Transformative changes are sweeping across Poland's legal and political landscape after the 2023 parliamentary elections, according to KWKR Partner Lukasz Wieczorek, while the jury is still out on the new government's efforts to address longstanding issues in sectors like green energy, technology, and the burgeoning field of ESG initiatives.

It is a time of transformative change for the Baltic region, according to Spridzans, Snipe & Hramcenko Partner Ansis Spridzans, considering important developments like the Rail Baltica project connecting Tallinn, Riga, and Vilnius in the Baltic states with Central Europe, the growth of fintech and cutting-edge finance, and the impact of ESG on the Latvian banking and finance sector.

Against the backdrop of a turbulent legal landscape, Krehic Law Office Managing Partner Tarja Krehic underscores the recently ended strikes by commercial court judges and the subsequent impact on court proceedings and business registrations as the hot topics on the docket for Croatia, with women's participation in executive roles as the next big issue.

Lithuania is looking at a hectic year, with three scheduled elections: presidential, parliamentary, and EU parliamentary, according to Ilaw Lextal Partner Lina Siksniute-Vaitiekuniene, while also celebrating the 20-year Anniversary of its entry into the EU and NATO.

Bulgaria is nearing the home stretch of its Eurozone integration and OECD accession plans, according to CMS Partner Elitsa Ivanova, with renewables, ESG, fintech, and digitalization the hot topics for lawyers and bankers alike.

Turkiye always has its ups and downs, according to Guleryuz Partners Partner Zahide Altunbas Sancak, who points to the coming local elections and their role as a confidence check, while also making her own bets that include technology, digital banking, and energy.

Expectations are high in Slovakia for the mergers and acquisitions, private equity, and energy sector pipelines, according to Hillbridges Partner Miroslav Trencan, who highlights a series of shifts and trends shaping the market, from the challenges of financing and the impact of regulatory changes to geopolitical influences and the strategic decisions driving large-scale M&A projects.

Delving into the impacts of the EU's recent visa liberalization for Kosovo citizens and the country's ambitious strides towards legal and sustainable energy reforms, Deloitte Legal Senior Legal Manager Ardian Rexha shares his insights on the easing of travel restrictions, pioneering steps in renewable energy, and the overhaul of the tax administration system.

The Czech Republic is marked by dynamic changes in the banking, finance, and technology sectors underpinned by the influence of ESG, compliance issues, and the impacts of global crises, according to PRK Partners Partner Jan Kohout, with the defense sector and strategic shifts in traditional industries making headlines as well.

Marked by recent political shifts, impacted by global trends, and facing many legislative changes, Poland is seeing critical updates on taxation, energy, state companies' leadership, the balance of transactions, and renewed discussions on judicial reform, according to Crido Legal Managing Partner Jakub Ziolek.

Serbia has been hard at work implementing extensive revisions to its immigration laws – merging the work and residency permits, for example – producing both timely results and temporary issues, according to DNVG Attorneys Partner Damjan Despotovic.

With Hungary's economic and legal outlook plugged into global uncertainties and no shortage of those, two market sectors still stand out in terms of potential – energy and agriculture – according to HP Legal Partner Laszlo Hajdu, who, looking at the fundamentals, shares an optimistic view of the country's future.

Albania breaks new ground in its energy and financial sectors as it moves towards renewable energy and market liberalization, while significant changes are afoot in payment services and tax law, according to Tashko Pustina Partner Alban Shanaj, all of which point squarely toward a coming period of dynamic growth and opportunity.

While the legal landscape in North Macedonia might be somewhat stagnant – due to 2024 being an election year – there are still challenging complexities to the judicial reforms on the table, as well as struggles with consistency and knowledge, according to Polenak Law Firm Partner Tanja Polenak.

Over this winter season, Romania has seen substantial legal changes to various aspects of its wider legal framework – from FDI and competition to consumer protection and taxation – according to Nestor Nestor Diculescu Kingston Petersen Partner Alina Radu.

After a few years of political struggle, Bulgaria seems to be on a good path, with interesting legislative updates on the horizon and promising M&A activity levels, spurred primarily by strong activity in the energy and IT sectors, according to KDBM Law Founding Partner Dimitar Kaldamukov.

There are imminent changes in the Czech Republic's legal and economic landscape – including a significant overhaul of the tax system, pending legal updates on class actions and the use of experts in court, and evolving trends in litigation financing and business solvency – all of which directly impact the work of lawyers, according to Weinhold Legal Associate Partner Zbysek Kordac.

Charting Turkiye's choppy seas, Kolcuoglu Demirkan Kocakli Partner Bihter Bozbay Inan dives into the country's strengthening economic ties with the Middle East, its fiscal policies and upcoming local elections, and digital transformations in the banking sector.