On Friday 21 July 2023, the Albanian Parliament adopted a law which legalizes medical cannabis and industrial hemp (“Cannabis Law”). The Cannabis Law allows licensed companies to cultivate and process cannabis and determines the criteria which must be met to obtain such a permit, but also regulates the cultivation process of the plant and the production of its by-products for medical and industrial purposes.

Bulgaria's outlook is improving, with its elected government working hard to catch up on crucial EU legal updates, while the country continues to attract investments in banking, energy, healthcare, and technology, according to Penkov Markov & Partners Associated Partner Boris Lazarov.

Ondrej Florian has become an Equity Partner at Havel & Partners, while Katerina Slavikova, Jaroslav Baier, Ondrej Curilla, Petr Oplustil, and Miroslav Vozab were appointed as Partners at the firm.

Herbst Kinsky has advised Salzburg-based dietary supplement manufacturer Biogena on a public offering for crowd-investors via the Rockets Investments platform with a total amount of up to EUR 3 million.

The healthcare industry is undergoing reform and the renewable energy sector is shifting to foreign-investment-friendly auction-based strategies, while the new Civil Code and large investment projects – including healthcare digitalization and infrastructure development – are on the books in Kosovo, according to RPHS Law Partner Visar Ramaj.

Binder Groesswang has advised microbiome technology R&D company Biome Diagnostics on its investment round with Uniqa Group company SanusX. Schoenherr reportedly advised the investors.