Proposals are being debated by the Czech Parliament to allow companies to provide financial assistance for the acquisition of their own shares in certain circumstances.

The Lower Chamber of Parliament has approved an amendment which would formally remove the remaining restrictions for foreigners buying property in the Czech Republic.

Good faith buyers of real estate are protected from invalid transfers between previous owners and as such will retain their , according to a recent decision by the Constitutional Court.

On 29 January 2010, significant changes to public procurement law will come into force.

Zakłady Farmaceutyczne Polpharma has received conditional clearance to take over Polfa Warszawa from the President of Poland’s Competition Authority, UOKiK.

The Court for Protection of Competition and Consumers has upheld a finding that paint and lacquer manufacturer Polifarb Cieszyn-Wrocław operated an illegal cartel with seven DIY retailers, including Praktiker, Nomi and Leroy Merlin.

The Polish Competition Authority has recently consented to two planned acquisitions in the retail market.

Details of all merger control proceedings, including the names of the acquirer, target and date and status of the application date, will now be published on the website of the Office for the Competition and Consumers Protection (UOKiK).

Two important employment law changes take effect from 21 March 2011.

The location of the investment shall be determined pursuant to the local zoning plan. If the local zoning plan has not been adopted for a specific area, the location of the public investment shall be determined by a decision on determining the location of a public investment, whereas other investments by a decision on development conditions.

New laws governing the reimbursement of medicines, medical devices and foodstuffs for special medical purposes have been signed by the President.

Anti-corruption recommendations for public tenders have been issued by the Central Anticorruption Bureau.

On 31 December 2009, new regulation came into force affecting the types of document which may by requested in public procurements by a contracting authority.

Significant tax changes affecting the pharmaceutical sector came into force on 1 January 2011.

In reference to the new Postal Services Act which represents full liberalisation of the postal market, the Postal Regulatory Office published a draft of the new General Permission under which postal services will be provided by all alternative postal services providers.

On 11 June 2009 the Ukrainian Parliament reinstated unemployment benefits to those employees whose employment was terminated by mutual consent with their employer.

A draft instruction on the National Procedure for Joint Implementation Projects has been produced by the National Environmental Investments Agency (NEIA) and made available for comment on its website.

On 15 November 2010 the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) issued Letter No. 13-210/5939-20044, in which it clarified its position on the transfer of foreign currency abroad by Ukrainian residents who act as guarantors/sureties of a borrower's obligations to non-resident creditors.

On 13 October 2009 the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine issued Resolution No. 1154, which limits both the use of particular drugs for medical purposes and increases in the price of medical products.

On 14 September 2009 the State Customs Service of Ukraine introduced changes to its Order No. 856 "On Approval of the Procedure of Collection of Import (Export) Duties and Special Types of Duties for Goods Crossing the Boundary of Ukraine" dated 14 September 2009 (the "Order").