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EU CSRD and CSDDD – Significance of the postponement of the application date
On 14 April 2025, the Council of the EU gave its final green light on the so-called "Stop‑the‑clock Directive" postponing the application dates of the EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (EU) 2022/2464 ("CSRD") and the EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (EU) 2024/1760 (“CSDDD”). Who will benefit from this and what does this actually mean for the affected companies? The CSRD entered into force on 5 January 2023 and aims to ensure that investors have the information they need to understand and manage the risks to which investee companies are exposed from climate change and other sustainability issues. It also aims to ensure that investors and other stakeholders have the information they
Update on the implementation of CS3D and CSRD, and related local legislative developments in Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania, and Slovakia
Despite the 6 July 2024 transposition deadline for the full implementation of the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), several jurisdictions – including the Czech Republic and Romania – remain subject to infringement proceedings initiated by the European Commission in September 2024 for failing to fully communicate their national measures. It remains unclear how this infringement process will proceed, particularly in light of the postponement of the second wave of the reporting obligation, as approved under the so-called “stop-the-clock” directive incorporated into the Omnibus I package. At the same time, and also as a consequence of the “stop-the-clock” directive – which postponed the
New opportunities in biogas and biomethane production in Hungary
Sustainable energy production is playing an increasingly significant role in Hungary’s energy policy. As part of this initiative, the Hungarian government’s recently launched Jedlik Ányos Energy Program plans to support a total of ten projects with a focus on investments in biogas and biomethane production. A draft tender related to biogas and biomethane production has been published for public consultation. The program will allocate a total of HUF 40 billion (approximately EUR 100 million) to cover the entire process—from raw material collection to the further utilisation of residues and by-products—including infrastructure investments and equipment procurement. Out of this total, HUF 18 billion is to be designated
ESG legal update: Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia regions
The end of 2024 and the beginning of 2025 marked a period of uncertainty in the ESG regulatory landscape. Across both Kinstellar’s EU and non-EU jurisdictions, stakeholders awaited the Omnibus I package, expected to introduce significant changes to ESG compliance and reporting frameworks. The release of Omnibus I in late February 2025, along with the implementation of key directives – particularly the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) – has brought fresh uncertainties. Regulators are now reassessing their legislative roadmaps, with potential delays to national transpositions and even postponements of already implemented ESG regulations.
Harald Strahberger, a leading regulatory lawyer, joins Kinstellar as Partner in Vienna
Kinstellar is delighted to announce that Harald Strahberger has joined our newly launched Vienna office as a Partner. His addition strengthens our public law and regulatory capabilities, further enhancing the firm’s expertise in Austria and across the wider Central and Eastern European region. With extensive experience advising national and international clients across all aspects of public law, Harald specialises in environmental law (including facility, waste, and water regulations), energy law, trade law, data protection, and state aid law. He also has a strong background representing clients in administrative proceedings and before Administrative Courts, the Supreme Administrative Court, the Austrian Constitutional
Solar park Developments in Hungary: Key legal update on transfer duty
It has become standard practice in Hungary for solar power plants to be developed on greenfield agricultural land owned by third parties. Due to legal restrictions regarding the use of agricultural land, developers are unable to acquire these plots until the project is completed. Unlawful taxation practice challenged Recently, the National Tax and Customs Authority (the “Tax Authority”) calculated the transfer duty not only based on the market value of the underlying land but also included the market value of the solar park entirely constructed by the developer, which resulted in exorbitant tax burdens. The Hungarian Supreme Court (the “Kúria”) recently ruled against the Tax Authority regarding
Status of CSRD transposition in Central and Eastern Europe and its legal implications
Kinstellar hosted a special webinar event on 11 February 2025, focusing on the latest status of transposition of the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) in Central and Eastern Europe as well as some other legal and regulatory updates relevant to ESG in EU neighbouring countries. The webinar provided valuable insights into the crucial legal factors in preparing for CSRD reporting and a comprehensive understanding of key ESG rules being rolled out in the CEE and beyond. Topics covered: Status of CSRD transposition in Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia Legal considerations of CSRD reporting Other ESG regulatory updates in Serbia, Turkey and
Important changes in the EU to rules on packaging and packaging waste: What you need to know
The European Parliament and the European Council formally adopted Regulation (EU) 2025/40 on packaging and packaging waste (“PPWR”) on 16 December 2024, as part of a comprehensive review of packaging obligations in line with the Circular Economy Action Plan. The PPWR introduces measures affecting all packaging and packaging waste, impacting businesses across various sectors. Key provisions include restrictions on substances in packaging (e.g. limits on on lead content), mandatory recyclability requirements, and specific rules on extended producer responsibility for packaging waste. Packaging must be designed for recycling by 1 January 2030 and capable of being recycled at scale by 1 January 2035. Additionally
ESG legal update: Central & Eastern Europe and Central Asia regions
The past year has seen a flurry of regulatory developments related to Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG), particularly in the alignment of climate, environmental and reporting rules across the Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia regions. Although the deadline for transposition of the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (EU) 2022/2464 (CSRD) passed in July 2024, not all EU member states have managed to fully implement the directive. The European Commission has initiated infringement proceedings against 17 member states, including the Czech Republic and Romania, and it remains to be seen whether it will take further steps in the infringement procedure. Attention is turning to the Corporate
Ukraine REACH to come into effect
On 26 January 2025, the Technical Regulation on the Safety of Chemical Products, approved by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine in July 2024, will come into force. The Regulation introduces rules for the registration of chemicals and was developed based on the EU Regulation on the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH). This forms part of legislative changes aimed at protecting human health and the environment. Click on one of the images below or use the following links to read our overview in English or in Ukrainian. Download in English: Download in Ukrainian:
Update on the ESG reporting obligations in Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia
The Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (EU) 2022/2464 (the “CSRD”) required EU member states to complete its transposition by 6 July 2024. However, uneven implementation led the EU Commission to initiate infringement proceedings against 17 member states, including the Czech Republic and Romania, on 26 September 2024, citing their failure to fully communicate the necessary transposition measures. These states now face a two-month deadline to finalise the process and respond to the formal notice. While the CSRD’s transposition is nearing completion, attention is turning to the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (EU) 2024/1760 (the “CSDDD”), an equally significant piece of legislation.
Update on the ESG reporting obligations in Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia
CSRD implementation uneven a month before deadline June 2024 – With less than a month to go before the 6 July 2024 deadline for transposing the EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (EU) 2022/2464 (the "CSRD", the “Directive”), countries in Central and Eastern Europe (“CEE”) are still at different stages of implementation. While Romania and Slovakia have completed their legislative processes, Bulgaria and Croatia are still in the legislative pipeline. The Czech Republic and Hungary have completed, at least partially, their transposition, with additional legislation still to be implemented, albeit within uncertain timeframes. For a more comprehensive overview of each stage of the progress on CSRD transposition