On October 26, 2023, the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia passed new amendments to the Law on the Protection of the Right to a Fair Trial (hereafter referred to as the “Law"), which were published in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Serbia No. 92/2023.
Tobacco and Related Products in the Light of Amendments of the Law on Tobacco – Is Regulation of Related Products Market Overdue?
The Law on Amendments to the Law on Tobacco (“the Law”) was published in the Official Gazette of the RS no. 92/2023 of October 27, 2023. The subject amendments entered into force on the eighth day upon the day of publishing i.e., on November 4, 2023, with several exceptions.
New Obligations for Users of the System of Electronic Invoices
On August 25, 2023, the Government of the Republic of Serbia adopted the Personal Data Protection Strategy for the period 2023-2030 (“Strategy”).
Romania to Ratify the Unitary Patent Court Agreement
On 16 November 2023, the Romanian Government approved the draft law aimed at ratifying the Unitary Patent Court Agreement (“UPCA”). Going forward, the draft law will be sent to the Romanian Parliament for its approval.
Serbia: Will FAC-1 Resolve Issues in FIDIC Multiparty Contracts in the Eastern Balkans?
In recent years we have seen major infrastructure projects in the Eastern Balkans, ordinarily based on International Federation of Consulting Engineers (FIDIC) standards, face significant delays and impediments due to complex decision-making processes.
New Hungarian Cybersecurity Laws Introduce Important Obligations – The Countdown Begins
From 1 January 2024, companies operating in Hungary will face new significant cyber security related obligations under the Hungarian legislation implementing the EU NIS2 Directive. In this short article, we describe which companies will be affected by the new regulation and what are the most important tasks in the new year.
Mandatory Deposit Refund System starts in Hungary in 2024
Mandatory Deposit Refund System (DSR) comes into effect as of 1 January 2024 in Hungary. The newly introduced legislation clarifies the key points of the system and the specific obligation of the parties concerned.
Blockchain and Personal Data Protection
We are facing a remarkable growth of blockchain technologies. One of the main functionalities of this technology is to ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of (personal) data. This article addresses possible advantages and risks for the protection of privacy and personal data posed by blockchain technologies and manners how to mitigate risks to protect the rights and freedoms of data subjects and other natural persons.
Amendment to Slovenia’s Employment Relationships Act
On 7 November 2023, the National Assembly of the Republic of Slovenia adopted an amendment to the Employment Relationships Act (“ERA-1D“) that entered into force on 16 November 2023.
Bridging Borders: North Macedonia and Serbia to Sign Memorandum for Construction of a Fast Railway
On Friday, 17 November, the Minister for transport and communications of North Macedonia, Mr Blagoj Bochvarski, and the Minister for construction, transport and infrastructure of Serbia, Mr Goran Vesić, signed a Memorandum for the Construction of a Fast Railway from Niš to Skopje.
New Remedies for Companies in Financial Distress. Brief Considerations on the Restructuring Agreement
In Romania, even the most optimistic estimates show that only a handful of companies (less than 10%) manage to reorganize through insolvency, as previously regulated by Law 85/2006 and then by Law 84/2014 on insolvency prevention and insolvency proceedings (“Law 85/2014”).
Equal Rights for Wines and Glasses: EU Extends Protection of Geographical Indications to Craft and Industrial Products
We can all think of names like Champagne or Feta cheese that are intrinsically linked to the geographical origin of a product and the know-how of its producers, often passed on over many generations.
Legal Aspects of Mergers and Acquisitions in Volatile Markets
A glimpse at legal challenges in mergers and acquisitions within an uncertain business environment.
30 Days for Hungarian SMEs to Create a Whistleblowing System
The Hungarian Whistleblower Protection Act has entered into force this July. While bigger companies have to operate the internal whistleblowing system since the above date, medium sized businesses (50-250 employees) were given a prolonged period until the 17th of December 2023 to implement the reporting channel. Since the deadline is approaching, we summarize how Hungarian SMEs can comply with the Act.
Personal Income Tax Incentives Deadline Extended
The Serbian National Assembly has adopted amendments to the Law on Personal Income (PIT Law) and the Law on Mandatory Social Contributions (SSC Law) extending the deadlines for payroll incentives.
Polo Players and Trademarks: A Fashion Rivalry
Polo shirts are probably more broadly recognized than the sport itself. Unlike t-shirts, polo shirts feature a collar, a sleek design, and a knitted polo player logo on the chest. However, if you’re not fashion-savvy and examine it closely, you’ll notice that this polo player logo varies.
Austria’s Corporate Law Amendment Act 2023: The flexible Company and the Reduction of the Minimum Share Capital of the (Ordinary) Limited Liability Company
A new legal company form and the reduction of the minimum share capital of limited liability companies is expected to make Austria more attractive in the international corporate landscape, particularly for start-ups and venture capital companies.
How Does Romania Prepare for the DSA
On 20 October 2023, the National Authority for Administration and Regulation in Communications ("ANCOM") and the Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digitisation published for public consultation until 31 October 2023, the Draft Law on the establishment of measures for the implementation of Regulation (EU) 2022/2065 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 October 2022 on a Single Market For Digital Services and amending Directive 2000/31/EC, as well for the amendment and supplementation of Law No 365/2002 on electronic commerce (the "Draft Law").