Private equity funds have become an increasingly popular investment vehicle in Hungary since the late 2010s, currently, the register of the National Bank of Hungary shows more than 165 private equity funds registered in Hungary. Although the availability of specific statistics is limited, based on the partial data, it can be estimated that the total assets of Hungarian private equity funds are roughly around HUF 3 trillion, i.e., close to 4% of the nominal GDP of Hungary.

Over the recent years, Greece has taken significant steps in stabilizing its banking sector, owing to several regulatory reforms and a strengthened capital position of its banks. Moody’s revision of the country’s outlook to “positive” in September 2024 is mainly attributed to the recovery of the Greek banking sector and the country’s strong economic performance.

The DORA regulation (Regulation (EU) 2022/2554 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 December 2022 on digital operational resilience for the financial sector) is an essential piece of European legislation aiming to bolster cybersecurity within the EU.

Turkiye has long had one of the lowest non-performing loan (NPL) rates in Europe, but recent years have seen some ups and downs. Between 2017 and 2020, the rate fluctuated between 3.25% and 3.46%. During the pandemic, the rate dropped significantly as borrowers benefited from extended loan payment schedules. Thereafter, the rate rose briefly before falling below the European Union average of 2.27% in 2023. Since the beginning of 2024, however, rising interest rates have pushed the NPL rate back up, to 1.71%. Experts expect the rate to rise to 2.5% by the end of the year, above the EU average and a challenge for borrowers and lenders.

The Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA) is a central component of the EU’s Digital Finance Package. The aim is to enhance information and communications technology (ICT) security and digital operational resilience in the financial sector. Financial institutions and ICT service providers have until January 17, 2025, to fully implement the requirements.

The Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCAR) has just been launched, and this brings big changes for crypto-asset markets in the European Union. MiCAR applies to both crypto-asset service providers (CASPs) and crypto-asset issuers, but it focuses mainly on CASPs due to the higher risks involved with their activities. Each EU member state has the option to set its own transition periods for implementing the CASP regulations.

A credit institution typically possesses funds belonging to depositors. However, there may be situations when the institution also holds property that belongs to third parties. This article aims to examine the concept of third-party property in the case of a credit institution’s insolvency.

The Russian aggression against Ukraine has reshaped the landscape of cross-border finance in the country. While the initial shockwaves of the conflict saw financing dry up almost entirely, with most support directed toward the government, a gradual but significant shift has occurred.

The distinction between a domestic and a foreign arbitral award is important because it affects the recognition, enforcement, and legal remedies available under Serbian law. The domicile of the award is determined by the seat of arbitration and the law applied to the arbitral proceedings.

The White-Collar Crime Department of the law firm Musat & Asociatii, having a wide expertise in cybersecurity and in providing legal assistance and representation in complex cases involving cyber fraud, informs its clients and the general public about a newly emerging method of smishing (phishing via mobile phone messaging) in virtual space., which involves perpetrators targeting messaging and calling platform accounts (e.g. WhatsApp) with the intent of compromising and cloning them to commit various crimes.

On 1 March 2025, the Law of Ukraine "On Amendments to Certain Laws of Ukraine on Ensuring the Rights of Persons with Disabilities to Work" dated 15 January 2025 No. 4219-IX ("Law") came into force, aiming to create conditions for the exercise of the right to work for persons with disabilities.

The Minister of State for Entrepreneurship and Business Climate has introduced a draft law for the establishment of the Development Bank of Albania (“DBA”), a specialised public financial institution designed to facilitate financing for small and medium enterprises, start-ups, and underfinanced sectors. The bank is also envisioned as a key player in promoting exports of domestic products and services, as well as supporting public projects and various infrastructure developments.

On 15 January 2025, the new electronic land register was launched in Hungary, although the transitional rules currently still allow for the use of the previous paper-based procedure. At the end of February 2025, the Hungarian Government proposed amendments to the recently implemented electronic land registry system (E-ING) to enhance legal uniformity and bolster the security of real estate transactions.

In the high-stakes world of M&A transactions, deal certainty is everything. Parties invest significant time, resources, and effort into negotiating agreements, yet even the most well-structured deals can fall apart due to logistical hurdles and trust issues.

The long-awaited amendment to the Czech Energy Act, known as “Lex OZE III”, has officially been passed by the Parliament. While it introduces significant and predominantly positive changes to the clean and renewable energy sector, it has also sparked considerable controversy. The proclaimed objective of the legislation is to accelerate the transition to sustainable energy while addressing regulatory and market challenges. Nevertheless, it lags behind the technical and commercial realities of the European market; it implements a European directive that the Czech Republic should have adopted over four years ago.

Are you unsure whether a takeover bid is required when a controlling interest in a company is transferred to a trust? The Czech National Bank (CNB) has issued a clarifying statement on this issue.

In its recent decision of 19 February 2025, the Supreme Court of Hungary (‘Curia’) overturned the second-degree verdict that held fraud victims solely liable and ruled that financial institutions cannot automatically reject compensation claims. This landmark decision might open the doors for customers to claims against their banks in similar cases.

The Law on Amendments to the Law on Prevention of Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing ("Law") has been adopted, and a decree on its promulgation has been issued. The Law was published in the “Official Gazette of Montenegro” on 12^th March 2025, and it enters into force on 20^th March 2025.