Innovation in public procurement
Following Directive 2014/24/EU, the bill to amend the Public Procurement Law seeks to promote innovation in public contracts.
In-house procurement
The concept of “in-house procurement,” i.e. a contract awarded by one public entity to another public entity, is already recognised under Polish law, but the amendment to the Public Procurement Law proposes major changes in this area.
Modification of public procurement contracts: Unchanged, appearances to the contrary notwithstanding
The planned amendment to the Public Procurement Law only seems to revise the rules for modification of public contracts. The decisive role will still be played by the rules outlined in the case law of the Court of Justice and codified in Directive 2014/24/EU.
New regulations may slow the growth of wind farms in Poland
A proposed Act on Wind Power Plant Projects presented in February 2016 is intended to specify the rules for siting of wind farms. But the current version of the proposal generates a huge risk for further growth of the wind power sector and for wind farms already in operation and even for persons interested in building housing near existing wind projects.
Proposed new restrictions on trading in agricultural property
New regulations governing trading in agricultural real estate proposed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development may have a huge impact not only on the possibility of selling property, but also on share transactions.
Energy efficiency audits still not mandatory
The obligation to conduct energy efficiency audits was supposed to be implemented into Polish law in 2015, but it hasn’t happened yet.
New rules ahead for environmental reports and assessments
The proposed amendment to Poland’s environmental impact assessment regulations contains not just procedural changes. It also goes directly to the nature of environmental impact assessments and the contents of EIA reports.
Proposal to reform EU’s CO2 emissions trading system
On 15 July 2015 the European Commission published a proposal to amend the current Emissions Trading System Directive (2003/87/EC).
Major changes to the Industrial Property Law
A long-awaited bill to amend the Industrial Property Law of 30 June 2000 was submitted to the Sejm on 12 March 2015. The proposed changes affect dozens of regulations. The bill would repeal some existing provisions but also introduce new features to the law.
Proposed amendments to the Developers Act
Poland’s consumer protection authority has drawn up guidelines for amending the Act on Protection of Rights of Buyers of Residential Units and Single-Family Houses of 16 September 2011, popularly known as the Developers Act. Real estate developers are not pleased.
Upcoming (r)evolution in school shops – what can food producers offer children in Polish schools?
After more than two years of discussions, the Food Safety and Nutrition Amendment Act concerning children’s nutrition at schools was enacted on 28 November 2014. The new law, which comes into force on 1 September 2015, aims to eliminate unhealthy food from school shops and prohibit the promotion of unhealthy foods within educational institutions.
Amendments to Polish inheritance law—analysis and evaluation of proposed changes
Work is underway in the Parliament on a government bill to amend the Civil Code and the Civil Procedure Code in a way that would significantly modify the rules for heirs’ liability for debts inherited from the decedent. The first reading of the bill has already been held and it is expected to be approved by the Sejm soon.
