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The National Bank of Ukraine introduced additional changes to currency restrictions
The National Bank of Ukraine published amendments to currency restrictions that were introduced in February 2022 at the start of the full-scale Russian invasion. The changes relate to payments under international technical assistance projects, transfers for the import of goods, dividend payments, and lending for the purchase of foreign currency-denominated government bonds. While the first two categories involve the easing of restrictions, dividend payments and lending for purchasing foreign currency-denominated government bonds are now subject to stricter regulation.Click on one of the images below or use the following links to read our overview in English or in Ukrainian. Download
Update on the ESG reporting obligations in Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia
The Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (EU) 2022/2464 (the “CSRD”) required EU member states to complete its transposition by 6 July 2024. However, uneven implementation led the EU Commission to initiate infringement proceedings against 17 member states, including the Czech Republic and Romania, on 26 September 2024, citing their failure to fully communicate the necessary transposition measures. These states now face a two-month deadline to finalise the process and respond to the formal notice. While the CSRD’s transposition is nearing completion, attention is turning to the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (EU) 2024/1760 (the “CSDDD”), an equally significant piece of legislation.
Understanding Hungary’s Guarantee of Origin: A new era for renewable gas
Stay competitive in Hungary’s evolving energy market by understanding the Guarantee of Origin, a crucial certification now available for renewable gas. This change could open doors for businesses focused on sustainability and compliance. Earlier this year, the amendment to the Act XL of 2008 - Natural Gas (the “Natural Gas Act”) brought a significant shift: the introduction of a Guarantee of Origin for renewable gas, similar to what we have seen in the electricity market. The guarantee of origin is an electronic document designed solely to certify, using objective, transparent, and non-discriminatory criteria, that a given share or quantity of gas produced by a specific generation unit qualifies as renewable
The legal effects of electronic signatures from the perspective of Law No. 214/2024 in Romania
On 8 October 2024, the Romanian law on the use of electronic signatures, timestamps and the provision of trust services based on these ("Electronic Signature Law") entered into force. The legislation introduces a new legal framework for electronic signatures, in close alignment with Regulation (EU) No. 910/2014 on electronic identification and trust services for electronic transactions in the internal market ("eIDAS Regulation"). Particularities of the legal effects depending on the type of electronic signature used: A. Qualified electronic signature – this is a signature created by a qualified electronic signature-creation device based on a qualified certificate for electronic signatures. While the Electronic
Ukraine advances toward introducing medical cannabis circulation
During September and early October, the Ukrainian government adopted secondary legislation to further the implementation of the so-called Cannabis Law. Click on one of the images below or use the following links to read our overview in English or in Ukrainian. Download in English: Download in Ukrainian:
TMT Legal Update
Our TMT Legal Update provides insights from our law experts and aims to keep you regularly up to date with sector news, trends and legislation in the Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia regions. This issue covers key updates from our jurisdictions from the past few months. REGIONAL Implementation status of certain EU regulations Technology 01. New development regarding NIS 2 Directive implementation in various Kinstellar jurisdictions The EU's NIS2 Directive is a cybersecurity act aimed at improving overall cybersecurity in the EU. Member States must implement it by 17 October 2024. Below we provide
Consumer Law Update – CJEU rules that a price reduction announced in an advertisement must be calculated on the basis of the lowest price in the last 30 days
On 26 September, the Court of Justice of the European Union ("CJEU") issued its much anticipated decision in the case Aldi Süd (C-330/23) concerning the announcement of price reductions in an advertisement. At issue was whether a price reduction announced in an advertisement must be calculated on the basis of the lowest price in the last 30 days, or whether the price reduction can be calculated from another price, with the information on the lowest price in the last 30 days being provided together with the reference price for calculating the reduction (as an additional figure). The CJEU concluded that that a price reduction announced in an advertisement must be determined on the basis of the lowest price applied
Update: Major changes in Bulgarian gambling regulation
As we have previously reported, just a few months ago Bulgaria introduced major changes to the regulations governing organisers of gambling games and activities (including service providers connected with the gambling industry) and gambling advertisements (see the original article here). These changes have recently been further clarified with a decision of the regulator and additional proposed amendments in relevant rules. Below are some key updates: Online advertising A recent decision of the National Revenue Agency (“NRA”) clarifies that the legislative changes were intended to restrict gambling advertisements to Bulgarian media outlets and their websites, rather than across the entire Internet. This means
The Romanian Competition Council revamps its guidelines on issuing guidance letters
On 11 September 2024 the Romanian Competition Council’s (“RCC”) Order no. 2436/2024 implementing the Guidelines on informal guidance on novel or unresolved questions arising in individual cases concerning the application of Art. 5 and 6 of the Romanian Competition Law No. 21/1996 (the “Competition Law”) was published in the Official Gazette of Romania and entered into force (the “Guidelines”). Art. 5 and 6 of the Competition Law represent the local-law equivalents of Art. 101 and 102 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union and deal with the prohibition of agreements that restrict competition and, respectively, abuse of dominance. The Guidelines replace the previous RCC note on the matter
Purpose of the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) and application of AIFC Law, in Kazakhstan
We have gathered practical insights based on case studies within the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC), with a focus on the application of law in this jurisdiction. In this brief note, we aim to summarize these key points and share them with potential AIFC participants, investors, and professionals in the legal and financial sectors. It is important to note that this is not an academic article or legal advice, but rather practical observations. Purpose of the AIFC and application of AIFC Law As a starting point, the AIFC, located in Astana, Kazakhstan’s capital, was created to serve as a specialized financial hub, fostering investments and promoting regulated financial services. What distinguishes
Romania to introduce stricter compliance rules for crypto-asset service providers
Romania’s National Office for the Prevention and Control of Money Laundering has recently published a draft of an Emergency Ordinance amending and supplementing Law no. 129/2019 on the prevention and control of money laundering and terrorist financing (the Emergency Ordinance) in order to harmonise domestic legislation with the provisions of Directive (EU) 2015/849 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 May 2015 on the prevention of the use of the financial system for the purpose of money laundering or terrorist financing (the Fifth AML Directive), as amended by Regulation (EU) 2023/113 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 31 May 2023 on information accompanying transfers of funds and certain crypto-assets
How Slovak courts operated in 2023 – Statistics don’t lie
At the beginning of August 2024, the Ministry of Justice of the Slovak Republic released its annual statistical yearbook for 2023 (please see here: Statistical Yearbook 2023). At the time of publication, the effects of the so-called judicial map reforms that were initiated in 2023 had not yet manifested themselves in any significant way. However, we have identified several intriguing trends and other data that we would like to bring to your attention. Civil and commercial litigation In 2023, courts in the Slovak Republic handled 39,920 civil cases, with 110,392 disputes (including commercial cases), which is 7,742 fewer cases than in 2022. Based on an overview of the duration of proceedings in