The Foreign Subsidies Regulation (FSR), one of the EU’s latest state aid instruments, entered into force on January 12, 2023. Now, after six months, it starts to apply. This regulation establishes rules to govern foreign subsidies that could distort the EU’s internal market. It empowers the European Commission (“Commission”) to investigate financial contributions provided by non-EU countries to companies operating in the EU. If these contributions are found to be distortive subsidies, the Commission can enforce corrective measures to remedy these effects.

In one of our previous texts (available here) we wrote about the connection between the protection of competition and protection of personal data, namely whether competition authorities may consider infringements of personal data in their investigations.

On 30 June 2023, the web portal for freelancers operated by the Tax Administration was launched. 

After the roundtable discussion organized by the Lawyer's Academy of the Serbian Bar Association on the topic of SKY ECC communication as evidence in criminal proceedings on June 29, 2023, we summarize the key conclusions on an extremely relevant issue - SKY ECC hacking.

On July 4, the EU Commission introduced a new Procedural Regulation aimed at enhancing cooperation among data protection authorities (“DPAs“) when enforcing the General Data Protection Regulation (“GDPR“) in cross-border cases.

On July 4, 2023, the Court of Justice of the European Union (“CJEU“) pronounced a momentous judgment in Meta Platforms and Others.

The new General Product Safety Regulation of the EU, which has recently entered into force, was published in the Official Journal of the EU on May 23, 2023, and it shall start to apply on December 13, 2024 (“the Regulation”).

According to positive regulations in the Republic of Serbia, each party shall present the facts and propose the evidence on which it bases its request or with which it disputes the allegations and evidence of the opponent. The evidence includes all the facts relevant to making a decision. Both in civil and arbitration procedures, the most common means of evidence are documents and testimonies.

Despite a recent M&A slowdown, updates to the capital markets and land rights laws, renewable energy auctions, and business migration heavily impact Serbia's legal and business landscape, according to Doklestic Repic & Gajin Partner Slobodan Doklestic.

The BBR Bank has appointed Cvjeticanin & Partners Partner Nenad Cvjeticanin as its data representative for Serbia.

Kinstellar has announced it is strengthening its presence in Serbia by teaming up with the local SOG Law Firm in a strategic partnership.

Karanovic & Partners has advised Marriott International on the development and opening of its first Moxy hotel in Belgrade, Serbia.

Serbia’s banking sector faces another year of challenges. Global inflation in 2023, compared to the last quarter of 2022, records a slight slowdown, but one thing is indisputable – the main challenge in 2023, and not only in the banking sector, is the war in Ukraine.

Bojovic, Draskovic, Popovic & Partners has announced the launch of its Environmental, Social, and Governance department led by Partner Milica Pesteric.

Court fees represent an important part of the costs in every legal proceeding. Matters related to court fees in the Republic of Serbia are currently regulated by the Law on Court Fees and the Fee Tariff contained within that law.

Radovanovic Stojanovic & Partners has advised the Soravia Group on its sale of the Radisson Collection Hotel Old Mill Belgrade – through a share deal for all shares in Prigan DOO – to the Delta Real Estate Group.

Harrisons has advised the EBRD on its EUR 5 million loan to Banca Intesa Belgrade for on-lending to women-led businesses.

Accountability is one of the key notions both in GDPR and the Serbian Data Protection Act.