The Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Serbia has published a draft law to replace the current Public-Private Partnership and Concessions framework, driven by EU alignment requirements, fiscal risk controls, and 14 years of implementation experience. The reform introduces enhanced legal certainty for investors while imposing new compliance obligations on public bodies, including mandatory certified officers and misdemeanour liability provisions.

The European Commission has proposed significant amendments to the CBAM Regulation that could fundamentally reshape how electricity exports from the Western Balkans are treated under the EU's carbon border adjustment mechanism. While headline attention focuses on downstream steel and aluminium goods, the proposed changes to electricity treatment—including revised default value methodologies and relaxed conditions for declaring actual emissions—may prove far more consequential for regional power

Albania has introduced significant amendments to its late-payment framework through Law No. 81/2026, expanding the scope of covered entities and streamlining debt recovery procedures. The new legislation eliminates the requirement for formal notice before claiming late-payment interest and establishes a 90-day court deadline for enforcing uncontested debts.

North Macedonia has adopted a new Law on Games of Chance and Entertainment Games, introducing a comprehensive regulatory framework that modernizes licensing requirements, strengthens corporate governance standards, and enhances consumer protection measures. The legislation implements stricter advertising restrictions, enhanced anti-money laundering compliance, and expanded supervisory powers while introducing technological monitoring systems and higher capital requirements for gaming operators.

North Macedonia has enacted a new Law on Financial Leasing that fundamentally reshapes the regulatory landscape for leasing providers and customers. The legislation introduces stricter capital requirements, enhanced governance standards, and comprehensive consumer protections, while establishing clearer contractual obligations and supervisory mechanisms designed to align the sector with European standards.

Montenegro is preparing to introduce its first comprehensive foreign direct investment screening regime, modelled on EU frameworks. The proposed mechanism would require prior authorisation for non-EU investments in strategically sensitive sectors, marking a significant shift from the country's current minimal investment control framework.

North Macedonia is introducing its first comprehensive foreign direct investment screening regime, requiring government approval for certain foreign investments in sensitive sectors. The proposed law establishes notification requirements, screening procedures, and potential penalties for non-compliance, fundamentally changing how foreign investors approach transactions in the country.