The crossroads upon which Serbia finds itself has always been a coveted trading route, and the cause of many conflicts throughout history. Being located at such an important junction, it is of the utmost importance to invest into a transportation network, to seek constant improvements in this field, and to keep up with modern European growth. The General Master Plan for Transport in Serbia was adopted in 2009. However, the original period the plan was designed to cover – until 2027 – has now been extended and divided into three phases: short term (2021), medium term (2027), and long term (2033). The General Master Plan still serves as the platform for both major future and ongoing transportation and transportation-related projects.

Andrejic & Partners has advised Eyemaxx International Holding & Consulting, a member of the Eyemaxx Real Estate AG group, on its restructuring in Serbia.

Andrejic & Partners has advised German listed company Eyemaxx Real Estate AG on providing collaterals and giving security for a EUR 10 million loan from Bank of China’s Frankfurt branch.

At the beginning of February, Radovanovic Stojanovic & Partners opened its doors for business in Belgrade.

The Law on Archive Materials and Archiving Activities (“Official Gazette of the Republic of Serbia”, No. 6/2020, ) (“Law”) started to apply as of 2 February 2021, so after many years Serbia finally regulates the protection of archival material in one place and a comprehensive manner.

On the wave of the pandemic of the Covid-19 virus and electronic business, it turned out that 2020 was the key year for the issue of digitalization of assets and financial resources. Until then, the unregulated and mostly uneven actions of financial actors imposed as an imperative further digitalization and the necessity of monitoring and harmonizing global contemporary tendencies related to digital assets.

In December 2020, the French Data Protection Authority (Commission nationale de l’informatique et des libertés or the “CNIL”) imposed significant fines of EUR 60 million for Google LLC and EUR 40 million for Google Ireland Limited, as well as of EUR 35 million for Amazon Europe Core.

Karanovic & Partners, working with lead counsel Clifford Chance, has advised Deutsche Private Equity on the local aspects of its acquisition of a majority stake in M-Sicherheitsbeteiligungen from Armira. CMS reportedly advised the seller.

Former Senior Associates Dragoljub Sretenovic, Bisera Andrijasevic, and Tomislav Popovic have been promoted to Counsel at BDK Advokati. Sretenovic, who was already the Head of the Payment Services Practice, became Co-Head of Banking & Finance, while Popovic, who Heads the Tax Practice, became Head of Corporate & Commercial and Co-Head of Distressed Situations/Insolvency & Restructuring, and Andrijasevic will head the Life Sciences & Healthcare practice and co-head the firm’s Competition practice alongside Managing Partner Tijana Kojovic.

The Law on Amendments to the Law on Foreigners (Official Gazette of the RS No. 31/2019) (“Law”) entered into force on May 7, 2019, but the provisions relating to the submission of a joint application for temporary residence and work permit started to apply on December 1, 2020.

The Assembly of the Serbian capital – City of Belgrade amended the latest version of the Decree on Determining the Construction Land Development Contribution (Infrastructure Contribution).

Serbia's JPM Jankovic, Popovic, Mitic has helped Xella implement GDPR best practices.

From January 1, 2021, the Business Registers Agency (“BRA“) starts to provide new services and keep a new register.

The beginning of Q4 in Serbia is marked by the delayed formation of the new Government. Not much is expected to change in the political course as the ruling progressive party has strengthened its position and the Government will be led by the same Prime Minister. This means continuity and stability, although the new-old Government will not have an easy task, considering global developments with the pandemic.

Serbia’s JPM Jankovic, Popovic, Mitic has added a new practice to its offering – the first Corporate Criminal practice in Serbia. We reached out to JPM Partner Jelena Milinovic to learn more.

Former Karanovic & Partners lawyers Dusan Teodosijevic, Jovana Velickovic, and Vedran Ceric have launched a new dispute boutique in Serbia: TCV Legal.

The Milosevic Law Firm has advised Milos and Ruzica Krdzic, owners of Maxim Media Plus, on the sale of their shares in several radio stations in Serbia to Global Media Technology.

Last month, one of the world’s largest messaging apps, WhatsApp, began notifying its users of the new Privacy Policy that would take effect as of 8 February 2021. The users were notified that they would no longer be able to use the app if they do not accept the new Privacy Policy, as of the effective date.