New regime on foreign direct investments in Romania
The new legal framework sets forth the creation of a newly constituted body, the Commission for the Examination of Foreign Direct Investments (FDI Commission).
Leniency: a stricter approach in Hungary?
The Hungarian Competition Authority (‘HCA’) somewhat deviated from its previous practice in a recent decision and clarified in greater detail what is expected of leniency applicants in order to receive immunity or a reduced fine. We summarize the new approach of the HCA below.
Competition Inspections in 21 Jurisdictions - A Practitioner's Guide
"COMPETITION INSPECTIONS IN 21 JURISDICTIONS – A PRACTITIONER’S GUIDE" has been published.
Tightening of sustainability obligations for companies through the EU Supply Chain Directive
The European Commission has published a proposal for a Directive on Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence ("Supply Chain Directive") on February 23, 2022.
Revised joint guidance on transaction value thresholds in Austria and Germany
On 23 December 2021, the Austrian Federal Competition Authority (Bundeswettbewerbsbehörde, "BWB") and the German Federal Cartel Office (Bundeskartellamt, "BKartA") published their revised joint guidance on the application of their respective transaction value thresholds for mandatory merger notifications ("Guidelines")
Implementation of the UTP Directive in the Austrian Fair Competition Conditions Act
The Federal Act on the Improvement of Local Sup-ply and Competition Conditions (new abbreviated title: "FWBG") has been in force since 1 January 2022.
Österreichische Kartellrechtsnovelle
Die Regierungsvorlage des Kartell- und Wettbewerbsrechts-Änderungsgesetz 2021 ("KaWeRÄG") wurde am 08.07.2021 im Nationalrat beschlossen. Eine wesentliche Änderung stellt aus zusammenschlussrechtlicher Sicht die Einführung einer "zweiten Inlandsumsatzschwelle" dar.
D-A-CH Kartellrechtsforum
Am 8. Oktober 2020 wird via Zoom bei der ersten Konferenz des D-A-CH Kartellrechtsforums das Thema „relative Marktmacht – Grundfragen und aktuelle Entwicklungen“ diskutiert.
Die Whistleblower-Richtlinie
Im Oktober 2019 wurde die Whistleblower-Richtlinie (RL 2019/1937) im Rat der Europäischen Union beschlossen, welche am 16.12.2019 in Geltung getreten ist. Spätestens bis 17.12.2021 müssen nun die (Mindest-)Standards in den Mitgliedsstaaten umgesetzt werden (der Gesetzgebungsprozess dazu steht in Österreich noch aus).
The new Investment Control Act
The Austrian Federal Ministry for Digital and Economic Affairs has released the draft of the new Investment Control Act ("Investitionskontrollgesetz") ("ICA") for evaluation. The draft will likely undergo changes throughout the legislative process.