Client Alerts

The large-scale acquisition of farmland in CEE countries has been a highly debated topic for some time. This is mainly due to the relatively low price of land in comparison to that in other parts of Europe as well as the good quality of the soil. However, there has also been a constant tendency to restrict farmland acquisition to an individual country's nationals (legal entities and individuals), and to put up limitations to the acquisition of farmland by EU/European Economic Area individuals or companies....

The EU Commission, further incited by the Paris terrorist attacks, has declared the fight against tax avoidance, money laundering and terrorist financing a top priority; in 2018 stricter rules will enter into force also in Austria – legal entities should prepare themselves in good time....

In preparation for the EU General Data Protection Regulation ("GDPR"), which comes into force in May 2018, Romania has updated its Classification of Occupations (COR) to include data protection officers (DPOs)....

Austria's Federal Competition Authority ("FCA") has issued its first comprehensive guidance on inspections of undertakings carried out by the FCA....

Verplichtung zur E-Vergabe wird teilweise zum Stolperstein Die Richtlinie 2014/24/EU bringt maßgebliche Änderungen für Vergabeverfahren. Diese betreffen u. a. die e-Vergabe, die grundsätzlich verpflichtend wird. Die Umsetzung durch das neue Bundesvergabegesetz erfolgt voraussichtlich im ersten Halbjahr 2018. Die bisherige Praxis zeigt bereits, dass die richtlinienkonforme vollelektronische Abwicklung von Vergabeverfahren auch neue Probleme mit sich bringen kann:...

Poland becomes top market for expansion in emerging Europe In response to the growing demand for legal advisory services in Poland, Wolf Theiss has continued its rapid expansion in central Europe's largest economy this year, bringing on three new Partners in the Warsaw office. As one of the leading law firms in Central, Eastern and South-Eastern Europe, Wolf Theiss plans further additions to its team in Poland, providing best-in-class services for local and international firms in the most promising industries....

A peculiarity of Austrian laws has - partially - been abolished Stamp duties on certain legal transactions were introduced nearly 300 years ago to enable the illiterate to enter into legal agreements. Even after the decrease in illiteracy, these stamp duties have never been abolished....

The end of October brought new amendments to the Hungarian Competition Act. Most changes focus on administrative and procedural issues which are less relevant for businesses. Some of the amendments, however, directly affect the day-to-day operation of businesses in Hungary. They take effect as of 1 January 2018....

Important news in the data privacy field after the Article 29 Working Party Plenary held in October 2017: the drafts of two new guidelines were finalized and a final form of a third one was adopted. The guidelines are aimed at ensuring a harmonized application of the GDPR, after 25 May 2018....

On 10 January 2017, a proposal for a new Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning the respect for private life and the protection of personal data in electronic communications and repealing Directive 2002/58/EC ("e-Privacy Regulation") was published on the European Commission's website....

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....

Effective as of the end of September 2016, Bulgarian traders of energy products must comply with market abuse prevention requirements....