Client Alert
Developments on whistleblowers’ protection in Romania
The newly-adopted law, primary immediate reactions and practical considerations On 29 June, the Chamber of Deputies, as the decision-making parliamentary chamber, adopted the law on the protection of whistleblowers in Romania. In its approval process, this law, which was originally intended to transpose into national law as EU Directive 2019/1937 (also known as the “Whistleblowing […]...
Romania: Amendments to the Process for Connection to the Electricity Grid and Permitting of Renewable Energy Projects
The Romanian authorities have become increasingly focused on facilitating the development of renewable energy projects in the country, particularly given the increased need for energy independence. Therefore, the following normative acts have recently been adopted: Order no. 81/2022 amending and supplementing the Regulation on the connection of users to the electricity networks of public interest; […]...
EU sanctions and updates to Compliance Programmes
Legislative proposals for criminalising sanctions breaches and stricter frameworks for asset confiscation In addition to adopting its sixth sanctions package against Russia, the European Commission has issued a series of legislative proposals to streamline the implementation of EU sanctions at national level. These include measures that would criminalise the violation of EU sanctions against Russia […]...
New Waste Management Framework in Ukraine
Ukrainian Parliament plans for the country’s future as a sustainable nation and potential European Union membership through the new “Waste Management Law”. Meanwhile, the comprehensive regulating and planning will make the industry more attractive and reliable to investors. On 20 June 2022 the Ukrainian Parliament adopted a draft of the new Law of Ukraine “On […]...
Hungarian Energy Market: Energy authority warns on gas contracts for next year as options narrow
*available in Hungarian below “On 1 October, the contracts of free market gas purchasers expire, so it is advisable to ensure that new contracts are concluded now” – the Hungarian Energy and Public Utility Regulatory Authority (HEPURA) said in a recent statement. According to the HEPURA, gas traders will try to reduce their risks by […]...
Hungarian Energy Market: notable market changes since launch of WT RES Guide 2022
*available in Hungarian below Wolf Theiss recently issued its comprehensive guide to “Generating Electricity from Renewable Sources in Central, Eastern, and Southeastern Europe” for 2022 (RES Guide), accessible here. Similar to other countries, there has been some movement in Hungary since the publication of the RES Guide. In a recent conference held to discuss the […]...
Hungarian Energy Market: Details published of windfall taxes and tax increases affecting the energy sector
(also available in Hungarian below) Key takeaways The Hungarian Government adopted and published the detailed rules of the new windfall taxes and other related amendments affecting the energy sector. The special tax will primarily affect petroleum product manufacturers, power plants producing electricity from renewable energy sources, waste or by using cogeneration, and those liable to […]...
Sanktionspaket gegen Russland hat auch vergaberechtliche Folgen
Mit der im April 2022 veröffentlichten Verordnung (EU) 2022/576 über restriktive Maßnahmen angesichts des Kriegs in der Ukraine wurden erstmals auch Sanktionen erlassen, die unmittelbar die Vergabe und die Ausführung öffentlicher Aufträge und Konzessionen betreffen. Das Sanktionspaket umfasst zum einen ein Zuschlagsverbot und zum anderen ein Vertragserfüllungsverbot. Gegenstand der hier relevanten Sanktionen im Bereich der […]...
Hungary: update on available grid connection capacities published by MAVIR
(also available in Hungarian below) 1. Background As we reported earlier this year, with effect from 1 April 2021, new, competitive capacity allocation principles were introduced in the Hungarian Electricity Act, bringing conceptual changes to the previous system (see Hungary: First Publication Procedure for Power Plant Connection to Transmission Grid expected in May 2022). According […]...
First organised GoO market in Hungary: kick-off in early summer 2022
Trading guarantees of origin (GoO) are becoming more popular in Hungary. Due to the increasing market demands, the Hungarian Power Exchange (HUPX) will launch an organised GoO market from 9 June 2022. Leading up to this, the HUPX recently published the Auction Code of the GoO market (i.e., the HUPX GO platform) effective from 26 […]...
New Croatian Whistleblowing Act
A new Whistleblowing Act (‘the Act’) implementing the Directive on the Protection of Persons who Report Breaches of Union Law (Directive (EU) 2019/1937) (‘the Whistleblowing Directive’), came into force in Croatia on 23 April 2022. The new legal framework replaces the existing one which has been in force since 2019. Main protection mechanisms for whistleblowers […]...
Romania shifts to stricter rules for non-EU investors
After years with a liberal FDI regime, Romania has shifted to stricter rules for non-EU investors. The new regime entered into force on 18 April 2022. Scope of application The FDI Ordinance imposes stricter scrutiny for investments made by non-EU/ non-EU controlled investors that could potentially raise national security and public order risks or that […]...