformity, and reducing the administrative burden on courts related to their obligation to provide reasoning. We’ve summarized the most intriguing innovations from the proposal below.

In a significant development for the personal data protection landscape in Albania, the Council of Ministers has adopted Decision No. 347, dated 19 June 2025, establishing a new state database titled “Electronic Registry of Data Protection Officers” (DPO Registry). This marks a major milestone in the country’s efforts to align its data governance infrastructure with international and European standards, in line with the newly reformed legal framework on personal data protection.