CEE Legal Matters In-depth coverage of the news and newsmakers that shape Europe's emerging markets 
A good idea is the cornerstone of a successful start-up. In practical terms, however, it is often not enough. Here is an overview of legal mistakes founders of start-ups often make but that can be easily avoided on the way to the next step towards success.
Greenberg Traurig has advised IFA Group on its sale to Aequita. Noerr Germany advised Aequita on the deal.
PHH has advised the MM Group on a EUR 65 million syndicated loan for the reconstruction of the cardboard machine at its Neuss site. Noerr's Frankfurt office reportedly advised IKB Deutsche Industriebank AG on the deal.
With the increasing EU emphasis on regulating digital financial services and a growing market for them in the Czech Republic, CEE Legal Matters spoke to Noerr Attorneys-at-Law Filip Murar and Ludek Chvosta about the local regulatory framework, the pace of its development, and the ways in which the market has responded.
The Ministry of Finance has recently announced officially the opening of a call for submission of applications under the state aid scheme regulated by Government Decision no. GD 807/2014 for financing assets. The period for submitting financing requests is scheduled between 15.06.2022-26.07.2022, when investors may file the relevant documentation.
After the recent alignment of Romanian state aid law with applicable European law, the procedure for granting state aid in Romania has also been updated as follows:
The Hungarian National Authority for Data Protection and Freedom of Information (NAIH) recently published its annual report for 2021, which contains some useful information for data controllers.
“The Romanian Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) forms part of an unprecedented coordinated EU response to the COVID-19 crisis, to address common European challenges by embracing the green and digital transitions, to strengthen economic and social resilience and the cohesion of the single market,” according to the European Commission.
Regulation (EU) 2019/452 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 March 2019 establishing a framework for screening foreign direct investments into the Union (the “Regulation”) has been implemented into Romanian legislation in the form of Government Emergency Ordinance no. 46/2022 on foreign direct investments (“GEO no. 46/2022”).
It is widely accepted that, due to the increasing pace of today’s life and work, employees’ mental health is deteriorating. This problem has been compounded by the situation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Many workers complain of difficulty in adjusting to the new situation. For workers who have been (or are) permanently or periodically forced to work from home, personal issues are added to professional problems. This additional stress can be expected to increase the prevalence and intensity of professional burnout in employees.
Directive (EU) 2019/633 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 April 2019 concerning unfair business-to-consumer trading practices in the agricultural and food supply chain has recently been transposed into Romanian legislation by Law no. 81/2022, in force since 15 April 2022 ("Law no. 81 /2022").
Law 72/2022 on the enforcement of a tax amnesty for tax liabilities, including interest and penalties for late payment, imposed by the tax authorities following the reclassification of daily allowances as salary, was published in the Official Gazette on 31 March based on a bill submitted in September 2021.
On March 31, Greenberg Traurig announced that Tag Immobilien’s Acquisition of Robyg from Goldman Sachs company Bricks Acquisitions and Centerbridge (reported by CEE Legal Matters on January 12, 2022) has now closed.
On 22 March 2022, Emergency Government Ordinance no. 27/2022 on the applicable measures for final customers on the electricity and natural gas market for the period from 1 April - 31 March 2023 was published in the Official Gazette and entered into force.
Former Ijdelea Mihailescu Partner Anca Mihailescu has joined Noerr in Romania as an Associated Partner and Head of the firm's Energy practice in Bucharest. She is joined by Associates Ana-Maria Albu and Diana Maria Bejenaru.
The EU has ordered further sanctions in response to Russia’s ongoing large-scale invasion of Ukraine. The new sanctions mainly focus on restricting Russia’s ability to purchase certain goods and are designed to have a sensitive impact on the flows of funds towards the Russian state, its government and certain individuals.
Noerr has advised BBA Capitalpartners on the establishment of a Hungarian joint venture company with Mertcontrol.
Noerr has advised BuR Handels on the sale of Sakret in the Czech Republic to Sievert. Roedl & Partner reportedly advised the buyer.
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