The refugee crisis and related organizational adjustments are the major challenges faced by Poland, according to DWF Country Managing Partner Michal Pawlowski."Times are extremely challenging and turbulent," Pawlowski begins. "The COVID-19-related situation was finally becoming normalized, after different strains, restrictions, and vaccination-related public discourse. However, since late February, we are facing an even more extreme situation, that is, the Russian invasion in Ukraine."

Slovakia’s biggest challenges, in light of the ongoing war in the neighboring country, are dealing with sanctions and seeking alternative sources of supplies for its automotive industry, and implementing renewable energy projects, according to Eversheds Sutherland Managing Partner Bernhard Hager.

Recent cyber-attacks, the emergence of AI services, and a new Ministry of e-Government are among the widely discussed issues in Bulgaria, according to PPG Lawyers Managing Partner Irena Georgieva.

The Hungarian economy is performing well, despite all the turmoil Europe finds itself in currently, according to Kinstellar Budapest Managing Partner Kristof Ferenczi.

As Ukraine’s neighboring country, the war has added extra complexity to Slovakia’s existing economic challenges, according to Dentons Partner Patricia Gossanyiova.

War-related concerns have put the new government’s plans and a number of business transactions on hold, according to Schoenherr Local Partner Ilko Stoyanov.

The current primary focus of the Czech government is to help Ukrainian refugees and deal with the various issues surrounding sanctions against Russia, according to Kinstellar Partner Jan Juroska.

The Lithuanian government seems to be jumping from one fire to another between war-related crises, high inflation rate and fuel prices, and a lack of commodities, according to Magnusson Managing Partner Ligita Ramanauskaite.

With a new government firmly in place, Romania is finding new economic stability, although there are issues surrounding the ever-increasing prices of energy, according to Popovici Nitu Stoica & Asociatii Deputy Managing Partner Bogdan Stoica.

In light of the upcoming parliamentary and presidential elections and a relatively inactive legislative phase, Serbia’s potential free trade agreement with China is one of the major economic topics in the country, according to Bojovic Draskovic Popovic & Partners Partner Vuk Draskovic.

ESG, compliance, laws incentivizing companies to run their offices in Poland, and the tax "Polish Deal" are among the most debated legislative issues in the country, says B2RLaw Partner Aleksandra Polak.

The promise of a return to normal, considerable public debt, a controversial WWII compensation ruling, AML-linked blockages, and a potential real estate bubble are the main discussion topics among lawyers in Latvia according to Reihmanis & Partners Partner Karlis Reihmanis.