Client Alerts
On steep hills: Hungary tightens rules on the clearance of foreign investments
The current rules on foreign direct investments (FDI), which are already quite restrictive, will be tightened further from January next year: the current exemptions will be narrowed, and the Hungarian State will have a right of first refusal for solar power plant investments. The government is trying to address a long-standing and sensitive issue for […]...
Hungary narrows exemptions under its alternative FDI screening regime
The current Hungarian rules on the screening of foreign direct investments (FDI), which are already unprecedently restrictive, will be further tightened from mid-January next year by narrowing the available exemptions from the filing obligation. Last week, the Hungarian Government passed a decree amending certain provisions of the so-called “alternative” FDI screening regime. The amended rules […]...
Changes to Hungary’s immigration rules
As of 1 January 2024, the Hungarian Parliament is expected to introduce a new framework for the conditions of residence and employment of third-country nationals in Hungary, significantly rewriting the existing rules. Based on the currently effective Act II of 2007, employees – on general basis – can secure their longer-term employment with a residence […]...
Life Science Bulletin: Upcoming changes to parallel distribution of medicinal products in Bulgaria
In August 2023, the Bulgarian Ministry of Health published a draft bill for amendment of the Law on Medicinal Products in the Human Medicine for public consultations. The proposed changes mark a shift towards greater transparency and regulatory control over the pharmaceutical value chain in Bulgaria. They target practices of parallel distributors which lead to […]...
Antitrust Reform in Ukraine: The Stage is Set
In early September of this year, the President of Ukraine signed the Law “On Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of Ukraine on Improving Legislation on Protection of Economic Competition and Activities of the Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine” (the “Law”). The Law launches the reform of Ukrainian antitrust legislation which had been blocked by the Ukrainian […]...
Employment Brief: Bulgaria to implement “the right to disconnect” and other changes for remote workers
Widely debated amendments in the Bulgarian Labour Code are expected to enter into force in early 2024, elaborating on remote/hybrid work provisions introduced in local legislation in 2011. A summary of some key changes from the legislative draft can be found below. Right to Disconnect The “right to disconnect” concept was developed at the EU […]...
Employment Brief: Employment Agreements in Bosnia and Herzegovina; to amend or not to amend
Although amending an employment agreement may seem a pretty standard and common option, it is not a legal possibility in every part of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) The country has three employment legislations: one each for the Federation of BiH (FBiH), the Republic of Srpska (RS), and the Brčko District of BiH (BD), a special […]...
Romania to ratify the Unitary Patent Court Agreement
On 16 November 2023, the Romanian Government approved the draft law aimed at ratifying the Unitary Patent Court Agreement (“UPCA”). Going forward, the draft law will be sent to the Romanian Parliament for its approval. This means that Romanian inventors will soon be entitled to the Unitary Patent Right (“UPR”) and have access to the […]...
Neue EU-Schwellenwerte veröffentlicht
Ab 1.1.2024 gelten (geringfügig) höhere Schwellenwerte Das Wichtigste in Kürze: Neue Schwellenwerte für die Oberschwelle ab 1.1.2024 Die Europäische Kommission hat die neuen Schwellenwerte für die Vergabe von öffentlichen Aufträgen im Oberschwellenbereich veröffentlicht. Die konkreten Änderungen der Schwellenwerte betreffen die sog klassische Vergaberichtlinie 2014/24/EU, die Sektoren-Richtline 2014/25/EU, die Konzessionen-Richtline 2014/23/EU sowie die Richtline 2009/81/EG über […]...
Amendment to Slovenia’s Employment Relationships Act
This article is available in both English and Slovenian. On 7 November 2023, the National Assembly of the Republic of Slovenia adopted an amendment to the Employment Relationships Act (“ERA-1D“) that entered into force on 16 November 2023. The ERA-1D transposes Directive (EU) 2019/1152 on transparent and predictable working conditions in the European Union and the […]...
Employment Brief: Language of Employment Documents in CEE/SEE
When dealing with multinational corporations, we frequently examine and draft employment agreements and documents in different local languages or in a bi-/multilingual form. However, different language requirements apply in each CEE/SEE jurisdiction. Did you know? In case of any questions or for further details, get in touch....
Auswirkungen der neuen VfGH-Erkenntnisse auf ausstehende Zahlungen und Rückforderungen der COFAG
Der VfGH hat über die Verfassungsmäßigkeit mehrerer Bestimmungen über die Förderungsvergabe durch die COFAG entschieden In fünf Erkenntnissen vom 5. Oktober 2023 hat der Verfassungsgerichtshof (i) mehrere Bestimmungen des Bundesgesetzes über die Einrichtung einer Abbaubeteiligungsaktiengesellschaft des Bundes (ABBAG‑Gesetzes) als verfassungswidrig und (ii) Teile der vom Finanzminister in Verordnungsform erlassenen Richtlinien über die Gewährung von Förderungen als gesetzwidrig […]...