In a significant development, a provisional agreement between the Council presidency and the European Parliament has set the stage for a proposed EU law targeting businesses involved in waste generation, operation, or disposal. The agreement, which took place late last year, reflects a commitment to stricter penalties for environmental crimes, doubling the number of offences from the soon-to-be-replaced Directive 2008/99/EC.

Stalfort Energy & Environmental Practice Group Coordinator Laura Neacsu has been promoted to a Partner position with the firm.

Former Counsels Andrei Croitoru and Iustina Oblu have been appointed as Partners with Act Botezatu Estrade Partners.

In The Corner Office, we ask Managing Partners at law firms across Central and Eastern Europe about their backgrounds, strategies, and responsibilities. With 2023 marching to an end, we looked ahead and asked about strategies for next year: As the budgeting period is around the corner, compared to 2023, what are the main budgeting lines you expect to increase for 2024 and why?

The VAT deduction right is probably the most important topic in the VAT system of the European Union. This is also confirmed by the jurisprudence of the Court of Justice of the European Union, where it represents the most addressed subject.

Schoenherr and sole practitioner Mihaela Aliman have advised Renovatio on its two-pronged transaction with OMV Petrom concerning the sale of a 50% stake in 1-gigawatt renewable projects company Electrocentrale Borzesti and the sale of Renovatio Asset Management, operating more than 400 electric-vehicle charging points in Romania. Tuca Zbarcea & Asociatii advised OMV Petrom.

Schoenherr has advised Polish rolling stock manufacturer Pojazdy Szynowe PESA Bydgoszcz on a public procurement contract with the Romanian Railway Reform Authority for the delivery of 20 long-distance electric multiple-unit trains.

RTPR has advised Macquarie Asset Management on the sale of CEZ Vanzare to Premier Energy. BSMP Bohalteanu & Asociatii advised Premier Energy.

PGC Partners has advised MediFood International on entering the Romanian market and the establishment of its Romanian operations.

Ijdelea & Associates has advised the Romanian subsidiary of Nano Energies on obtaining a license from the Romanian Energy Regulatory Authority "for the aggregation of both producers and consumers."

Wolf Theiss has advised the shareholders of Romania's DRIM Daniel FMCG on the sale of their majority stake in the company to Polish retail company Zabka, part of CVC Capital Partners. DLA Piper advised buyer Zabka Polska.

Tuca Zbarcea & Asociatii has advised the Amethyst Radiotherapy Group on the sale and lease-back of three buildings to the BT Property Alternative Real Estate Investment Fund.

RTPR has advised the Black Sea Fund on its acquisition of Gymboland in Romania. PeliPartners advised Gymboland.

Schoenherr has advised Kommunalkredit Austria on a EUR 25 million loan to the INVL Renewable Energy Fund I to finance the construction of solar power plants with a total capacity of 51 megawatts in Romania. Glodeanu & Partners advised the INVL fund. Sorainen reportedly advised Kommunalkredit as well.

Suciu Popa has advised the Meta Estate Trust on its partnership agreement with developer APX Immo Property to erect a "21-apartment premium real estate project within the Cotroceni area" of Bucharest.

Norton Rose Fulbright has advised Inter Cars on the extension, increase, and reorganization of its senior facilities in the aggregate amount of approximately PLN 2.54 billion (USD 642 million). Kinstellar, Magnusson, Kelemenis, and Glimstedt reportedly advised on the matter as well.

PeliPartners has advised Romanian hydropower company Hidroelectrica on its acquisition of the ABC and Calnicel platform business lines from UCM Resita.

Suciu Popa has advised Eximprod on its sustainability-driven lease agreement for a 1,300 square-meter space in the Equilibrium 2 building developed by Skanska in Bucharest.