New Belgian Law on non-performing loans
On 24 November 2021, the EU legislator adopted the Directive (EU) 2021/2167 of 24 November 2021 on credit servicers and credit purchasers (the “NPL Directive”), amending Directives 2008/48/EC (the “Consumer Credit Directive”) and 2014/17/EU (the “Mortgage Credit Directive”). The NPL Directive has been transposed in Belgium by the law of 20 December 2024 transposing the […]
Eerste Vonnis ten Gronde van UPC in Brussel | Primeur
Op 17 januari 2025 voltrok zich een primeur voor het octrooirecht in het Eengemaakt Octrooigerecht (Unified Patent Court, afgekort “UPC”): voor het eerst velde de lokale afdeling te Brussel van de Rechtbank van Eerste Aanleg in het UPC een vonnis ten gronde over een octrooi inbreuk. De procedure verliep in het Nederlands, ondanks een eerdere […]
CSRD Implementation | Amendments to the Belgian Companies and Associations Code
I. Introduction Previously [link], we reported on the EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (“CSRD”), including who must comply and when the CSRD becomes applicable. On 28 November 2024, the Belgian Parliament adopted legislation transposing the CSRD into Belgian law. In this article, we delve into the recent updates to the Belgian Companies and Associations Code […]
Partage et Communautés d’Énergie en Région bruxelloise
1. Introduction Afin d’encourager l’autoconsommation instantanée d’électricité, le législateur bruxellois a introduit de nouvelles possibilités d’échanges et de ventes d’électricité : le partage d’électricité dans un même bâtiment, la communauté d’énergie citoyenne (CEC), la communauté d’énergie renouvelable (CER), la communauté d’énergie locale (CEL) et l’échange de pair à pair. Trois ans après l’adoption de l’ordonnance du […]
Court of Justice of the EU rules on jurisdiction in cross-border IP disputes (BSH v Electrolux (C-339/22))
In its landmark judgement of 25 February 2025, the Court of Justice of the EU (CJEU) clarifies the rules on jurisdiction in cross-border IP disputes in which both infringement and validity issues are raised. The CJEU rules that courts of Member States where the defendant is domiciled and before which an infringement action covering several […]
Recent Updates on Liability for Defective Products | What Businesses Need to Know
Introduction The latest developments in EU product liability law stem from the adoption of a new EU Directive 2024/2853 on liability for defective products and a recent ruling by the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) in Case C‑157/23, Ford Italia SpA v Stracciari SpA. Together, these changes reshape liability standards, impacting manufacturers, […]
Public procurement | 30-day payment deadlines now in force: time to adapt
A significant shift in Belgian public procurement is now upon us! As of January 1, 2025, the Royal Decree of August 12, 2024, amending payment deadline rules imposed on contracting authorities has come into force, introducing a strict 30-day payment processing deadline for most contracts. This impacts all public contracting authorities and contractors. This change, […]
Belgian Coalition Agreement | What It Means for Your Business
After seven months of negotiations, Belgium has a new federal government. The Federal Coalition Agreement (2025-2029) outlines key policy changes that will shape the business landscape in the coming years. At Simont Braun, we have carefully analysed the agreement and compiled a business-focused summary to help you navigate the upcoming changes. While numerous principles still […]
Code Buysse IV | Corporate Governance
I. Wat is de Code Buysse? A. Code Buysse gekaderd Corporate governance of goed bestuur is niet alleen een zaak van grote, genoteerde ondernemingen. De Code Buysse heeft tot doel alle ondernemingen, groot of klein, praktische richtlijnen en concrete tips te bieden die kunnen bijdragen tot de groei van hun onderneming. Het gaat om aanbevelingen […]
Recent Belgian Case Law on Dismissals | Key Points for Employers
Most case law in employment matters relates to the termination of employment contracts by employers. Recently, two significant rulings have been issued, both of which have a substantial impact on HR practices. The first decision, made by the Brussels Labour Court on 29 april 2024, concerns age discrimination in the context of an employer terminating […]
“Elk nadeel heb zijn voordeel”: uitspraak Grondwettelijk Hof over aftrekverbod bij belastingverhoging
Op 21 november 2024 heeft het Grondwettelijk Hof uitspraak gedaan over het aftrekverbod dat van toepassing is in de vennootschapsbelasting wanneer een belastingverhoging wordt toegepast. Het ging om een zaak waar belastingverhogingen werden toegepast omdat de aangifte te laat (maar uiteindelijk correct) werd ingediend. Het Grondwettelijk Hof oordeelde dat er geen discriminatie is en dat […]
DORA | Strengthening Cybersecurity and Resilience in the EU Financial Sector
In today’s digital society, cybersecurity and cyber resilience have become one of the first priorities at the forefront of lawmaking initiative. On 14 December 2022, the EU adopted the Regulation (EU) 2022/2554 of the European Parliament and of the Council on Digital Operational Resilience for the Financial Sector (commonly referred to as Digital Operational Resilience […]