The Regulation on deadlines in administrative proceedings has been amended today to exclude all deadlines in the tax and customs procedure save for deadlines for appeals.

Like many other states throughout the World, the Republic of Serbia (henceforth: the Republic) has proclaimed the state of emergency due to the epidemic of the infectious disease COVID-19 on the whole territory of the Republic (henceforth: the State of Emergency) by rendering the Decision on Proclamation of the State of Emergency.

The National Bank of Serbia announced moratorium on all debts towards banks and finance lease providers as a measure to preserve stability of the financial system of Serbia. The measure is part of actions undertaken by Serbian authorities during the declared state of emergency to fight the coronavirus.

Attendees to the 2019 CEELM Winter Party were cornered, over the course of the evening, and asked, without warning or an opportunity to prepare, what achievement over the past 12 months they were proudest of.

The state of emergency due to COVID 19 pandemic was proclaimed in the Republic of Serbia on March 15th 2020, and the Decree on Measures during the State of Emergency („Official Gazette of RS“, no. 31/2020 dated March 16th 2020) and the Decree on Organization of Work with the Employer during the State of Emergency („Official Gazette of RS“, no. 31/2020 dated March 16th 2020), both aiming to regulate in more detail the effects of introduced state of emergency, followed right after. Decrees do not regulate the duration of the state of emergency, whereas the Constitution of the Republic of Serbia prescribes that the state of emergency may last up to 90 days, and it may be renewed under the same conditions upon the expiry of the 90 day deadline.

History has taught us that after all great tragedies, such as the one affecting the World currently, the age of revival arrives, as well as that during the extraordinary circumstances, no matter how serious they are, life finds its path. We at JPM are trying to spend our time working and making efforts so that our common work and goals does not suffer any or suffer minimal damage during the time that the restrictive measures imposed by all governments are in force.

The Government of the Republic of Serbia has introduced the first tax relief measures connected with the state of emergency due to COVID-19.

In the light of the pandemic of COVID – 19, controllers are processing different types of personal data in their reasonable effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Such processing must comply with the Serbian Law on Personal Data Protection (“LPDP”).

Contributed by JPM Jankovic Popovic Mitic

The National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia has ratified the FATCA agreement executed earlier that year between the USA and Serbia at the end of 2019.

On 6 December, 2019 the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia adopted the Law on Agency Employment, as well as amendments to the Law on Pension and Disability Insurance, Law on Contributions for Mandatory Social Insurance and Personal Income Tax Law.

The National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia adopted on 23 December 2019 the Law on amendments and supplements to the Law on games of chance (“Official Gazette of RS”, no. 91/2019) (hereinafter referred to as the “Law”).

JPM Jankovic Popovic Mitic provided legal support to Gastrans d.o.o., Serbia (a 100% subsidiary of a OAO Gazprom and Srbijagas joint venture) on the construction of Gazprom's 400 km long Turkish Stream gas pipeline through Serbia, which Srbijagas Director Dusan Bajatovic has recently declared complete.

BDK Advokati and JPM have helped Decathlon, a sporting goods retailer, open its first outlet store in Serbia.

On October 10, 2019 the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia adopted the Law on Alternative Investment Funds and Law on Open-Ended Investment Funds with a Public Offering, where both of the laws came into force on October 19, 2019 and will become applicable on April 20, 2020.

BDK Advokati has advised Labiana Group on the acquisition of all issued shares in the Veterinary Institute of Subotica (Vetzavod), a Serbian animal vaccine producer. Labiana acquired 67.05% of Vetzavod shares from Victoria Group AD and 32.95% from Sojaprotein AD. Jankovic Popovic Mitic advised the sellers on the deal.

Ministry of Finance adopted the new Rulebook on 31 October 2019 related to the determination of Telecommunication and Electronic Services. The new rulebook will be applicable from 1 January 2020.

Double taxation treaty between the Republic of Serbia and Israel has entered into force.