CEE Legal Matters
In-depth coverage of the news and newsmakers that shape Europe's emerging markets
Sorainen has successfully represented municipal transport organiser Susisiekimo Paslaugos before the Lithuanian Court of Appeal, which has ruled that the approximately EUR 1 billion tender conditions for 300 new electric buses and passenger transport services launched by the Vilnius City Municipality are lawful.
On October 16, 2025, the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) issued an important ruling on the right of beneficiaries of European funds to an effective remedy against decisions of national authorities ordering the recovery of subsidies granted under Regulation (EU) 2021/1060 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 June 2021 laying down common provisions on the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund Plus, the Cohesion Fund, the Just Transition Fund and the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund and financial rules for those and for the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund, the Internal Security Fund and the Instrument for Financial Support for Border Management and Visa Policy.
In The Debrief, our Practice Leaders across CEE share updates on recent and upcoming legislation, consider the impact of recent court decisions, showcase landmark projects, and keep our readers apprised of the latest developments impacting their respective practice areas.
Wolf Theiss has announced the addition of six new Partners through the promotions of Hungary-based Norbert Balint, Austria-based Johann Hwezda, Christopher Juenger, and Eva Stadler, and Poland-based Marcin Rudnik, as well as Romania-based Claudia Popescu joining the team.
As Europe recalibrates its security architecture, military procurement has become a strategic policy lever. The White Paper for European Defence – Readiness 2030 envisions mobilising up to EUR 800 billion to reinforce Europe’s defence industrial base, while placing clear responsibility on Member States to build national capabilities, including through joint procurement, as part of a broader European readiness effort.
In September 2025, Bernitsas announced that Aktor Group's EUR 367 million acquisition of Aktor Concessions (as reported by CEE Legal Matters on May 15, 2025) has now closed.
The Hungarian government is advancing its multi-year plan to bring key diagnostic imaging services under public ownership. Legislation adopted in 2023 and 2024 mandates that, from November 2025, state-financed CT and MRI examinations may be carried out only on equipment owned by public healthcare institutions.
