Client Alerts
Employment Brief: The first deadline from the Austrian Whistleblower Protection Act is fast approaching
By 24 August 2023, companies in Austria with 250 or more employees must have established internal reporting channels. Key points for employers to consider are the following: Companies with a headcount between 50 and 249 employees have until 17 December 2023 to set up internal reporting channels. Should you have any questions or like further […]...
Employment Brief: Serbia adopts new health and safety regulations
Recently, a new Law on Safety and Health at Work came into effect in Serbia, impacting all employers. This law ensures the implementation of the latest EU standards in terms of safety and health at work (EU Directive 89/391/EEC) as well as harmonisation within current HR regulations in Serbia. Key novelties are:...
E-evidence Regulation on the verge of becoming a reality
Securing e-evidence and establishing efficient procedures is key. The E-Evidence Regulation (Council document 5448/23) will enable relevant authorities to address judicial orders for electronic evidence directly to service providers in other member states. Those who fail to respond to these orders within 10 days, or even within 8 hours in urgent cases, will face fines […]...
Employment Brief: Regulatory updates from Slovenia
Slovenia has undergone several legislative changes impacting working parents, foreign employees and posted employees. Here are some of the key changes that you should know about, their scope and affected individuals: Should you have any questions or like further details, please contact our lawyers....
Romania passes new law regarding Urbanism Requirements for Renewable Energy Projects
Legal Background Recognizing the pressing need to rectify certain conflicting provisions within the existing legal framework applicable to the permitting process of renewable energy projects (as previously reported in the Wolf Theiss Client Alert dated January 12th, 2023 available here), Romanian lawmakers have been working since the start of 2023 to introduce legislative amendments to […]...
Croatia introduces new rules regarding work on Sundays
As of 1 July 2023, Croatian retailers must comply with the new statutory provisions regarding retail stores’ working hours, which are primarily aimed at limiting work on Sundays. Amendments to the Trade Act regarding the Sunday working regime were introduced to ensure a better work-life balance for employees and enable those who work in the […]...
Croatian Personal Data Protection Agency imposes a EUR 2.2 million fine on a debt collection company
In early May 2023, the Croatian Personal Data Protection Agency (AZOP) imposed a fine on a debt collection company in the amount of 2.2 million euros for multiple violations of the personal data protection requirements prescribed by Regulation (EU) 2016/679 (GDPR). This is the maximum fine that AZOP has imposed in Croatia thus far. Circumstances […]...
Serbian government to launch a strategic partnership tender for self-balancing solar power plants
EPS (Elektroprivreda Srbije) seeks a strategic partner to design, build, fund, operate and maintain at least 5 new solar power plants. The purpose of the tender announced by the Serbian Government is to select a company to carry out the design, construction, financing, operation and maintenance of 5 or more self-balancing solar power plants, for […]...
Schwellenwerte-VO 2023 geht in die Verlängerung
Höhere Schwellenwerte (zumindest) bis Jahresende Die Schwellenwerteverordnung 2023 soll bis 31. Dezember 2023 verlängert werden. Die entsprechende Verordnung wurde am 17. Mai von der Justizministerin unterschrieben. Zur Wirksamkeit der Verordnung bedarf es aber noch einer Zustimmung aller Bundesländer und nachfolgender entsprechender Publikation bis Ende Juni, damit nicht (erneut) eine Geltungslücke eintritt. Da die Verlängerung aber […]...
CJEU: A mere breach of the GDPR does not justify a claim for damages
A claim for damages, however, is not dependent on the non-material damage incurred reaching a certain materiality The Court of the European Union (CJEU) has handed down the first decision on GDPR-damages (C-300/21). In this precedent-setting case, in which WOLF THEISS represented the respondent, the CJEU ruled on three central questions of interpretation regarding non-material […]...
The Digital Markets Act goes live
Regulation (EU) 2022/1925, The Digital Markets Act, is set to apply from 2 May 2023 Addressing digital developments and concerns regarding contestability and fairness in the digital economy, the Digital Markets Act – an ex-ante regulatory system – entered into force on 1 November 2022 and will apply from 2 May 2023. Designed to complement […]...
New whistleblowing legislation takes effect in Hungary
Article also available in Hungarian below What does the new whistleblowing system entail? In line with Directive (EU) 2019/1937 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the protection of persons who report breaches of Union law, the Hungarian Parliament adopted a new law on complaints, whistleblowing and rules for reporting breaches, which replaces […]...