Client Alert
A new tax on commercial real estate to be introduced in Poland
In early October a draft bill introducing a tax on certain types of commercial real estate was submitted by the Ministry of Finance to Parliament for consideration. This new tax may increase the financial burdens of entrepreneurs operating in the real estate sector in Poland....
Class actions – Who wants to go first?
Recently, a Class Action Act was adopted which will take effect as of 21 April 2018. The Act aims at providing for an efficient joint pursuit of rights by injured parties that, until now, were discouraged by lengthy and expensive court proceedings....
Bulgaria: Recent employment law changes restrict M&A transactions for bad employers
Protection of employees which was given strong support by Bulgarian Parliament led to difficulties in closing M&A transactions...
Bulgarian competition watchdog launches a sector inquiry into electricity markets
On 22 January 2018 the Bulgarian Competition Protection Commission ("CPC") announced that it opened a sector inquiry into the electricity markets in Bulgaria. The formal decision has not yet been published. However, the sector inquiry is expected to cover the entire electricity value chain....
Bulgaria – Amendments to the energy act in relation to REMIT to be reviewed by the competition protection commission
On 07 February 2018, the Bulgarian Competition Protection Commission ("CPC") initiated Competition Advocacy proceedings in relation to the recently proposed amendments to the Bulgarian Energy Act ("EA"), aiming to increase controlling and enforcement powers of the Bulgarian Energy and Water Regulatory Commission ("EWRC") in respect of possible energy market manipulations under REMIT (Regulation 1227/2011 on wholesale energy market integrity and transparency)....
Bulgaria – Competition protection commission recommends amendments of the energy act concerning the heating sector
On 8 February 2018, the Bulgarian Competition Protection Commission ("CPC") issued a Decision in a Competition Advocacy proceeding initiated in 2017 for the assessment of conformity with Competition law of the legal framework applicable to heat energy supply legislation. The Competition Advocacy proceeding analyzed the respective sections of the Energy Act ("EA"), the Heat Energy Supply Ordinance (1) and the General Terms and Conditions of the heating companies....
The Bulgarian traders of energy products are facing the market abuse regulation
Effective as of the end of September 2016, Bulgarian traders of energy products must comply with market abuse prevention requirements....
Significant improvements in the Ukrainian merger filing process
On 20 September 2016, the Ukrainian competition authority (the "AMC") announced the extension of its so-called amnesty program for merger control violations for another six months....
Mandatory electronic mailboxes for legal entities
As of 1 August 2016, the Slovak Republic instituted the mandatory use of electronic mailboxes (accounts) (hereinafter the "emails") for legal entities. The obligation was introduced by Act No. 305/2013 Coll., on e-Government as amended (hereinafter the "Act on e-Government"), whereby the respective state authority was obliged to activate the emails by 1 August 2016....
Mandatory RES-E quota benefiting from the GC support scheme was approved
In a shift in green energy policy in Romania, the mandatory RES-Electricity quota benefiting from the green certificate support scheme was approved yesterday by the government....
The Serbian commission for the protection of competition publicises its aftermarkets study
The Serbian Commission for the Protection of Competition recently published a market study in which it assessed the state of competition in after-sales services for motor vehicles and home appliances in 2015. The Commission also invited all interested parties to comment on the results of the study by 31 December 2016....
Slovakia: Public procurement
Do you take part in public tender procedures and conclude (concession) contracts or framework agreements with public contracting authorities? Do you receive financial means from the state budget, from EU funds or state aid? Do you use state property?...