In February, the Parliament of the Republic of North Macedonia ratified the Agreement on the Conditions for Free Access to the Labor Market in the Western Balkans and the Agreement on the Interconnection of Schemes for Electronic Identification of the citizens of the Western Balkans as part of the Open Balkans initiative.

Did You Know that, according to the Activity Rankings function of the CEELMDirect website, two CEE lawyers have already authored or co-authored eight thought leadership articles published on the CEE Legal Matters website this year, more than anyone else in the region?

White-collar crime has mainly been regulated by the Macedonian Criminal Code (“Code”) from 2004. Certain areas of responsibility that may render authorized persons criminally liable are also stipulated by other laws. We will focus on the main rules on white-collar crime provided by the Code, and certain liabilities provided by the Company Law that may trigger criminal responsibility for shareholders.

2022 was a difficult year. To put a more positive spin on things, Rojs Peljhan Prelesnik & Partners Managing Partner Bojan Sporar, Deloitte Legal Senior Managing Associate Ened Topi, Redcliffe Partners Managing Partner Olexiy Soshenko, Drakopoulos Managing Partner Panagiotis Drakopoulos, and Polenak Partner Tatjana Shishkovska share what was, for them, the biggest positive surprise in 2022.

In today's world, businesses realize the importance of incorporating Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) factors into their operations for long-term sustainability. This is important not only for running the business but also for investors who consider these factors in their investment decisions. Stock exchanges play a key role in promoting sustainability for both corporations and investors.

Artificial intelligence (AI) technologies are a combined range of technologies, including machine-learning techniques, robotics and automated decision-making systems used to improve prediction, optimize operations and resource allocation, and personalize service.

The government of Republic of North Macedonia recently introduced a new tax law for solidarity, in an effort to address the consequences of the crisis. In response to the difficult economic and energy crisis faced by vulnerable citizens, as well as companies that have experienced significant increases in revenue as a result of the crisis, the government has implemented a series of measures including subsidies, social protection, tax exemptions, and financial support for domestic energy companies.

A significant labor legal landscape overhaul in North Macedonia, with a long-awaited and long-debated new law being adopted, is what is dominating legal discourse in the country, according to Tosic & Jevtic Managing Partner Ana Tosic Cubrinovski.

CEELMDirect Profile Pick: A series of interviews with Premium profile-holders on the CEELMDirect legal directory. Today’s interview: Robert Bachovski Sinkoli, Managing Partner at Bachovski Sinkoli Attorneys in North Macedonia.

A new Consumer Protection Act (the "Act") entered into force in North Macedonia on 15 November 2022.

Direct marketing consists of any marketing that relies on direct communication or distribution to individual consumers, rather than through a third party. Unlike traditional public relations campaigns pushed out through a third party, such as media publications or mass media, direct marketing campaigns operate independently to communicate with target audiences directly.

BDK Advokati has advised Sandberg Capital on its EUR 20 million investment in Quantox. Nestor Nestor Diculescu Kingston Petersen and Polenak reportedly advised Sandberg as well.

On December 20, 2022, PPG Lawyers announced that KKCG's and Aricoma Group International’s acquisition of Musala Soft (reported by CEE Legal Matters on August 22, 2022) had closed.

Lack of public trust in the legal system together with factors beyond the country's control are adding to the complexity of the challenges in North Macedonia, yet things are going better than expected, according to Polenak Law Firm Managing Partner Kristijan Polenak.

Harmonizing national law with EU legislation, implementing sizeable renewable energy projects, and addressing production shutdowns are high on North Macedonia’s domestic agenda, according to Kiril Papazoski, Director, Papazoski and Mishev Law Firm, an independent law firm in cooperation with PwC.

Gugushev & Partners has advised Blackpeak Capital on its acquisition of a stake in Telelink Bulgaria. Karanovic & Partners’ North Macedonian office, SZA Schilling Zutt & Anschuetz, and Addleshaw Goddard reportedly advised Blackpeak Capital as well.

North Macedonia is preparing for far-reaching tax reforms, with updated rules on the profit tax, VAT, personal income tax, and social contributions, while dealing with the economic slowdown and increased prices, according to Lalicic & Boskoski Partner Vedran Lalicic.

Back in February 2020, the new Personal Protection Data Law was published in the official gazette, which meant that North Macedonia was catching up with the European Union on personal data protection.