When travelling from Hungary to Austria, one quickly notices the rows of wind turbines lining the roads. The contrast is striking and inevitably raises the question: what explains the markedly different presence of wind energy in two geographically close countries? Do differences in return-on-investment calculations or wind conditions account for this, or are political and cultural factors more decisive? Or does information asymmetry play such a significant role?

In a recently adopted uniformity decision, the Supreme Court of Hungary ruled on how long a claimant initiating an administrative lawsuit may amend their statement of claim. According to the decision, amendments are possible beyond the 30-day time limit for filing the claim only in a very limited set of circumstances. This interpretation significantly narrows the claimant’s opportunities in administrative litigation.

The Office of the Prosecutor General recently published its customary annual statistics on crime in Hungary. According to the data, the overall number of criminal offenses has increased significantly over the past two years (by 6.2% in 2023 and by 31% in 2024). An even more pronounced increase can be observed in the number of economic crimes: compared to the previous year, such offenses rose by approximately 24% in 2023 and by around 35% in 2024. A major shift is also visible in the structure of economic crime: while traditional forms of crime (such as budget fraud or bankruptcy-related offenses) are declining, the number of cybercrime offenses is rising dramatically.

In early September, the French data protection authority issued a precedent-setting decision: it fined Shein’s Irish subsidiary for serious violations of cookie and user consent regulations. The ruling goes far beyond a single fine and sends a clear message: cookie-related data protection rules must be taken seriously.

In its judgment in the Arcomet case, the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) shed light on an area that has previously received less attention: certain transfer pricing adjustments cannot be regarded merely as accounting entries. In many cases, they may qualify as VAT-taxable services. This ruling prompts a reconsideration of how intra-group settlements are treated from a VAT perspective.

According to investment plans announced this summer, the government is preparing to implement large-scale road and railway construction projects over the next ten years. These public infrastructure developments will significantly impact the country's transportation network, ultimately affecting the national economy. However, the developments have a rarely discussed but also important consequence: the expected increase in expropriation cases.

At the beginning of the summer, the regulations governing the land registry in Hungary were amended, introducing significant changes affecting owners of so-called garden plots in the outskirts ( in Hungarian: “zártkerti ingatlanok”), such as weekend houses, garden homes, and similar plots. The practical benefits, however, will largely depend on the location and on whether the local municipality allows their application.