Client Alerts
The new security of gas supply regulation on the horizon – The view of Austria, Bulgaria and Slovenia
On 16 February 2016, the European Commission officially presented the new Energy Security Package, which aims at increasing the role of the EC in the energy sector by introducing a series of changes....
Is the internet killing retail lease agreements?
Since the digital age began, models for computing the rent for retail spaces have remained basically unchanged: lease agreements provide for a base rent while high-traffic locations as in, for example, shopping centres, provide an additional component dependent on revenue....
Ukraine: Vertical block exemption regulation expected to be adopted
Ukrainian competition law currently lacks guidance on various legal questions, including vertical restraints; legal uncertainty exists even with regard to clauses regularly used in distribution agreements in other jurisdictions. It is therefore a welcome development that the Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine (the "AMC") is working on a draft Vertical Block Exemption Regulation (the "Draft Regulation"). It is doing so in view of the requirements under the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the European Union....
Important changes in Austrian competition law – An overview
On 25 April 2017, important changes ("Amendments") to Austrian competition law entered into force - a number of changes will enter into force at different times....
The end of unilateral changes of interest rates by Slovak banks?
By 2016, interest rates set by the European Central Bank reached historic lows. For this reason, a mortgage loan has become a more common way of financing the purchase of real estate. However, it is to be expected that, at some point, the current interest rates will be subject to alteration. Consequently, mortgage loan agreements usually contain a provision authorizing the bank to unilaterally increase the respective interest rate. Hence, it is particularly significant that one of the most frequently used banking products on the Slovak market is the mortgage with variable interest rates, with their possible fixation during the subsequent 3-5 year period....
Regulation (EU) 2017/1128 of the European parliament and of the council on cross-border portability of online content services in the internal market
OVERVIEW With the adoption of Regulation (EU) 2017/1128 on the cross-border portability of online content services in the Union ("Portability-Regulation"), a major step towards abolishing geo-blocking in Europe was taken. The new Regulation will make online services even more attractive for consumers and together with the abolition of roaming charges which already entered into force on 15 June 2017, it is one of the objectives of the digital single market strategy to create a truly internal market for digital content and services....
Lex mercator passed in Slovenia in response to Agrokor’s sistress
The New Law Aims at Protecting Entities against the Negative Effects of Insolvency by their Majority Owners...
Betriebsanlagenverfahren neu
Elektronische Aktenführung hat auch in den Verwaltungsverfahren Einzug gefunden und unter anderem zu einer Verfahrensbeschleunigung beigetragen. Dem soll in der Novelle der Gewerbeordnung (GewO) Rechnung getragen werden:...
Отсрочка за последните мерки относно електронните плащания
На 27 ноември 2017г. Европейската комисия прие Регулаторните технически стандарти ("Техническите стандарти") към втората директива(1) на ЕС за платежните услуги ("Втората директива")....
The debate on contributions and personal income tax is now opened
On October 4, 2017, The Federal Ministry of Finance in Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBiH) has announced the opening of the public debate on drafts of the Law on the Contributions and the Law on Personal Income Tax, adopted on the 21st session of the House of Peoples of the Parliament of Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina held on September 21, 2017. The public debate is opened until January 1, 2018, which is also the deadline for delivery of comments and suggestions....
Launch of new FIDIC contract conditions
The "contracts of choice" for the world's most high-profile construction and infrastructure projects have been updated. FIDIC launched revised versions of its internationally recognized Red Book, Yellow Book and Silver Book, replacing the renowned 1999 FIDIC Suite of Contracts....
Legal provisions regarding the acquisition of farmland in certain countries in CEE
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....