ODI Law has advised Makedonski Telekom Skopje on insourcing 150 employees from the Macedonian subsidiary of Ericsson. Karanovic & Partners advised Ericsson.

Karanovic & Partners has advised Marriott International on the development and opening of its first Moxy hotel in Belgrade, Serbia.

Paksoy, working with Gowling WLG, has advised UK-listed Volex on its acquisition of Turkish complex wire harness manufacturer Murat Ticaret Kablo for a total consideration of up to approximately EUR 178.1 million. Kinstellar and its Turkish affiliate Gen Temizer Ozer advised the Gora family on the sale of 100% of their shares in Murat Ticaret.

Komnenic & Partners has advised Novi Volvox, Leitner, and Zicara Kotor-Lovcen DOO on the financing for the Kotor-Lovcen cable car project from OTP Bank. Karanovic & Partners advised OTP Bank through its CKB Bank subsidiary.

The Ministry of Mining and Energy of the Republic of Serbia published the public call for auctions for awarding of market premiums (in the form of CfD) for wind and solar projects earlier today (Wednesday, 14 June 2023).

A significant number of landmark energy and infrastructure projects are currently materializing in North Macedonia, with foreign direct investment interest constantly growing as well, according to Veton Qoku, Partner and Attorney-at-Law in cooperation with Karanovic & Partners.

The Public Enterprise for Railway Infrastructure Railways of the Republic of North Macedonia – Skopje has published a contract notice for project implementation support and safeguard services for the construction of a new railway section from Kriva Palanka to the border with the Republic of Bulgaria (“Project”). The 24 km section is the last part – the third phase of the railway Corridor VIII to the Republic of Bulgaria.

In accordance with the 2021 amendments to the Law on Companies, delivery of electronic documents to Serbian companies shall be performed to the registered mail on the e-government portal (eUprava).

American actor Jim Belushi met with the Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama to discuss the Albanian government’s initiative to legalize cannabis and the possibilities of exporting this product for medical purposes.

On 16 March 2023, the Court of Justice of the European Union (“ECJ”) published its judgment on Towercast’s appeal against the French Competition Authority’s decision in Towercast’s case (Case No. C-449/21), confirming that abuse of dominance rules may equally apply ex post to transactions in which national and EU merger control thresholds were not met.

The Parliament of Republika Srpska adopted the amendments of the Company Law of Republika Srpska which entered into force on 2 March 2023. This is the sixth time that the Company Law has undergone changes since it was enacted, whereas the recent amendments brought significant novelties, rather than cosmetic ones.

In January 2023, the Serbian Ministry of Mining and Energy initiated the procedure for the amendments to the Law on the Use of the Renewable Energy Sources (“Amendments”) whose purpose was, among others, to limit the installed power of the prosumers.

The Commission for Protection of Competition of Serbia (the “Commission”) announced on 3 May 2023 that it initiated an antitrust investigation against the companies KTG Solucije d.o.o. Subotica and Eco Sense d.o.o. Subotica due to alleged restrictive agreement – colluding in public procurement procedures (bid rigging).

Ilej & Partners in cooperation with Karanovic & Partners has advised the mandated lead arrangers on the restructuring of facilities granted for the Istrian Y motorway concession project.

Contributed by Karanovic & Partners.

The European Commission launched a Call for Evidence, which entails asking for feedback from the business community and the general public on adopting new Guidelines on exclusionary abuses of dominance.

An administrative novelty comes early this year from the Serbian Business Registers Agency (“SBRA”) by introducing electronic registration with the Registry of Bidders.

Serbian Minister of Finance issued the Rulebook on interest rates that are considered to be in line with the arm’s length principle for the year 2023 (the Rulebook), which enters into force on 6 April 2023.