Energy - Renewables & Climate

Recent Articles

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  14/05/2024

  Hungary

  EU introduces criminal offences and penalties for sanctions violations

  Criminal offencesUnder the Directive, the following conduct constitutes a criminal offence when committed intentionally and in violation of restrictive measures or a national provision implementing restrictive measures:making funds or economic resources available directly or indirectly to, or for the benefit of, a designated person, entity or body;failing to freeze funds or economic resources belonging to or owned, held or controlled by a designated person, entity or body;enabling designated natural persons to enter into, or transit through, the territory of a EU member state;entering into or continuing...

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  13/05/2024

  Hungary

  UK's Accession to the 2019 Hague Convention to ensure enforcement of UK court judgments

  In January 2024, the UK acceded to the 2019 Hague Convention, which unequivocally permits the enforcement of UK court judgments, regardless of whether a jurisdiction clause is exclusive/symmetrical.The UK’s accession to the 2019 Hague Convention brings clarity and certainty regarding certain types of jurisdiction clauses and the enforcement of UK court judgments in other countries in the aftermath of the UK’s departure from the EU in 2020.As a reminder, prior to BREXIT on 31 December 2020, the UK through its EU membership was party to the Lugano Convention, which facilitated the enforcement...

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  09/05/2024

  Scotland

  Facilitating Marine Restoration – How Best to Ensure Success

  Marine restoration activities have been highlighted in the press recently particularly the successful oyster restoration project in the Firth of Forth. So far many restoration projects in Scottish waters are principally small projects led by communities that seek to (re)create a habitat or introduce a previously decimated species. It has been highlighted to the Scottish Government by those looking to initiate larger scale restoration projects that there are two key challenges to a project’s namely: (i) a complicated consenting process which does not specifically cover restoration; and (ii)...

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  29/04/2024

  International

  On your radar | Key employment issues to be aware of internationally

  We are delighted to share with you our latest and largest edition of On Your Radar, with contributions from 35 countries. As ever, you will find employment law updates covering a diverse range of topical developments, for example:Several countries report changes to their rules on hiring foreign workers – Hungary, Serbia and Romania.Belgium explains that companies with over 50 employees must appoint a person of trust who plays an important role in protecting employees against psychosocial risks in the workplace including sexual harassment. At a time when employers are looking for ways...

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  26/04/2024

  United Kingdom

  World IP Day: Could IP help fuel the renewable energy transition in Scotland and beyond?

  The need to facilitate the transition to renewable energy and pressure to meet sustainable development goals continues to grow. As such, World IP Day seems an apt time to consider the vital role IP is playing in harnessing Scotland’s wealth of natural energy resources, by encouraging and protecting innovation.IntroductionIt is clear that the transition to renewable energy will rely heavily on new technology and innovation. This can be protected by a mixture of registered and unregistered IP such as patents, trade secrets, confidential information and copyright. Ensuring relevant IP protection...

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  25/04/2024

  Hungary

  Hungary’s amended ESG Act to enter into force on 25 April 2024

  The following is a summary of the key changes made to Hungary’s ESG Act.Standardised ESG questionnaireCompanies may find it difficult to collect and analyse ESG data in light of the numerous questionnaires to assess sustainability risks, investments, access to finance and supply chains. In practice, these questionnaires vary in scope, depth and information standards, and are challenging to complete, and non-compliance can result in loss of resources and business relationships.As a result, the amendment introduces a single uniform questionnaire for Hungarian companies to report ESG-related...

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