On 28 December 2023, the Agency for the Protection of Competition of Montenegro (the “Agency”) adopted a decision regarding its finding that the pricelist adopted by the Association of Tourist Agencies of Montenegro (the “Association”) concerning services provided by the tourist agencies amounts to a restrictive agreement by object under the Montenegrin Competition Law.

Albania is currently contemplating the revision of its existing legislation on industrial property currently regulated by one single law i.e., Law no. 9947, dated 7.7.2008 “On Industrial Property”, as amended. The existing law governs all domains of industrial property and business secrets, including patents of invention, utility models, trademarks, industrial designs, and geographical indications.

Karanovic & Partners has advised Doehler on its acquisition of Frikos. Reportedly, Four Legal advised the sellers.

On December 15, 2023, JPM & Partners announced that Slovenian Big Bang's acquisition of Serbian online retailer BC Group (reported by CEE Legal Matters on September 1, 2023) had closed.

n November 2023 the Government of Montenegro proposed amendments to the CIT Law (Proposal).

Ilej & Partners, in cooperation with Karanovic & Partners, and Dentons have advised the EBRD on its agreement with Croatia’s Mplus Group regarding a EUR 60 million investment for a 28.3% stake in M Plus Croatia. Mamic Peric Reberski Rimac and White & Case advised the Mplus Group, including M Plus Croatia and its majority shareholder Meritus Ulaganja.

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (“EBRD”) and the World Bank are among the international financial institutions spearheading a 3-billion-euro plan to wean North Macedonia off its reliance on coal. The “Just Energy Transition Investment Program” (JET-P) plan follows the footsteps of several other countries in efforts to retire coal power plants, with the joint support of the government, as well as public lenders and private investors.

Karanovic & Partners has advised BIG CEE on its acquisition of two retail parks in Serbia – NEST Obrenovac and NEST Kraljevo – from RC Europe. Djokic+Partners advised RC Europe.

On Friday, 17 November, the Minister for transport and communications of North Macedonia, Mr Blagoj Bochvarski, and the Minister for construction, transport and infrastructure of Serbia, Mr Goran Vesić, signed a Memorandum for the Construction of a Fast Railway from Niš to Skopje.

Harrisons, working alongside CMS, has advised the EBRD on a EUR 27.6 million loan to District Center doo Beograd and PKS-LATEX-HLC doo Cacak. Karanovic and Partners advised District Center doo Beograd and PKS-LATEX-HLC doo Cacak.

The Serbian National Assembly has adopted amendments to the Law on Personal Income (PIT Law) and the Law on Mandatory Social Contributions (SSC Law) extending the deadlines for payroll incentives.

Karanovic & Partners has advised Rudis on the construction of the Alibunar I wind farm development. Karanovic & Partners also advised PLC Internergo, which will purchase energy produced in the wind farm on the basis of a long-term PPA.

The Republic of Serbia and the People’s Republic of China officially signed a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) on 17 October 2023.

Tender Opportunities in North Macedonia

Karanovic & Partners has advised Burger King on entering the market of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the opening of its first restaurant in Sarajevo.

In the wake of catastrophic floods, Slovenia has been grappling with several legal and economic challenges as well – from implementing healthcare reform to combating high inflation – according to Minu Anamaria Gvardjancic, a Partner of Ketler & Partners, member of Karanovic.

The new Decree on Conditions for the Delivery and Supply of Electrical Energy in Serbia enters into force today, 13 October 2023. Long-awaited regulation sends the signal that the connection procedure for new projects that has been basically on hold for more than two and a half years will be deblocked soon.

Albania is taking significant steps towards ending its five-year prohibition on sports betting, with a draft law recently passing for consideration in the Albanian Parliament. The initial Gambling Law of 2015 defined permissible games of chance, regulated industry conditions, and outlined oversight responsibilities. However, since 2018, Albania has strictly banned gambling activities, except for those within state-sanctioned casinos.