Last week was full of exciting news in relation to AI in Romania. First, the long-awaited AI Act was published in the EU’s Official Journal on 12 July, becoming Regulation (EU) 2024/1689. The AI Act is an essential part of the EU’s extensive digital strategy, alongside the Digital Services Act and the Digital Markets Act. The EU digital strategy aims to establish a thorough regulatory framework that tackles the diverse challenges and opportunities of the digital economy. Secondly, the Romanian Government approved the National Strategy regarding Artificial Intelligence (“AI Strategy”) on 11 July. The AI Strategy aims to contribute to Romania’s adoption of digital technologies in the economy and society, while respecting human rights and promoting excellence and trust in AI.

What is the NIS2 Directive and from when does it apply?

On 25 April 2024, Ukrainian Parliament adopted the Law of Ukraine “On Amendments to the Labour Code of Ukraine on Establishing Additional Grounds for Termination of Employment Agreement at the Initiative of the Employer and Certain Other Issues” (the “Law”), which is aimed at strengthening the protection of Ukraine's national security.

Articles 13 and 14, along with other provisions of the EU General Data Protection Regulation (the GDPR), require businesses to provide individuals with comprehensive information about the processing of their personal data.

On 12 April 2024, the Council of the European Union adopted the revised text of Directive 2010/31/EU on the energy performance of buildings (the “Revised Directive”). The Revised Directive was published in the Official Journal of the European Union on 8 May 2024 and Member States will have to transpose it into national legislation within 2 years of its entry into force (i.e. 28 May 2024).

The concept of exhaustion of trademark rights is a nuanced aspect of intellectual property law that might seem counterintuitive to those unfamiliar with the field.

The announcements made by the Hungarian Government on 8 July 2024 envisage a number of new and higher payment obligations, as well as other public taxes and restrictions, that will include a defence contribution, increased administrative fines, extra profit tax, changes to social contribution tax on entering the labour market, transaction and currency exchange levies

In the practice of the Court of Appeal in Belgrade, in the judgment No. Gž1 1900/20 dated 19.03.2021 (“Judgment“), the following position was taken:

As of June 1, 2025, the traditional paper labour book will be phased out in favor of a digital alternative. All employment data will now be maintained in an electronic employment register managed by the National Revenue Agency (NRA). This transition is part of a broader effort to modernize the Labour Code and digitize employment relationships, aiming to eliminate the risks associated with physical document loss and to ensure that data is always current and accurate.

On 5 June 2024, the Czech government introduced a proposal to the Czech Parliament that brings fundamental changes to fleet insurance in the Czech Republic. This proposal provides additional obligations on fleet policyholders. Please see the details below.

The grace period until 30 June 2024 is slowly expiring for manufacturers to market products that do not yet comply with the Deposit Refund System (DRS) rules.

The National Commission for State Regulation of Energy and Public Utilities (NEURC) issued Resolution No. 1172 on 26 June 2024 "On Approval of Amendments to Certain NEURC Resolutions. This resolution allows for the signing of five-year agreements in the ancillary services market by introducing special auctions.

Outgoing NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has secured the unanimous support of NATO country ambassadors for €40 billion (approximately US$43 billion) in lethal and non-lethal military aid to Ukraine in 2025. NATO leadership is expected to approve the agreement during the annual NATO Summit, which will take place July 9-11, 2024 in Washington, DC.

A bill amending certain laws affecting the functioning of the state was adopted by the Parliament in the middle of June 2024. The bill postpones again the entry into force of the new Land Registry Act to 15 January 2025. In addition, the bill amends provisions in several different areas of law (e.g. health, education, immigration).

The Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism legislative package of the European Union (“EU”), proposed on 20 July 2021 by the European Commission, and approved by the European Parliament plenary this April was published in the Official Journal of the EU on 19 June. The new legislative package introduces significant regulatory changes in connection with the prevention of the use of the financial system for the purposes of money laundering or terrorist financing, both on European and national level.

Contributed by Baker McKenzie.

Contributed by PR Legal.

Contributed by Tuca Zbarcea & Asociatii.