Client Alert
ECJ: Environmental impact assessment decisions not binding on neighbours
New ECJ decision affects Austrian declaratory EIA decisions: The ECJ recently ruled that declaratory EIA decisions that ex ante deny an EIA obligation are not binding on neighbours. The decision raises numerous legal questions. Therefore, dealing with EIA issues at an early stage is vital....
Neues Recht der GesbR kann massive Auswirkungen auf Syndikatsverträge haben
Seit Beginn des Jahres ist die "Gesellschaft bürgerlichen Rechts" neu geregelt, was auch zu massiven Auswirkungen bei Syndikatsverträgen, die in der Wirtschaft weit verbreitet sind, führen kann. Denn: Syndikatsverträge, auch Stimmbindungsverträge oder Shareholder Agreements genannt, werden nach herrschender Meinung nach GesbR-Recht qualifiziert – damit könnten übliche Kündigungsbeschränkungen oder -verbote als gesetzwidrig eingestuft werden....
EUGH: Keine Bindungswirkung von UVP-Feststellungsbescheiden für Nachbarn
In einer brandaktuellen Entscheidung hat der EuGH festgestellt, dass UVP-Feststellungsbescheide, mit welchen die UVP-Pflicht verneint wird, gegenüber Nachbarn keine Bindungswirkung entfalten. Die Entscheidung wirft zahlreiche Rechtsfragen auf. Eine frühzeitige Befassung mit UVP-Fragen ist unumgänglich....
New rules regulating the tobacco industry – Transposing the measuresfor a transparent and monitored market
The provisions of the new Tobacco Products Directive 2014/40/EU adopted on 14 March 2014, aim to reflect the developments concerning tobacco and related products, while focusing on health protection and prevention of illicit trade of such products on the territory of the European Union. The general focus areas of the adopted text that need to be transposed into National law by 20 May 2016, are the following....
Significant changes in the Bulgarian renewable energy sector
On 07.03.2015 amendments to the Act on Energy from Renewable Sources (`AERS`) were introduced through the Bill on Amendment and Supplementation to the Bulgarian Energy Act. These changes entered into force with immediate effect....
Serbian competiton authority clears Etihad-Alitalia and Holcim-Lafarge mergers subject to commitments
The Serbian competition authority has recently reviewed two international mergers in close cooperation with the European Commission. At the end it cleared both cases with commitments. The close coordination with the European Commission highlights Serbia`s willingness to align its competition law enforcement practice more closely with that of the EU....
A new turn in Croatian antitrust law?
On Monday, 20 April 2015, the High Administrative Court overturned and declared the decision of the Croatian Competition Agency (“CCA”) as unlawful by which the Croatian Orthodontic Society (“COS”) was accused of having entered into a cartel agreement....
Latest amendments to the Bulgarian energy act – attempt towards electricity market stability and liberalisation
On 07.03.2015 a Bill of Amendment and Supplementation of the Bulgarian Energy Act has been published with an immediate effect. The Bill introduces amendments to the regulation of the entire energy value chain which affect electricity, gas and heat activities, and the functions of energy regulators....
BVergG-Novelle/Faire Vergaben: Erste Informationen zum geplanten Inhalt
Die geplante Novellierung des BVergG zum Stichwort "Faire Vergaben" biegt in die Zielgerade ein. Anbei finden Sie den Wortlaut der bisher bekannt gemachten Informati-onen aus dem Papier zur Regierungsklausur vom 23./24. März 2015 betreffend das Konjunkturpaket:...
New directive on non-financial reporting
Directive 2014/95/EU on disclosure of non-financial and diversity information by certain large undertakings and groups entered into force on 5 December 2014 (the "NFR Directive"). It introduces new reporting duties in relation to corporate social responsibility of large companies and groups....
Bulgarian tax exemption for interest and royalty payments
New amendments to the Bulgarian Corporate Income Tax Act on the taxation of income from interest and royalties entered into force as of 1 January 2015, implementing the requirements of the EC Interest and Royalties Directive....
HETA Asset Resolution – Temporary moratorium imposed by FMA
On 1 March 2015, the Austrian Financial Market Authority has initiated the resolution of HETA ASSET RESOLUTION AG. In substance, the resolutoin measures are modelled along the new European resolution regime for Banks ("Bank Recovery and Resolution Directive - BRRD")....