The National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia adopted several proposed laws related to construction during its session on 26 July 2023.

The 2024 tax package bill accepted by the Hungarian Parliament on 4 July 2023, brings changes in various areas.

On 11 July 2023, the European Securities and Markets Authority (“ESMA”) published a public statement (“ESMA Statement”) regarding sustainability-related disclosure requirements in prospectuses for both equity and non-equity securities.

On 7 August 2023, the Ministry of Energy published for public consultation the draft Government decision on the approval of the general legal framework for the implementation and functioning of the Contracts for Difference (CfD) support mechanism for low carbon technologies (the “Draft Government Decision”), together with an information note for potential bidders in relation to the implementation of a first CfD scheme, the related auctions rounds being envisaged for Q4 2023 and Q1 2025 (the “Information Note”).

The new amendments to the law on foreigners and the law on the employment of foreigners, which will apply from 1 February 2024 ("Amendments"), significantly simplify and shorten the procedure for employment of foreign citizens in the Republic of Serbia and contribute to increased efficiency of the procedure, which will allow foreigners to be employed in the Republic of Serbia in a very short period of time.

In recent years, the statute of limitations for criminal liability in Romania has been the subject of numerous debates among legal scholars and practitioners. 

Although the deadline for transposing Directive (EU) 2019/1937 on the protection of persons who report breaches of Union law (the Whistleblowing Directive) into national law passed on 17 December 2021, the Czech Republic has been among those Member States struggling to adopt a corresponding act into local legislation. Nonetheless, after turbulent discussions and legislative proposals, the bill has finally been passed and came into force on 1 August 2023.

The new Law on Electronic Communications, published on April 29, 2023, in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Serbia no. 35/23, went into force on May 7, 2023. With the entry into force of the new law, the previous Law on Electronic Communications ceases to be valid (“Official Gazette of the Republic of Serbia”, nos. 44/2010, 60/2013, 62/2014 and 95/2018) except for certain provisions related to the secrecy of electronic communications, legal interception, and retention of data, as well as other specific provisions that will be valid until the adoption of by-laws prescribed by the new Law on Electronic Communications.

Romania is on the verge of introducing a much-awaited new support scheme for renewable energy. On 7 August 2023, the Romanian Ministry of Energy launched for public consultations a draft decision approving the legal framework for the implementation and functioning of the Contracts for Difference ("CfD") support scheme for low-carbon technologies ("CfD Scheme").

On 9 August 2023, the Ukrainian Parliament passed an extensive set of amendments to the competition law. These currently await signature by the President and are expected to come into force on 1 January 2024, save for certain provisions that will become effective after martial law is lifted.

As we previously reported, the pivotal Energy Community Ministerial Meeting held in Tepelenë, Albania, in June signaled potential developments in green energy and decarbonisation in the Western Balkans (WB).

In the world of finance, the rise of environmental, social and governance considerations has compelled bankers, investment professionals and banking and finance lawyers to reevaluate their mindset.

The Regulation on the Amendment ("Amendment Regulation") to the Regulation on Unlicensed Electricity Generation in the Electricity Market ("Regulation") was published in the Official Gazette dated 29 July 2023 and numbered 32263 and entered into force on the same date.

The Law No. 7456 on the Issuance of Additional Motor Vehicles Tax for the Compensation of Economic Losses Caused by the Earthquakes Occurred on February 6, 2023 and Amendments to Certain Laws and Decree Law No. 375 ("Omnibus Bill") entered into force upon its publication in the Official Gazette dated July 15, 2023 and numbered 32249.

The EU Directives on Work-life balance and on Transparent and predictable working conditions were introduced into the Romanian national legislation in February 2022 with subsequent amendments in August 2022, October 2022, and February 2023. These directives have imposed substantial changes and obligations on employers. What do they mean for businesses?

Significant legal changes occurred in the Hungarian pharmaceutical and food industry in the summer of 2023. According to Government Decree No. 333/2023. (VII. 20.), as of 1 August 2023, the National Public Health Centre (NNK) and the National Institute of Pharmacy and Nutrition (OGYÉI) merged, establishing a new authority, the National Centre for Public Health and Pharmacy (Nemzeti Nepegeszsegugyi es Gyogyszereszeti Kozpont, NNGYK).

In July 2023, the Ukrainian parliament adopted several laws on changes to the Labour Code of Ukraine, which relate to maternity leaves, as well as list and dates of public holidays.

It is not uncommon for an employee to disagree with and criticise his superior. In this case the fundamental right to freedom of expression of the employee competes with his obligation to co-operate with his colleagues. Further, there are cases where the criticism by the employee is not protected by the freedom of expression and may be ground for dismissal, as shown by a fresh decision of the Hungarian Supreme Court analysed in this short article.