As an EU candidate whose accession is contingent upon harmonizing its legislation with EU standards, Bosnia and Herzegovina (“BH”) was required to align its existing personal data protection with the  EU Regulation 2016/679, the General Data Protection Regulation (“GDPR”). BH adopted the Personal Data Protection Law (“DPL”), published in the Official Gazette on 28 February 2025 and entering into force on 4 October 2025.

With the entry into force of the Law on the Legalization of Unauthorized Buildings in Montenegro (effective 1 August 2025), a new legal and regulatory framework has been established to address long-standing issues of unauthorized construction and unclear property status.

Each investment and innovation that contributes to reducing administrative and financial barriers in cooperation with European partners is an additional step toward European financial integration and harmonization. Despite being a European project, SEPA's primary objective is to establish a safe and open global payment system.

On 20 October 2025, in line with the EU's strategy to completely ban imports of Russian gas and oil, the Council of the EU adopted a proposal for a Regulation on phasing out Russian natural gas imports, improving monitoring of potential energy dependencies and amending Regulation (EU) 2017/1938 (the "Regulation").

Imagine facing a massive iceberg as it rises from the ocean. What we see is only a small part of its size—the largest part, its true mass, is hidden beneath the surface.

On October 22, 2025, the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the United States Treasury ("OFAC") updated the Specially Designated Nationals ("SDN") list, which included LUKOIL OAO ("Lukoil") and 3 more of its subsidiaries, and in this way the USA extended sanctions to Lukoil as well.

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.

In July 2025, North Macedonia adopted a new Law on Electronic Communications, replacing the 2014 legislation and laying the foundation for a modern digital framework. The new law aligns the national regulatory environment with key European Union instruments, including Directive (EU) 2018/1972 establishing the European Electronic Communications Code (CELEX No. 32018L1972) and Regulation (EU) 2024/1309 on measures to reduce the cost of deploying gigabit electronic communications networks (CELEX No. 32024R1309). It introduces a series of important reforms aimed at strengthening consumer rights, fostering market competition, and facilitating the rollout of next-generation infrastructure, including 5G networks.

Interim measures, whether imposed by state court or arbitral tribunal, play a critical role in arbitration, serving as a mechanism to preserve the rights of the parties and prevent irreparable harm before a final award is rendered. This series of articles seeks to provide a comprehensive analysis of the legal framework governing provisional measures in arbitration under the laws of the Republic of Serbia. It aims to examine the statutory basis, procedural conditions, jurisdictional aspects, and practical implications of granting such measures.

On 9 October 2025, after the eight special licenses issued by OFAC to NIS AD Novi Sad (NIS) and JANAF, the US sanctions against the Serbian oil company NIS in the majority ownership of Russian Gazprom Group have started to fully apply.

Understanding of the terms in their semantic and teleological context is a precondition for the correct application of regulations. The challenge in understanding the terms is even more significant in cases of specific terms in various industries.

JPM Partners has successfully represented photojournalist Stevo Vasiljevic before the Court of Appeals of Montenegro in two copyright-related civil proceedings against the local public broadcaster Radio Television Podgorica.

The new Law on Health Care entered into force on August 14, 2025. The purpose of enacting this law is to establish a legal framework that will enable a comprehensive reform of Montenegro’s health care system through alignment with modern standards and the legal acquis of the European Union.

October is recognized globally as Domestic Violence Awareness Month—a time to acknowledge and raise awareness about the prevalence and impact of domestic violence on individuals, families, and communities. First declared in 1989 as National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, October is a call to speak out, take action, and reflect on both the legal commitments and the institutional responsibilities that the Republic of North Macedonia has undertaken—and, crucially, what has or has not been effectively implemented.

As of 1 October 2025, the new Law on the Central Register of Beneficial Owners (“Official Gazette of the RS”, Nos. 19/2025, 51/2025, and 60/2025 – correction; hereinafter: the “New Law”) shall enter into force and introduce significant changes for all registered entities in the Republic of Serbia.

Inconsistency in judicial practice, as well as inconsistency with the opinions of the competent ministry, are not new when it comes to labour law.

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.

Belgrade is gearing up to host Expo Belgrade 2027 (Expo 2027), a first-of-its-kind specialized exhibition for Serbia and the Western Balkans. With major infrastructure projects underway and over EUR 1 billion in projected gains, the event promises both opportunity and challenges, according to JPM & Partners Senior Partner Jelena Gazivoda and Zivko Mijatovic & Partners Of Counsel Mina Jovanovic Ninkovic.