Part I On July 4, the United States celebrated Independence Day, which reminded us of the Declaration of Independence from 1776 that marked the establishment of the United States. This prompted us to reflect on the numerous distinctive legal achievements of the United States, inspiring us to explore the phenomenon of class action. Originating from across the Atlantic, this legal institution has found its place in continental European jurisdictions, sparking discussions within the professional community about its potential incorporation into Serbia’s legal framework. This article kicks off a series of articles on class action. In the first installment, we delve […]
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As we previously announced, the Court of Justice of the European Union (“CJEU”) issued a ruling in the CK Telecoms case last week, annulling the CK Telecoms judgment and referring the case back to the General Court (“Court”). This appeal was in response to the Court’s decision on May 28, 2020, invalidating the European Commission’s (“EC“) ban on the acquisition of Telefónica Europe Plc by Hutchison 3G UK Investments Ltd. In this article, we delve deeper into the background of this important case and the reasoning behind the CJEU ruling. The roots of the case trace back to 2016, when […]
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On July 10, 2023, the Council of the European Union (“Council”) officially adopted the Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning batteries and waste batteries (“Regulation”). This Regulation covers the entire battery life cycle, from production to reuse and recycling, aiming explicitly at safety, sustainability, and enhancing competitiveness. The Regulation applies to various battery types, including waste portable batteries, electric vehicle batteries, industrial batteries, and starting, lighting, and ignition (“SLI“) batteries primarily found in vehicles and machinery. It also extends to batteries designed for lightweight modes of transport, such as electric bikes and e-scooters. The adaptation process […]
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The Foreign Subsidies Regulation (FSR), one of the EU’s latest state aid instruments, entered into force on January 12, 2023. Now, after six months, it starts to apply. This regulation establishes rules to govern foreign subsidies that could distort the EU’s internal market. It empowers the European Commission (“Commission”) to investigate financial contributions provided by non-EU countries to companies operating in the EU. If these contributions are found to be distortive subsidies, the Commission can enforce corrective measures to remedy these effects. Our team provided a thorough overview of the regulation and its implications this article. In short, the FSR’s […]
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On Monday, our Founding Partner, Bogdan Gecić, participated in a webinar titled “All About CBAM, the new EU Carbon Border Tax”. This event was organized by the Israel Export Institute in collaboration with the leading Israeli law firm, Shibolet. The attendees, mainly Israeli exporters from diverse industries, had the opportunity to hear from top experts in sustainability, ESG, EU law, and international trade. They discussed how the EU’s new regulations might affect their businesses and gave recommendations on how to best prepare. Daphna Sternfeld, Deputy Director of the Israel Export Institute, offered an introduction to the topics and moderated the […]
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On July 4, 2023, the Court of Justice of the European Union (“CJEU“) pronounced a momentous judgment in Meta Platforms and Others. For the first time, the CJEU ruled that national competition authorities may determine GDPR infringements when examining an abuse of a dominant position. The CJEU’s decision clarifies the relationship between the General Data Protection Regulation (“GDPR“) and EU competition law, establishing that they can coexist and complement each other without conflict. The case centered on Meta Platforms Ireland, which runs Facebook in the EU. The ruling has its roots in a decision issued by Germany’s antitrust regulator, the […]
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As Artificial Intelligence (“AI“) continues to revolutionize industries worldwide, its impact on corporate governance cannot be understated. AI-powered tools can streamline governance procedures, such as board meeting management, document review, and regulatory compliance. Automated processes save time and resources and reduce the likelihood of human error. This allows governance professionals to focus on high-value tasks such as stakeholder engagement, strategy development, and fostering ethical business practices. On the other hand, the potential for AI to take on leadership roles within companies is an emerging topic of discussion[1]. With AI’s ability to analyze vast amounts of data, make data-driven decisions, and […]
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On July 4, the EU Commission introduced a new Procedural Regulation aimed at enhancing cooperation among data protection authorities (“DPAs“) when enforcing the General Data Protection Regulation (“GDPR“) in cross-border cases. The Procedural Regulation focuses on establishing clear guidelines for DPAs handling cases involving individuals in multiple Member States without impacting any substantial elements of the GDPR, including the rights of data subjects, obligations of data controllers and processors, or the lawful grounds for processing personal data. A notable aspect of the Procedural Regulation is a provision that mandates the lead DPA to share a “summary of key issues” with […]
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Gecić Law is proud to announce that it has contributed to the inaugural edition of the Terralex Cross-Border Guide to ESG and Sustainable Finance for the jurisdictions of Montenegro and Serbia. We are especially thrilled that our team was honored to contribute with its expertise and complete the section of the guide that refers to the entire EU. The guides are now live and are free to access. This confirms our team’s pioneering expertise in one of the hottest fields of law today. The EU chapter, authored by counsel Branko Gabrić and associates Nikola Ivković, Milica Novaković, Teodora Ristić, Marko […]
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In the realm of modern technology, the association with Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become increasingly present. AI has reached various segments of human activity, both private and business. However, like any innovation or human creation, AI is imperfect and carries inherent risks. It is susceptible to biases, errors, security breaches, and a growing level of autonomy, all of which entail potential liabilities associated with artificial intelligence. Consider the scenario of an autonomous vehicle causing an accident. Who should bear responsibility in such a case? Likewise, if an AI-powered medical diagnosis tool misdiagnoses a patient, who should be held accountable – […]
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