Serbia’s renewable energy market is in the midst of transformation, driven by domestic reforms and international partnerships – most recently, with the governments of France and the USA in the field of energy efficiency.

Excitement was high when, just over three years ago, the Law on Digital Assets came into effect, positioning Serbia as a pioneer among countries recognizing the development opportunities of advanced technologies that lacked a regulatory framework to reach their full potential. This was followed by a protracted period of enacting secondary legislation, alongside global macroeconomic turbulence, which inevitably impacted the development of industries and markets, especially those that are “young” and insufficiently mature. Despite the enthusiasm and efforts of the local Web3 community and advocates for using digital assets as a tool to boost the national economy, these hurdles appear to have significantly slowed the anticipated growth.

The Serbian financial sector is undergoing significant changes, with recent and upcoming legislative reforms set to reshape its landscape. The Payment Services Law, adopted on July 31, 2024, introduces key regulatory updates aimed at modernizing payment systems and aligning them with European standards. Additionally, amendments to the Banking Law and the new Financial Consumer Protection Law are expected to be adopted soon, further strengthening the regulatory framework. Together, these changes are expected to have a profound impact on market participants, from traditional banks to fintech companies, as well as consumers, who stand to benefit from enhanced protections and greater transparency.

By the spring of 2025, Serbia will likely have a new cybersecurity law. The law is aimed at bringing the national legal framework in line with that in Europe as expressed in the NIS2 Directive (2022). The draft law that passed the process of the public consultation in 2023 and underwent minor additional changes in 2024 (Draft Law) nevertheless differs from NIS2 in certain important aspects.

According to the latest data from the Hungarian Central Statistical Office, nearly 100,000 foreign nationals were employed in Hungary as of July 2024, with almost 80% coming from third countries. After years of government-led anti-immigration messaging, many Hungarians have expressed fear and outrage at the sight of large groups of Indian, Filipino, and Vietnamese workers in smaller towns, perceiving them as competition for job opportunities.

The development of offshore wind farms in Greece represents an ambitious step in the country’s energy transition, further promoting the shift towards renewable energy sources and the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions. The regulatory framework governing the installation and operation of offshore wind farms has evolved significantly in recent years, reflecting both national and international energy commitments, as well as the technological and environmental challenges accompanying such investments.

The proposed Draft Law on Amendments and Supplements to the Law on Games of Chance brings several important changes, certain new legal solutions as a result of the needs of practice and market development, harmonization of the text of the law with technological development in this area, but also introduces new obligations to organizers and significantly increase in fees for obtaining approval and for organizing of games of chance.

On 1 October 2024, the Hungarian Government published a decree on the basic regulations of settlement planning and construction requirements, which fundamentally rewrites and clarifies the frameworks for construction and property planning in many areas. Among these, one regulates the placement of solar panels and solar collectors, while another sets out the general framework for the installation of wind turbines.

Unauthorized constructions have been a prominent issue in Greek reality for decades, leading to repeated legislative attempts to address it. Currently applicable legislation (law 4495/2017) provides for legalization of such unauthorized constructions, as well as arbitrary changes of use, subject to conditions and further to submission of statements, payment of fines, etc.

The European Commission recently launched the consultation phase on two essential draft regulations to strengthen the EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) regulation’s operational structure. These include the draft Implementing Regulation for Authorized Declarants and creating a comprehensive CBAM registry. Stakeholders can submit feedback until November 28, 2024. These regulations clarify key aspects of the definitive CBAM implementation, set to begin on January 1, 2026.

The Government of Hungary has overhauled the regulatory framework governing the district heating sector. The legislative changes are primarily aimed at supporting substantial new investments in district heating production by increasing the profit limits for new installations utilising renewable and geothermal energy.

The Misdemeanor Court in Podgorica recently imposed a fine of EUR 806,953.09 on the telecommunications company M:tel doo Podgorica (“M:tel”) for the acquisition, by its related Serbian company, of 50% shares in the Slovenian company Arena Sport doo Ljubljana (“Arena Sport”).

I am not a political expert, but I grew up in Hungary and the United States and have always focused on both countries' policies and political climates. These opinions are based on what I have seen over the past ten-plus years of living between our countries and the policies we have seen from Harris and Trump (either spoken or acted). Both candidates have notable implications for Hungary's relationship with the United States. It could impact NATO dynamics, visa policies, and economic agreements. Each candidate offers distinct approaches that could affect Hungary’s foreign policy and its alignment within Europe.

The Croatian Lobbying Act (Official Gazette 36/2024, the “Act”) entered into force on 1 October 2024, marking Croatia’s first comprehensive regulation of lobbying activities. The Act establishes significant new rules for lobbyists and companies alike, requiring compliance when interacting with public officials to advocate for business or organisational interests. This regulatory development represents a transformative shift in how entities engage with policymakers and will necessitate careful attention to adherence with these newly established standards.

The National Council of the Slovak Republic has recently approved significant changes to the Value Added Tax (VAT) rates, which will come into effect as of January 1, 2025. Here are the key updates:

NNDKP Environment Flash No. 10/2024:

Several provisions of the new Act on Hungarian Architecture ("Architecture Act") entered into force on 1 October 2024, as a result of which the previous Building Act was repealed. The Architecture Act has taken over and supplemented many of the provisions of the previous Building Act, however, also contains a number of new rules.

New Joint Instruction No. 196/2024, “On cooperation between the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ministry of Economy, Culture, and Innovation, and the State Intelligence Service regarding the issuance of residence permits for foreigners” (the “Instruction”), came into effect on 22 October 2024. This Instruction, aimed at clarifying and improving coordination among public institutions, does not amend existing residence or unique permit (i.e., a residence permit issued for employment purposes that combines both the residence and work permit) procedures for foreign nationals. Instead, it reaffirms the established process, ensuring that it remains consistent while improving transparency and efficiency.