On 22 March 2024, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine adopted Resolution No. 331, which amended the process of adoption and placement of children into other forms of family care.
Amendments to Republika Srpska Civil Procedure Law
The latest amendments to the Republika Srpska Civil Procedure Law were enacted to ensure procedural improvements, align the rules with the European Convention on the Exercise of Children’s Rights, better regulate cases involving marital and family disputes, and strengthen court rulings.
Revitalising Healthcare: Austria's New Healthcare Reform
Austria's healthcare system got a long-anticipated makeover. After years of small-scale adjustments, a collective amendment – the "Vereinbarungsumsetzungsgesetz 2024" ("VUG 2024" or the "reform") – has brought a new wave of changes somewhere revolutionising healthcare in Austria. The VUG 2024 refers to a comprehensive and coordinated change made to a total of 13 legal matters, which are being modified together as a unified act for a more holistic approach. This happens to be one of the biggest reforms in the healthcare sector in recent decades.
Romania: CfD Scheme for Renewables to Go Live in 2024
In March the European Commission approved a EUR 3bln (RON 15.22bln) Romanian scheme to support installations producing electricity from onshore wind and solar photovoltaic. The approval relates to an initiative launched for consultations by the Ministry of Energy in August 2023, aimed at implementing a Contracts for Difference (CfD) support mechanism for low-carbon technologies (the "CfD Scheme").
The Law on Amendments to the Companies Act
The Parliament of Montenegro has adopted again the Law on Amendments to the Companies Act with 43 votes in favor, at the extraordinary session of the Parliament held on January 19, 2024, and the Amendments entered into force on January 23, 2024.
Key Milestone in Corporate Governance Reform: Ukraine Enacts Long-Awaited Law on the Further Liberalisation of the SOE Sector
On 8 March 2024, the Law of Ukraine “Introducing Amendments to Certain Laws of Ukraine on the Enhancement of Corporate Governance” (the “Law” or the “SOE Law”) entered into force. This Law is a significant step towards the alignment of the Ukrainian legal framework for state-owned enterprises (“SOEs”) with international best practices, particularly the OECD Guidelines for Corporate Governance of SOEs (“OECD Guidelines”).
Does the Birkin Handbag Represent a Market of Its Own?
The luxury design company Hermès is facing allegations of engaging in unlawful practices by “tying” the purchase of its popular Birkin bags to the purchase of other luxury clothing and accessory items, as claimed in a class-action lawsuit filed in the US. According to the lawsuit, two California shoppers stated that they were compelled to buy additional Hermès products from various categories such as apparel, scarves, and homeware before being allowed to purchase Birkin handbags from the Paris-based brand.
Brief M&A Notes Entering 2024
How M&A lawyers add value to our clients deals? That’s our job and primary goal.
Top 5 Insolvency Judgments in 2023
In this article, we'll cover a selection of the TOP 5 Czech insolvency case law from last year.
Paradigm Shift of the Grid Connection Regulation in Romania
As everybody knows, grid connection is a big challenge, perhaps the biggest challenge, the renewables encounter nowadays in Romania and elsewhere. According to the data available on the Romanian TSO website, over 20 GW of wind and solar projects seem to have obtained grid connection endorsement (Romanian: aviz tehnic de racordare – “ATR”) to the extent the total installed capacity in the country is about 18.5 GW and the consumption does not expect a serious take-off in the foreseeable future. An even bigger capacity might be in the queue to obtain ATR.
AI Act – New Rules for Tech Companies
The adoption of the Artificial Intelligence Act means a wide range of responsibilities for tech businesses in the European Union. This article guides through the new regulatory framework and its practical implications.
Montenegro's Evolving Legal Landscape: Recent Amendments and Controversies in Games of Chance Regulation
Montenegro's Law on Games of Chance (the "Law") was enacted in 2004 and has undergone multiple amendments since. The most recent ones came into effect on 1 January 2024. The aim of the amendments, as stated by the competent authorities, is to ensure a sustainable regulatory system for organising games of chance via the internet or other telecommunication means, as well as to generate additional revenue from these activities.
Recent Changes in Hungarian E-Commerce and Consumer Protection Regulations
Since early 2024, Hungarian legislative efforts have brought about several updates to consumer protection regulations. Ranging from novelties in consumer complaints and related processes, increased consumer protections fines, expanded rights of the consumer protection and competition authority to an unexpected obligation imposed on e-commerce providers to include the local postal delivery provider as a delivery option, changes to the sector have been diverse.
Artificial Intelligence Regulatory Landscape: EU and Ukraine
The challenges posed by rapid technological advancements and potential risks associated with AI continue to grow. Data protection, cybersecurity, and IP considerations, to name a few. With this in mind, policymakers strongly believe that it is crucial to establish a legal framework regulating, among others, the development and use of AI.
Hungarian Legislation Reform Related to Centralised Procurement for Institutional Pharmacies
The governmental decree published on 22 February (No. 33/2024 (II. 22.)) sets forth the establishment of a new project company to manage the provision of inpatient pharmaceuticals in all public hospitals, as well as those private hospitals that choose to join the initiative. The Decree is a follow up to the amendments in the Medicines Thrift Act (Act XCVIII of 2006) from July 2023, which stipulated the basic conditions for a “unified institutional pharmacy service” for public hospitals. The project company shall be operational from January 2025.
The Government Adopted Secondary Legislation to Launch Renewable Energy Guarantees of Origin
On 27 February 2024, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine approved the Procedure for Issuing, Circulating and Redeeming Guarantees of Origin for Electricity Generated from Renewable Energy Sources and the Procedure for Determining the Environmental Value of Electricity Generated from Renewable Energy Sources.
Open Balkans Unified Labor Market and Some Insights in Foreigners’ Procedures
The Single Open Balkans Labor Market, comprised of Serbia, Albania, and North Macedonia, has commenced on Friday, March 1. This means that all citizens of the mentioned countries will be able to obtain employment in any of the countries within this initiative through the simplest procedure possible.
MC, FDI, and FSR – Or the Three Game-Changing Acronyms for Investment Control in Romania
While the business landscape is well-acquainted with the established Merger Control regime (MC), characterized by extensive practice and ongoing efforts by the Competition Council to streamline processes, attention must also be directed towards two additional control regimes that have been implemented: the investment control regime and the subsidy control regime.