The Government of the Republic of Serbia recently adopted a Decree on Additional Requirements for Placing on the Market Products Containing Palm Oil, Palm Fat, or Other Vegetable Oils and Fats ("Official Gazette of RS", No. 47/2025), which entered into force on 7 June 2025 (“the Decree”).

Greenberg Traurig has represented Animex Foods and Agri Plus on the sale of part of their goose processing business to Cedrob.

The Commission for Protection of the Competition of North Macedonia (CPC) has significantly intensified its enforcement activities in the food retail sector, signalling a stricter regulatory approach toward potential anti-competitive behaviour.

Fort Legal has advised Axiology on obtaining a license enabling the company to operate as a depository, exchange, and broker in Lithuania.

Moravcevic Vojnovic and Partners in Cooperation with Schoenherr has advised UniCredit Bank Serbia and Structured Invest on the establishment of UniCredit Invest JSC, a UCITS management company licensed in Serbia.

Karanovic & Partners has advised Paysera North Macedonia on obtaining an Electronic Money Institution license.

In a significant move towards economic recovery and strategic growth, Ukraine and its international partners have launched several finance initiatives aimed at mobilizing capital and transforming critical sectors. These efforts, including the United States-Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund and other programs announced in 2025, showcase a commitment to rebuilding Ukraine through blended finance models. This article explores these developments and their implications for Ukraine’s future.

In June 2025, a foreign currency (Swiss franc) loan agreement was annulled by the Pest Central District Court, since the creditor bank had failed to properly inform the debtor (who had been a consumer) about the exchange rate risk arising from the agreement. As a consequence, the whole agreement is invalid retroactively from the date of its conclusion, so that the bank is only entitled to recover the amount it lent to the debtor; beyond that, all repayments, interest and charges must be repaid to the debtor.

Greenberg Traurig has advised TMF Poland as the Polish security agent in connection with notes issued by the Bausch Health Companies, as part of its USD 7.9 billion refinancing.

White & Case has advised Orlen on the issuance of EUR 600 million in seven-year unsecured green bonds with a 3.625% annual coupon.

Allen Overy Shearman Sterling has advised PKO Bank Polski on the issuance of EUR 500 million in 3.625% green senior non-preferred callable fixed-to-floating interest rate notes due 2031. White & Case reportedly advised joint lead managers BNP Paribas, Erste, PKO Bank Polski, UBS, and UniCredit.

Filip & Company has advised Banca Comerciala Romana, BNP Paribas, Citigroup Global Markets Europe, ING Bank, J.P. Morgan, Raiffeisen Bank International, BT Capital Partners, Intesa Sanpaolo, Societe Generale, and UniCredit Bank on the EUR 500 million green bond issuance by Societatea Energetica Electrica. Clifford Chance advised Electrica.

The long-awaited Bulgarian foreign direct investment (FDI) screening regime is now fully operational.

RTPR has obtained a final decision reducing a fine imposed by Romania’s Competition Council on Zenith by over 85%.

Budapest-based Dentons Partner Rob Irving has been reappointed as the Co-Head of Corporate and M&A, while Warsaw-based Partner Agnieszka Stefanowicz-Baranska has been appointed the Co-Head of the Competition and Antitrust practice.

In a significant development for the personal data protection landscape in Albania, the Council of Ministers has adopted Decision No. 347, dated 19 June 2025, establishing a new state database titled “Electronic Registry of Data Protection Officers” (DPO Registry). This marks a major milestone in the country’s efforts to align its data governance infrastructure with international and European standards, in line with the newly reformed legal framework on personal data protection.

On 10 June 2025 Latvia completed the transposition of Directive (EU) 2024/1226 by amending three key statutes: the Criminal Law, the Law “On the Procedures for the Coming into Force and Application of the Criminal Law,” and the Law on International and National Sanctions of the Republic of Latvia.

As Brussels adopts one of the most ambitious environmental regulations in recent years, Albania once again finds itself at a familiar crossroads. The country faces pressure to align but still lacks the institutional capacity and market readiness to act meaningfully.

Law Office Zornada and Law Office Krehic have jointly advised Croatia Osiguranje on two related transactions carried out with Adris Grupa, including the sale of a minority shareholding in Professio Energia, listed on the Zagreb Stock Exchange, and the acquisition of a minority stake in Sava Re, an insurance company listed on the Ljubljana Stock Exchange.

On July 22, 2025, Clifford Chance announced that Alpha Bank and Alpha International Holdings' Sale of Alpha Leasing Romania IFN and Alpha Insurance Brokers to Vista Bank Romania (as reported by CEE Legal Matters on March 17, 2025) has now closed.

