Law No. 96/2025 “On whistleblowing and the protection of whistleblowers” (Law No. 96/2025) establishes a new and consolidated framework for the reporting of violations and the protection of whistleblowers, in both the public and private sectors.

As of 1 January 2026, Bulgaria adopted the euro as its official currency. All Bulgarian companies are required to update their corporate documents to reflect their share capital and the nominal value per share in EUR by 31 December 2026.

The introduction of e-invoicing marks a pivotal moment in the digital transformation of the economy in Southeast Europe. In both North Macedonia and Serbia, the transition to electronic invoicing is reshaping the relationship between businesses, the state, and financial institutions. While the initial focus has understandably been on compliance and technical implementation, the broader implications of e-invoicing deserve closer attention, particularly its potential to drive efficiency, legal certainty, and sustainable economic growth.

A single missing file. That is all it takes for an otherwise complete and competitive bid to be rejected in a public procurement procedure. No analysis, no checks, no clarifications. Between «Upload» and «Submit», a missing file, due to human error or, worse, not attributable to the bidder, can cost the rejection of the bid, apparently without any “loophole” for rescue clause.

Bulgaria is currently embroiled in a scandal involving unauthorized video surveillance footage from laser hair removal procedures. The footage has reportedly surfaced on adult websites globally. A similar case was subsequently uncovered within a gynecological practice. Beyond the ethical outrage and the trauma inflicted upon the victims, these incidents reveal a complex matrix of violations across administrative, civil, and criminal law - further complicated by the nuances of special categories of data and EU data protection legislation.

Bulgaria has adopted a fully redesigned collective redress and representative action framework, implementing Directive (EU) 2020/1828 and modifying both the Consumer Protection Act (CPA) and the Civil Procedure Code (CPC).

Ukraine has formally launched an Interdepartmental Commission on the Screening of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), marking an important institutional step toward a structured, transparent approach to assessing how foreign investments may affect national security—particularly under conditions of martial law.

On 7 January 2026, an online portal for submitting investment projects to the United States–Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund officially opened. The launch marks the Fund’s move into the operational phase and the start of its active investment activities.

Reforms that were supposed to increase predictability and foreseeability of court decisions have instead created an environment with a significant number of contradictory conclusions and deviations in the practice of the Supreme Court. Formal cassation filters, vague criteria for determining legal conclusions and the lack of a procedural tool for their coordination complicate the work of both lawyers and lower court judges. Improvements in the administration of justice can be achieved, in particular, by amending the current procedural rules.

Effective 1 February 2026, Emergency Ordinance No. 91/2025 introduces a material change to the medical leave indemnity regime in Romania: the first day of medical leave will not be compensated. Under the previous framework, employers covered the first five days of medical leave indemnity. Going forward, only days 2–6 will be paid by the employer. This temporary measure is in effect until 31 December 2027 and warrants careful consideration from both an employment law and payroll reporting perspective.

The Constitutional Court of Montenegro, at its session held 28 January 2026, annulled Article 35a of the Internal Trade Act (Zakon o unutrašnjoj trgovini “Official Gazette of Montenegro”, Nos. 049/08, 040/11, 038/19 and 084/24) (“Internal Trade Act“), imposing a ban on the operation of retail businesses on Sundays and on public holidays. The court found that the ban was inconsistent with the constitutional guarantees of freedom of entrepreneurship and equality before the law.

In recent months, Polish employment law has undergone extensive reform, with several legislative amendments and new regulatory obligations entering into force across key areas of workforce management.

With the adoption of the Law on Healthcare in August 2025, the legal framework for the implementation of a comprehensive reform of the Montenegrin healthcare system through harmonization with modern standards and the legal acquis of the European Union was set. A further step in this direction is represented by the proposed amendments to this law, which, together with the Law on Data Management and Digital Health, are also in the proposal stage, and are part of a wider process of digital transformation of the healthcare system, while at the same time strengthening the protection of patient data and standardization of healthcare records.

Shortly after the Council of the European Union approved the signing of the EU–Mercosur agreements, the EU and India reached political agreement on their own comprehensive trade deal, setting the stage for significant tariff cuts and new market openings, particularly for agri‑food and processed food.

Foreign direct investment (FDI) screening is an essential issue for cross-border M&A, joint ventures, restructurings and financing arrangements. What was once a niche regulatory topic is now a decisive factor in transaction timing, risk allocation and, in some cases, deal feasibility itself.

The new Companies Act (“2026 Companies Act“) and the new Act on Registration of Commercial and Other Entities (“Registration Act“) have entered into force on 1 January 2026. These statutes were enacted in the context of the provisional closure of EU accession negotiations on Chapter 6 (Company Law).

Today, the Ukrainian Government has adopted a resolution establishing an Interagency Commission on the Screening of Foreign Direct Investment ("Commission). This decision of the Government aims to introduce a mechanism for assessing the impact of foreign direct investment ("FDI") on Ukraine’s national security under the conditions of martial law.

In the era of information exchange through modern information and communication technologies, it has inevitably come about that commerce, including the making of offers as well as the conclusion of contracts themselves, is conducted electronically. This trend has also been recognized by the legislator, who has regulated, through statutory acts, the rules and conditions for the validity of contracts concluded electronically.