Effective from 2 February 2025, the provisions of Chapter 1 and 2 of the EU Regulation no. 2024/1689 laying down harmonised rules on artificial intelligence (“EU AI Act”) regarding AI literacy and the ban on use of AI systems that pose unacceptable risks have entered into force.

Our team achieved significant success defending a client before the Supreme Court of Cassation (SCC) in an employment dispute related to the amount of remuneration in the event of reduced working hours established by the employer in the event of a declared state of emergency or emergency epidemic situation (Article 138a, para. 2 of the Labour Code).

On 6 February 2025, the President of Ukraine signed Law No. 4213-IX dated 14 January 2025 "On Amendments to Certain Laws of Ukraine in the Field of Energy and in the Field of Heat Supply to Clarify Provisions Related to the Martial Law in Ukraine" (the Law).

The world of data centres is evolving at an unprecedented pace, driven by the ever-increasing demand for AI solutions. At the same time, sustainability challenges, energy efficiency and security of supply are becoming increasingly in focus due to the significant energy demands of data centres. The growth potential of the sector remains attractive, with 70% of investors expecting further growth over the next two years, according to a recent international report* by DLA Piper.

In 2022, the Parliament of Ukraine passed legislation introducing an alternative method for recording and holding shares in limited liability companies (LLCs) and additional liability companies (ALCs). This development allows LLC and ALC shareholders (participants) to transfer recording of their shares from the State Register of Legal Entities, Private Entrepreneurs and Civic Associations (“State Register“) to the PJSC “National Depository of Ukraine” acting as the Central Securities Depository (“CSD“). This shift promises enhanced transparency, security and efficiency in share ownership, marking a new chapter for businesses and investors alike.

The development of the defense industry is an urgent priority for the Polish government. Undoubtedly, it is in Poland’s interest to have a solid industrial base for the defense sector, not only to enhance national security but also as a lever for the further transformation of the entire economy.

If your company sells products that contain, have been fed with or have been made using cattle, cocoa, coffee, oil palm, rubber, soya or wood, then your company should most likely start preparing for compliance with the EU Deforestation Regulation[1]. The same applies if others in your company's supply chain produce or sell these commodities or related products.

Last summer, the deposit return system (DRS) was introduced, under which 0.1-3 litres of drink products with a mandatory redemption fee can be bought in shops at a price increased by the redemption fee.

As part of the EU Gas and Hydrogen Package, Directive (EU) 2024/1788 of 13 June 2024 ("Internal Gas Market Directive; IGMD") makes provisions for the first time on the phase-out of gas by network operators through the decommissioning of gas networks. Article 57 IGMD stipulates that gas distribution system operators ("DSO") must develop network decommissioning plans ("NDP") if a reduction in natural gas demand is foreseeable. The competent national authorities assess whether the NDP for the distribution network meets the principles set out in the IGMD.

In 2024, EU data protection authorities imposed a total of EUR 1.2 billion in fines. This brings the total value of fines to EUR 5.88 billion since the GDPR became applicable, DLA Piper's latest report reveals.* The technology sector has been hit the hardest, with data protection focusing on managerial responsibility and privacy issues in AI tools.

Last year, a new regulation on artificial intelligence (“AI Act”) was published in the Official Journal of the European Union. This new AI Act lays down legal framework for the development, placing on the market, putting into service and use of artificial intelligence systems (“AI systems”) in the EU, in order to, inter alia, promote the uptake of human centric and trustworthy artificial intelligence, protect against harmful effects of AI systems and to support innovation.

Recently, more and more European environmental regulations have been issued, that are directly binding and applicable, with the aim of achieving a circular economy and climate neutrality within a specified period.

1 January 2025 marked the entry into force of the obligation for Romanian established taxpayers that carry out taxable operations in Romania to report in the Romanian invoicing System the invoices issued in B2C transactions.

The Hungarian Government has made a significant amendment just weeks into 2025 by increasing the VAT exemption threshold for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Despite the autumn tax package for 2025 remaining silent on this matter, the new limit has been set at HUF 18 million, up from the longstanding HUF 12 million. This increase applies retroactively from 1 January 2025. Taxpayers have until the end of February to opt in for the exemption.

A new regulation, in force from January 28, 2025 establishes additional obligations and reporting requirements on Romanian companies with 50 or more employees in respect of hiring disabled people.

At the beginning of each year Bulgarian Competition Protection Commission announces (the “CPC”) its priorities. The priorities for 2025 do not differ very much from those set in the previous years and show consistency.

In terms of competition, the year 2024 was marked by 2 important milestones – the first part of the year, until the appointment of the new Plenum of the Competition Council, during which the authority focused on finalizing some internal issues (rulings and other procedural matters), and the second part of the year, when the new Plenum of the Competition Council started its activity, showing the first signs of the strategy for the next two and a half years.

The Export Credit Insurance Corporation (Korporacja Ubezpieczeń Kredytów Eksportowych; "KUKE") is the only export credit agency in Poland providing export insurance for trade security in high-risk markets guaranteed by the Polish State Treasury, regulated by the Polish Act of 7 July 1994 on Insurance Guaranteed by the State Treasury.