Competition

Poland: New State Aid Instrument

The Polish government has presented detailed conditions and modalities for providing support to investment projects of strategic importance for the transition to a net-zero-emission economy. The new State aid instrument implements the EU programme “Temporary Crisis Framework for State Aid measures to support the economy following the aggression against Ukraine by Russia”. The new financial support is to be regarded as a further incentive effect to attract new investments to Poland.

ECJ Gives its Judgment in the Xella Case: Key Takeaways

In July 2023 the European Court of Justice (ECJ) gave its judgment in case no. C-106-22 (Xella Judgment). The case was referred by the Fővárosi Törvényszék (Budapest High Court, Hungary) for preliminary ruling on the interpretation of Article 65(1)(b) TFEU in conjunction with recitals 4 and 6 of Regulation (EU) 2019/452 (EU FDI Regulation) and Article 4(2) TEU.

Avellum Advises JSC Integrity Capital on Merger Control Clearance for Ocean Plaza Co-Owner Acquisition

Avellum has advised JSC Integrity Capital on obtaining the merger control clearance of the Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine for its acquisition of shares in Lanita Invest – an indirect co-owner of the Ocean Plaza shopping and entertainment complex in Kyiv.

TGS Baltic Advises Lenoka on Competition Council Clearance for Retail Store Lease Acquisition

TGS Baltic has helped Lenoka obtain permission from the Competition Council to acquire the lease rights and open a Mego store at the Driksas 4 location in Jelgava – which was previously leased by Maxima Latvija.

Significant Amendments Unveiled with North Macedonia’s New Law on Advocacy

The end of September 2023 not only marked the close of the month but also heralded the replacement of Macedonia’s previous Law on Advocacy with a new substantially amended law. The new law, which entered into force on 3 October 2023, introduced significant amendments designed to elevate the level of practice of law in Macedonia.

Reform in the Secondary Legislation of EU Competition Law

The European Commission (“Commission") has been in the process of what can be called a reform of secondary legislation for the last few years. The Commission has issued several legislative developments that have reformed European competition law. After a long period of work, in May 2022, The Commission launched the new VBER with extensive changes. This year, the Commission made further changes on the EU Merger Regulation, extended the EU Motor Vehicle Block Exemption Regulation (MVBER), introduced the new EU Revised Horizontal Block Exemption Regulation, introduced Guidelines on Exclusionary Abuses, and announced public consultation under Digital Markets Act (DMA).

Ukraine Has Taken an Important Step Toward Competition Law Reform

On 12 September 2023, the President of Ukraine signed Law No. 5431 "On Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of Ukraine to Improve the Activities of the Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine" ("Law"), which launches a reform of Ukrainian competition law. The Law will enter into force on 1 January 2024.