On 11 April 2023, the Hungarian Parliament adopted a whistleblower protection act setting aside the previous one first adopted back in 2013.
Amendment of the Scheduling of Power Plant Connections
The specific connection procedure of power plants based on the requests of 2 May 2022 has been amended again, as a result of which deadlines set for authorized network operators are also amended. According to the government decree published on 29 March 2023, the new deadline to provide the technical and economic conditions for industrial-size power plants and electricity storage facilities as well as for all investments with a connection needed to a medium voltage network is 10 May 2023, while for the rest of the power plant investments it is 30 June 2023.
Special Tax, Supplementary Tax, Contribution – A Significant Increase in the Number of Taxes
Social and economic changes in 2022 have broken a long downward trend recently, with the number of tax categories increasing from 51 to 59 last year. We give you the latest lowdown.
Legal Innovation in Continental Europe: A Sneak Peek into Lexpo 2023 with Andrea Miskolczi
As Lexpo – The Legal Innovation Event returns in 2023 after a three-year hiatus, showcasing the latest trends in legal innovation in Continental Europe, CEELM spoke with Dentons Europe Director of Innovation and Member of Lexpo's Advisory Board Andrea Miskolczi to gain an insight into the current state of technology and innovation in CEE, and what the event's attendees have to look forward to.
Adaptability Is Key to Success in Hungary: A Buzz Interview with Daniel Aranyi of Bird & Bird
Despite the war still impacting the Hungarian market, there are also opportunities in the green economy and energy, as well as the Hungarian start-up scene, according to Bird & Bird Head of Energy & Utilities and Competition & EU Daniel Aranyi.
Hungarian Supreme Court on Res Judicata – Test Cases on Horizon?
When a plaintiff decides to litigate only part of his claim, the question arises whether the ‘res judicata’ effect of the final judgment precludes a new lawsuit for the unclaimed part of the claim? The Hungarian Supreme Court’s recently issued a uniformity decision on this question. What will be the impact of this ruling? We address the question by analysing the uniformity decision.
Green Finance in Hungary 2023
The Central Bank of Hungary (MNB) is encouraging the banking sector to increase the level of green loans. To this end, significantly reduced capital requirements have been put in place when applying for loans, and green company bonds were introduced in summer 2020 as part of the MNB bond funding for growth scheme. The Hungarian government is now ready to intervene to achieve climate neutrality.
ECJ Backs VAT Liability of Online Platform Providers
The European Court of Justice established in its ruling of 28 February 2023 that online platform OnlyFans is liable for value added tax (VAT) on the full amount paid by subscribers to content creators, not only on the 20% fee that the platform is charging creators of the sums paid by fans. This decision supports the position of the UK tax authority (HMRC) and further emphasizes the tax obligations of online platforms, regardless of their place of establishment.
Schoenherr Advises Shanghai Electric Power on Acquisition of 100-Megawatt PV Project from Greencells Group
Schoenherr has advised the China-based Shanghai Electric Power Co. Ltd. on its full acquisition of two project companies developing a PV project portfolio with a total capacity of 100 megawatts in Inarcs, near Budapest, from a Greencells Group subsidiary. Erdos Katona reportedly advised the sellers.
Is ChatGPT a Threat to Legal Marketing Professionals?
ChatGPT, an AI that claimed to be able to write an answer or even a brief article on any topic, became the talk of the year 2022. Copywriters, PR professionals, and marketing experts will all benefit from it greatly. But should we be scared?
Deceptive Green Advertising
A fast-track analysis by the Hungarian Competition Authority (GVH) has found that in many cases, companies' advertising communications suggesting sustainability are not backed up by easily accessible and relevant evidence for consumers. The result of the fast-track analyses was disclosed on 17 February 2023.
New Rules on the Whistleblowing System
EU Directive 2019/1937 on the protection of persons who report infringements of EU law was adopted in 2019 and should have been transposed into national law by the Member States until 17 December 2021. The Directive obliges the Member States to set up a three-step notification system.
A New Building Act Is Coming - Concept of the Act on Hungarian Architecture
At the beginning of March 2023, the Ministry of Construction and Transport published the concept of the Act on Hungarian Architecture for public consultation. The new act would include, as a clear code, the act on the chambers of the designer and expert engineers and architects, the Building Act, the acts the protection of the townscape and on the protection of cultural heritage with updated content.
To Which Court Employers Should Turn to in Case of Trade Secret Theft in Hungary?
Companies who are the victims of trade secret thefts by their employees in Hungary are protected on more levels: in addition to relying on the Business Secret Act, they can invoke the Labour Code, as well.Less clear is to which court should employers turn to in case they decide to sue their former employee and the competitor, employing the latter. Is the commercial court or the labour court the right forum? We analyse the question in the light of a recent judgment of the Hungarian Supreme Court.
Noerr and CEE Attorneys Advise on Saint-Gobain Acquisition of Revco Hungary
Noerr has advised Saint-Gobain on its acquisition of plasters, paints, and coatings producer Revco Hungary. CEE Attorneys advised the sellers.
Hungary Remains the Top Destination for Film and Other Audiovisual Production in Europe
Hungary has been traditionally the go-to hub for filming in Europe.
Hungary Encourages Sustainable Real Estate Funds
Since 2010, the regulations and practices relative to the ESG requirements in the EU have been rapidly evolving. The EU has implemented significant rules by adopting the Taxonomy Regulation, the Non-Financial Disclosure Directive (NFRD), the Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR) and the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD). These regulate the disclosure obligations of certain companies and private equity funds in connection with their sustainability obligations and their commitment to respecting human rights.
Does the Unlawful Personal Data Processing Always Mean a Right to Compensation in Hungary?
Under Hungarian law if someone’s right to the protection of personal data is infringed, the person may be entitled to compensation for non-material damages. But does the unlawful processing of personal data always mean the infringement of the right to the protection of personal data, triggering the right for compensation? A fresh decision of the Hungarian Supreme Court analysed in this article provides answer to these questions.