Karacam & Sir and Donmez Law have advised Remus Enerji on its latest investment round, which values the company at USD 6 million.

Karacam & Sir and Donmez Law have advised Remus Enerji on its latest investment round, which values the company at USD 6 million.

CMS has advised Central European Petroleum on the development of the Wolin East project, following CEP’s announcement of a discovery of oil and gas reserves in the Wolin East 1 well, located on Polish territory in the Baltic Sea.

Luiza Alexandra Ionescu has joined Stratulat Albulescu as Special Counsel and the firm's new Head of the Energy Department. Ionescu joins alongside Industry Expert Andreea Paraschiv.

Musat & Asociatii has won an appeal before the High Court of Cassation and Justice against a prior decision by the Bucharest Court of Appeal, allowing the retrial of the review application in the case concerning the torturers of Romanian anti-communist dissident Gheorghe Ursu.

Ellex has offered pro bono representation in a same-sex parenthood case before the national courts in Lithuania, resulting in the first-ever recognition of same-sex parents.

On April 22, 2024, Everlegal announced it had been appointed to provide legal support to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees – the UN Refugee Agency – for its activities in Ukraine.

Law Office Zornada and Law Office Krehic have jointly advised Croatia Osiguranje on two related transactions carried out with Adris Grupa, including the sale of a minority shareholding in Professio Energia, listed on the Zagreb Stock Exchange, and the acquisition of a minority stake in Sava Re, an insurance company listed on the Ljubljana Stock Exchange.

Rymarz Zdort Maruta has represented Centralny Port Komunikacyjny before Poland’s National Chamber of Appeals, securing a favorable outcome in sectoral procurement proceedings concerning the construction of a new passenger terminal.

Law Office Zornada and Law Office Krehic have jointly advised Metkovic on the merger of five regional water suppliers, a capital increase, and the contribution of water supply infrastructure into the company’s share capital.

Czech insolvency law provides multiple options for resolving corporate insolvency. Alongside liquidation and reorganisation—which aim to wind down or rehabilitate a business—the law also offers preventive restructuring tools. These early intervention mechanisms allow a company to address temporary financial difficulties without initiating formal insolvency proceedings. 

Freshfields has advised Traton on the implementation of a new joint group R&D organization across its brands Scania, MAN, International, and Volkswagen Truck & Bus.

Tuca Zbarcea & Asociatii has secured the admission of a revision against a final judgment ordering the dissolution of the Bucharest Municipal Football Association, as well as the definitive rejection of the applications for dissolution of the association.

On 14 June 2025, Law of Ukraine "On Amendments to the Law of Ukraine "On the Organisation of Labour Relations under Martial Law" Regarding Information Exchange and Suspension of Employment Agreements" (the "Law") entered into force.

This Legal Monitoring Report highlights key legislative developments in Moldova, including the launch of a grant program for tech start-ups, proposed excise duty reductions for small producers, extended paternity leave, enhanced protections for minor employees, regulation of temporary agency work, and time limits on meal voucher usage. Tax updates feature a new regime for freelancers, extended deductions for rural tourism and sports facilities, broader non-taxable income categories, and incentives for SMEs.

With the adoption of a new legislative solution in the Republic of North Macedonia, introduced through the Law on Labour Engagement of Persons, which shall enter into force on 1 January 2026, a systemic and coherent framework will be established for the regulation of temporary and seasonal labour engagement. The primary objective of this law is to formalize a segment of the labour market that, to date, has remained largely unregulated or informal, with particular focus placed on three sectors: agriculture, hospitality, and domestic services.

Greenberg Traurig has advised TMF Poland as the Polish security agent in connection with notes issued by the Bausch Health Companies, as part of its USD 7.9 billion refinancing.

Law office Zornada has advised DDL Zagreb and its shareholders on the sale of a majority shareholding in the company to Neftys Pharma. Miskovic & Miskovic, BDK Advokati, and ODI Law advised Neftys Pharma.

Anagnostopoulos has successfully represented a former director of Werfen Hellas before the Athens Criminal Court, which cleared the defendant of healthcare fraud charges related to product pricing practices for healthcare organizations.

In June 2025, a foreign currency (Swiss franc) loan agreement was annulled by the Pest Central District Court, since the creditor bank had failed to properly inform the debtor (who had been a consumer) about the exchange rate risk arising from the agreement. As a consequence, the whole agreement is invalid retroactively from the date of its conclusion, so that the bank is only entitled to recover the amount it lent to the debtor; beyond that, all repayments, interest and charges must be repaid to the debtor.

