The Ministry of Justice of North Macedonia has published draft amendments to the Law on Personal Data Protection on the ENER platform, opening a public consultation period until mid-March. The proposal introduces several important updates, most notably the first explicit references to artificial intelligence (AI) within the Macedonian data protection framework, alongside changes affecting international data transfers and controller obligations.

Law Office Lazarov Attorney-at-Law Anja Jovanoska discusses Banking and Finance in North Macedonia in the year past and the one ahead.

Law Office Lazarov Attorney-at-Law Kristina Tomashevska-Blazevska discusses Dispute Resolution in North Macedonia in the year past and the one ahead.

AK Law Partner Ana Kolevska discusses Energy in North Macedonia in the year past and the one ahead.

The introduction of e-invoicing marks a pivotal moment in the digital transformation of the economy in Southeast Europe. In both North Macedonia and Serbia, the transition to electronic invoicing is reshaping the relationship between businesses, the state, and financial institutions. While the initial focus has understandably been on compliance and technical implementation, the broader implications of e-invoicing deserve closer attention, particularly its potential to drive efficiency, legal certainty, and sustainable economic growth.

In North Macedonia, the proposed amendments to the Criminal Code mark a major shift in the country’s criminal law framework and are also closely tied to its broader EU integration efforts, according to Lalicic & Partners Partner Angela Andonova.

The Ministry of Energy, Mining and Mineral Resources of North Macedonia (“Ministry”) has adopted a new Rulebook outlining in detail the procedure for obtaining authorisation to construct energy facilities (“Rulebook”).

The European Commission has recognised the regulatory disparities that exist between EU Member States and the candidate Balkan countries. To address these differences, it has identified the need to assess national legal frameworks and provide recommendations to Balkan countries for aligning them with EU standards.

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.

Karanovic & Partners has promoted Miljana Tomic and Ana Kashirska Ilievska to Partners.

Karanovic & Partners has promoted Milena Jaksic Papac, Veton Qoku, and Igor Angelovski to Senior Partners.

AK Law’s energy practice has been active across renewables projects, energy-driven M&A, and regulatory and disputes work over the past year, according to Partner Ana Kolevska. The firm has been advising a variety of stakeholders amid a busy renewables pipeline and ongoing regulatory change in North Macedonia.

Following the foundation of the Ministry of Sport, North Macedonia has made strong progress in developing its sports sector.

In 2025, the Commission for Protection of Competition of the Republic of North Macedonia (the “Commission”) has considerably stepped up its enforcement efforts under antitrust rules in the country. Following several cartel investigations and misdemeanour proceedings, the Commission has now started to issue concrete sanctions against infringing undertakings.

The Macedonian Commission for the Protection of Competition (CPC) has recently intensified its scrutiny of anti-competitive conduct and unfair trading practices across multiple sectors, signaling a notable shift toward more assertive and proactive enforcement.

Recent amendments to the VAT Law in North Macedonia introduce significant changes to the VAT treatment of low-value consignments imported into the country. The goal of the amendments is to abolish the existing VAT exemption for low-value commercial parcels and to introduce a much narrower exemption limited to non-commercial, person-to-person shipments. The law will enter into force eight days after its publication. Key points are below.

We live in an era where sharing photographs of children on social media has become commonplace, often perceived as normal and acceptable, with little consideration of potential risks. Parents frequently give consent to third parties to capture and publish photographs of their children, which may subsequently appear on websites, social media platforms, brochures, or other media to serve the interests of those third parties. However, it is important to ask: do these posts truly carry no risk, and in such situations, whose interests should take precedence?

Karanovic & Partners, working with White & Case, has advised MidEuropa on the sale of regional dairy producer Imlek to a consortium comprising the family holding of entrepreneur and investor Andrej Jovanovic as lead investor and Imlek’s current CEO Bojan Radun. Sijercic & Partners and Ilej & Partners in cooperation with Karanovic & Partners advised MidEuropa as well. Kinstellar advised the buyers.