What are Green and other related ESG corporate bonds? Green bonds, a prominent term in finance, have recently gained significant attention. These instruments, part of the broader Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) category, offer distinct advantages over regular bonds and play a crucial role in modern finance. Like regular bonds, ESG bonds involve loans from investors to organizations. These loans finance projects, and investors receive their principal back with interest. ESG bonds include green, social, climate, and sustainability-linked types. Green bonds, issued by public or private entities, finance environmental or climate change projects. They represent the environmental aspect of ESG. […]
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In a move to learn more about emerging digital markets, the European Commission today launched calls for contributions focused on virtual worlds and generative AI. These initiatives represent a step by the Commission to understand the competitive dynamics in these rapidly evolving sectors. The Commission has reached out to various stakeholders, requesting information to gain a comprehensive view of the current state of competition in these innovative fields. Players from all corners of the industry, including developers, consumers, and academic experts, will indeed share their experiences and insights. Virtual Worlds: A New Competitive Landscape Virtual worlds, characterized by their persistent, […]
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An (Un)expected Oligopoly At the end of October, the Belgian Competition Authority (L’Autorité belge de la Concurrence) (“ABC”) released an opinion on the state of competition in Belgium’s retail banking market (the “Opinion”). The Opinion revealed that the retail banking market in Belgium is an oligopoly. Four banks dominate the market: BNP Paribas Fortis, KBC, Belfius, and ING. As an oligopoly, the retail banking market exhibits specific characteristics. These include similar services on offer and frequent interactions between banks, facilitating coordination among the most prominent market participants and reducing competition. The most obvious example of services with identical commercial terms […]
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Autonomous vehicles and driving technologies, characterized by their complexity, are at the forefront of modern transportation advancements. In our article 5G CAM: Revolutionizing Cross-Border Mobility, we highlighted the pivotal role of CAM technology in facilitating vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure communication, a prerequisite for autonomous driving. These technologies are in rapid development worldwide due to their potential benefits. These include enhancing road safety, alleviating traffic congestion, and reducing CO2 emissions. Autonomous driving encompasses various developmental directions, relying on sensors to collect environmental information. Complementary devices, such as cameras and GPS, are also integral to data collection. A sophisticated computer unit then processes […]
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Gecić Law is pleased to announce the second edition of “ESG Chat @ Gecić Law,” an insightful series of interviews exploring the dynamic and ever-evolving world of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) practices. Decarbonization and Growth In this edition, we bring you a thought-provoking discussion with Mikhail Korostikov, Senior Analyst at the Climate Bonds Initiative and a leading expert in green economics based in Serbia. The interview delves into the intricate relationship between the issue of sustainability, decarbonization and economic growth. We take a look at these phenomena from the perspective of the Western Balkans. Central to the discussion is […]
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Business activity generates thousands of documents, contracts, letters, invoices, and the like. This constitutes documentary material. This means that every entrepreneur and company in the Republic of Serbia, in one way or another, is either a creators or possessor of documentary material. Through their activities, they either create or appear as owners, contractual parties in obligational relationships, or simply holders (holders). Only a portion of this material holds permanent significance for society and forms what a body of archival material. The Act on Archival Material and Archival Activity (“Act”) uniformly regulates all of the above. The Act came into force […]
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During its last session on October 26, 2023, the National Assembly adopted amendments to the Public Procurement Act. The most significant changes relate to: introducing quality rather than price as a key criterion for selecting certain services/goods, introducing principles of environmental protection in the awarding of public procurement and specifying the initiation of misdemeanor proceedings in case of illegal spending of public procurement funds. The amendments will be applicable from January 1, 2024. At the outset, it is worth mentioning that the amendments introduce the principle of environmental protection. When considering the procurement of goods, services, or works, the contracting […]
DetailsIntroduction A historic labor strike unfolded in 2023’s ever-evolving Hollywood scene, resembling a gripping drama. On May 2, the Writers Guild of America (WGA) took center stage, unanimously endorsing a strike. This was reminiscent of the industry-shifting 2007–2008 Hollywood strike, marking fifteen years since writers last voiced dissent. This unfolding saga seized the entertainment industry’s attention. The second act began on July 14, 2023, when the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) initiated a historic labor strike against the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP). This marked the first time since the iconic 1980 […]
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Gecić Law is proud to announce its contribution to a groundbreaking scholarship agreement. A Memorandum of Understanding was signed yesterday in Bruges between Telekom Srbija and the College of Europe. Telekom Srbija will provide up to ten annual scholarships for students in Serbia to attend this prestigious institution. Additionally, the students will have the opportunity to work at Telekom Srbija for at least one year following their studies. This pioneering effort is the first in the broader Adriatic and Balkan regions. The scholarship program applies to the Master’s in European Studies at the College of Europe. The college has campuses […]
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Gecić Law is thrilled to announce yet another extraordinary accolade for our founding partner, Bogdan Gecić. In a remarkable development following our recent celebration of partners Bogdan Gecić and Ognjen Colić recognition in the prestigious “Who’s Who Legal: M&A and Governance” 2023 edition, demonstrating an unmatched level of expertise in the legal domain, Bogdan receives the esteemed status of a Thought Leader from Who’s Who Legal. At the same time, Bogdan is the only representative of the market with this ranking level. This recognition is more than an acknowledgment of Bogdan’s exceptional legal acumen; it is a testament to his […]
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