Rymarz Zdort Maruta has represented Centralny Port Komunikacyjny before Poland’s National Chamber of Appeals, securing a favorable outcome in sectoral procurement proceedings concerning the construction of a new passenger terminal.

A new legislative proposal aims to introduce several exciting innovations in civil litigation. The objectives include speeding up court proceedings, increasing public oversight over litigation, modernizing legal education and academic research, enhancing the Supreme Court’s (Kúria) function of ensuring legal uniformity, and reducing the administrative burden on courts related to their obligation to provide reasoning. We’ve summarized the most intriguing innovations from the proposal below.

Law office Zornada has advised DDL Zagreb and its shareholders on the sale of a majority shareholding in the company to Neftys Pharma. Miskovic & Miskovic, BDK Advokati, and ODI Law advised Neftys Pharma.

SRC has advised MLP Group on the lease of 24,000 square meters of warehouse space to Sarantis Poland within the MLP Pruszkow II logistics park near Warsaw.

SSW has advised Eika Asset Management on securing financing from Santander Bank Polska for the development of a logistics facility in Sochaczew, Poland. DLA Piper reportedly advised Santander Bank Polska.

Pohla & Hallmagi, working with Wikborg Rein, has advised Marine Energy Solutions on its acquisition of the PRIME oil tanker. Reed Smith reportedly advised the unidentified sellers.

Kyriakides Georgopoulos announced that the Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund's sale of a 67% stake in the Heraklion Port Authority to a consortium consisting of Grimaldi Euromed and Minoan Lines (as reported by CEE Legal Matters on January 11, 2024) closed on September 18, 2024.

PeliPartners has advised Bogdan Idu and his group companies on the sale of an LPG maritime terminal in Romania to Nawaf Salameh Family Office Group.

Karacam & Sir and Donmez Law have advised Remus Enerji on its latest investment round, which values the company at USD 6 million.

Sorainen has advised the shareholders of UAB Peraltis on the sale of their business to UAB Ronelda.

CMS has advised Inter Europol on its acquisition of Pan-Pek from Enterprise VII private equity fund. Schoenherr advised the sellers.

Pekin & Pekin has provided pro bono advice to Fenerbahce SK, Fenerium, Fenerbahce Futbol on its partnership with Adidas.

Sayenko Kharenko has provided pro bono support for a cultural initiative that aims to set war-time poems, written by Ukrainian defenders, to music. 

Musat & Asociatii has won an appeal before the High Court of Cassation and Justice against a prior decision by the Bucharest Court of Appeal, allowing the retrial of the review application in the case concerning the torturers of Romanian anti-communist dissident Gheorghe Ursu.

Act Legal Poland has advised Adventum International on its acquisition of four industrial properties from an international automotive parts manufacturer through a sale and lease-back transaction.

Reals has advised UniCredit Bank CZ & SK on the acquisition financing, refinancing, and reconstruction funding of three Albert hypermarkets. Giese & Partners advised Helaba on the refinancing of one of the hypermarkets. 

Glatzova & Co has advised the Jan Hotels group on its acquisition of the four-star Pentahotel Prague, located in the Karlin district of the Czech capital.

Octavian Ionascu has joined DLA Piper's Romania office as a Tax Director.

The Hungarian Parliament adopted a tax package in June, amending the Financial Transaction Tax Act to close existing loopholes and ensure that all market participants are subject to the tax.

Integrites has joined the Diia City Union as a legal partner, aligning itself with the professional association of resident companies within Ukraine’s Diia.City legal and tax framework.

Karacam & Sir and Donmez Law have advised Remus Enerji on its latest investment round, which values the company at USD 6 million.

Kinstellar has advised KentBank on the acquisition and maintenance of the source code for its core banking software.

Alexios Andriopoulos has joined Welcome Pickups as the company's new Head of Legal & Compliance.

Anagnostopoulos has successfully represented a former director of Werfen Hellas before the Athens Criminal Court, which cleared the defendant of healthcare fraud charges related to product pricing practices for healthcare organizations.

On 10 June 2025 Latvia completed the transposition of Directive (EU) 2024/1226 by amending three key statutes: the Criminal Law, the Law “On the Procedures for the Coming into Force and Application of the Criminal Law,” and the Law on International and National Sanctions of the Republic of Latvia.

Bahas, Gramatidis & Partners has promoted George Alexandris to Partner.