Contributed by Ostermann.

Harmonized rules ensuring smooth functioning of the EU Digital Internal Market finally have finally come into existence. Instead of 27 different legal requirements there will be only one set of rules regulating digital market and services in the EU –namely, the Digital Markets Act and the Digital Services Act.

CEELMDirect Profile Pick: A series of interviews with partners and firms with profiles on the new CEELMDirect online legal directory. Today’s interview: Mojmir Ostermann, Managing Partner of Ostermann & Partners in Zagreb.

We can probably all agree that no one likes bad surprises, and the same especially holds truth with respect to unexpected outcomes of legal proceedings. When it comes to civil proceedings before Croatian courts, so-called “surprise” decisions were recently introduced into Croatian legislation by Articles 5 and 367a of the new Croatian Civil Proceedings Act which entered into force on 19 July 2022.

In the past decade, the tech industry in Croatia has been growing at four times the rate of the entire Croatian economy, according to research by the Croatian Chamber of Economy. Despite all the obvious positivity of its high growth, the Croatian tech scene has been facing a challenge of its own: talent gaps.

In a decision published on 26 July 2022, Austrian data protection authority established that Volkswagen was in violation of Articles 13, 28, 35 and 30 of the GDPR.

EU and national associations representing companies that bring ultrafast digital connectivity in Europe – AOMR (RO), APMS (CZ), AssoTelecomunicazioni (IT), ATI (BG), DigitalES (SP), ETNO (EU), Federation Francaise des Telecoms (FR), and the GSMA Europe (EU), issued a joint statement calling for greater participation of Big Tech and OTTs in infrastructure investments and extending some telecoms regulatory requirements to OTT services.

Viruses affecting human body have been the hot topic of most conversations for over two years. However, the digital world is not spared from “viruses” which affect other aspects of human lives. Multiple malwares used for cyber-attacks are created to damage, disrupt, hack, or block a device and encrypt or lock data and can cause enormous damage both in the private and public sector.

This year, the Croatian Companies Act (Act) was amended again (amendments enter into force on 1 June 2020 and on 1 August 2023).

One of developments in the artificial intelligence sphere which raised most concerns about potential human rights violations is definitely facial recognition.

The EU-imposed sanctions on Russia have generated significant movements throughout Europe, and Croatia has felt the ramifications as well – leading to a lot of work and some economic uncertainty, according to Ostermann & Partners Partner Vjekoslav Ivancic.

Considering the military invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation and the scale of mass influx of displaced persons from Ukraine, on 7 March 2022 the Republic of Croatia officially introduced temporary protection for the displaced persons from Ukraine in accordance with the Act on International and Temporary Protection. The temporary protection is granted to persons displaced from Ukraine as of 24 February 2022 (or just before this date), more specifically, to Ukrainian nationals and their family members as well as to certain groups of stateless persons and certain groups of third country nationals.

On February 24, four leading lawyers in Croatia sat down for a virtual round table moderated by CEE Legal Matters Managing Editor Radu Cotarcea. The conversation focused on the current state of affairs of ESG in the country at the moment and the challenges of raising awareness in the topic.

The Russian Federation invasion of the Republic of Ukraine and the consequent economic response from the West has led to negative effects in the business of companies based in the Republic of Croatia.

CMS has advised Privredna Banka Zagreb on refinancing and acquisition financing for the Danilo and Rudine wind farms. Kovacevic Prpic Simeunovic has advised buyer Professio Energia on the acquisition, financing, and refinancing the existing loans from the IFC and Unicredit Bank Austria. Schoenherr advised the sellers, Mirova and RP Global. Ostermann & Partners and White & Case advised the IFC and Unicredit.