Estonia’s real estate experiences a slight slowdown and layoffs are on the radar for some sectors, but others remain active, with a promising prognosis for the next year’s small economic growth of 0,7% according to the European Commission, explains Pohla & Hallmagi Partner Juri Ploom.

The increasing US-based investor interest in Austrian tech start-ups – despite the hard times and a certain lack of governmental decisiveness – is creating a buzz in the country, according to DLA Piper Austria Managing Partner Christoph Mager.

Arbitration is growing in popularity in Kosovo and notable legislative updates are now in place, including the one establishing the Commercial Court, according to Boga & Associates Partner Sokol Elmazaj.

Energy availability prospects, which have unsurprisingly taken center stage and the interest of governments, investors, and organizations across the world, are the strongly dominating priority in Romania, according to NNDKP Senior Partner Adriana Gaspar.

Corporate reorganizations, spin-offs, and a generational change among family-owned companies are among the key features of Slovenia’s current market, and the number of collective claims for damages is rising, according to Jadek & Pensa Partner Janja Zaplotnik.

Harmonizing national law with EU legislation, implementing sizeable renewable energy projects, and addressing production shutdowns are high on North Macedonia’s domestic agenda, according to Kiril Papazoski, Director, Papazoski and Mishev Law Firm, an independent law firm in cooperation with PwC.

Going through hard times, Bulgaria’s newly elected political parties are still unable to form a government, yet the market is showing positive developments in some sectors, according to Boyanov & Co. Managing Partner Borislav Boyanov.

High levels of M&A activity in Croatia, originating from both domestic companies and foreign investors, are reshaping a number of sectors – primarily IT and media – according to Tarja Krehic, Managing Partner of Krehic & Partners in cooperation with Deloitte Legal.

Poland has been experiencing a boom in its renewable energy sector – with work originating from the auction support system and also from corporate PPA transactions – which is flowing over to other market segments, according to Dentons Partner Christian Schnell.

The energy crisis has led to businesses shutting down for the winter and subsequent employment-related issues, with the Hungarian government now providing energy subsidies, according to KCG Partners Founding Partner Rita Parkanyi.

Cautious optimism threads across Bulgarian markets – despite political instability and rising concerns fueled by the concurrent global crises – according to Komarevski Dimitrov & Partners Partner Venelin Dimitrov.

The new Polish company law shows promise for attracting foreign investors, while the Polish residential real estate market is struggling, according to Solivan Partner Bartosz Miszkurka.

Inflation, the energy supply, and bankruptcy issues are having an enormous impact on Czech businesses and key sectors, with the government's attention divided, according to Dubanska & Co Partner Barbora Dubanska.

The number one priority for Ukrainian firms is to ensure the safety of their employees while dealing with dire economic conditions and making collective efforts to help those in need, according to Sayenko Kharenko Co-Founding Partner Vladimir Sayenko.

The Austrian market seems very busy, largely in terms of investment rounds and consolidations in the past couple of months, with crypto and blockchain technology companies coming under pressure, according to Herbst Kinsky Partner Phillip Dubsky.

The Turkish market finds itself in demand, with European companies relocating their production facilities there, and the country gradually switching to green energy, according to GEMS Legal Schindhelm Partner Senem Kathrin Gucluer.

There are substantial recent developments in dispute resolution and litigation in Hungary, with some uncertainty about the application of the CJEU’s jurisprudence to domestic litigation, as well as new arbitration rules coming into force, according to Provaris Managing Partner Istvan Varga.

Even with elections coming up soon for Bulgaria, there are still plenty of interesting topics to report on, including a vibrant deal market and an active energy sector, according to CMS Partner Elitsa Ivanova.