The outbreak of COVID-19 is continually impacting businesses across the SEE region. Authorities are imposing drastic measures to halt the spread of the epidemic and curb the impact of the coronavirus outbreak. Our teams are monitoring the situation closely and providing insights on how to deal with the current situation, as everyone continues to adatpt to the constantly changing dynamic in an attempt to avoid disruptions and mitigate the risk to the economy.
In the upcoming period, Karanovic & Partners will publish insights and analyses of the key measures introduced by the governments in the SEE region to combat the spread of COVID-19. Our teams will monitor the situation continually and provide further insight into the upcoming legal challenges caused by the coronavirus outbreak.
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Albania
As of 18 May 2020, majority of COVID – 19 restrictions are eased as follows:
– In green areas, there are no time limits on the movements of vehicles and citizens,
– In all area’s curfew is reduced from 09.00 pm – 05.00 am,
– In all areas, there is no more need for authorization for pedestrians and vehicles,
– Tv shows can have more than one guest if a distance of two meters is respected,
– Academic year resumes for high school graduates,
– Museums, archives are reopened under strict protocol measures.
18 May 2020 Albanian Government introduced new measures to reactivate economic and other activities, in two new phases: (i) as of 11 May 2020, hairdressers, dental clinics, and shops inside shopping centers may exercise their activity under strict security protocols. Use of private vehicles without prior authorization is allowed only within counties from 05.00 AM 0 05.30 PM; (ii) as of 18 May 2020, bars, and restaurants with terraces and outdoor areas may exercise their activity until 05.30 PM, under strict security protocols.
4 May 2020 Eighteen other municipalities are classified as “Green Areas”. As of 4 May 2020, inter country transport is allowed only with two passengers per vehicle, who should be members of the same family.
4 May 2020 Eleven municipalities are classified as “Green Areas” (i.e. low risk areas with zero cases of citizens infected with COVID-19). The administrative restrictions are changed as follows in these municipalities starting 27 April 2020:
– Retired people are allowed to leave their houses from 06.00 AM – 08.30 AM;
– All citizens can go out from 09.30 Am – 05.30 PM, accompanied by no more than one person;
– Use of private vehicles shall be from 09.30 AM – 05.30 PM only within the designated municipalities area and only with one passenger inside the car.
27 April 2020 The Albanian government will put in place eased lockdown measures regarding the movement of the citizens as of 27 April 2020. Citizens who are granted with the authorization to leave their houses, are allowed to go out for two hours a day, instead of 90 minutes.
27 April 2020 The following businesses are allowed to exercise their activity within 05.00 AM – 05.30 PM as of 27 April 2020: (i) stores selling clothes, textile, shoes and leather products (ii) furniture, lighting and home products stores; (iii) flower stores; (iv) electronics, children toys, sports equipment, telecommunication stores; (v) taxis.
27 April 2020 The list of businesses which can re-open is extended (i.e. meat processing; call centers etc.). In the following link you may find the entire business activities allowed to perform their economic activity under strict security measures during 5.00 am to 5.30 pm
https://e-albania.al/PopupBizneset/Lista_e_aktiviteteve_te_hapura.pdf
20 April 2020 The Albanian Criminal Code was amended aim coping with the spread of epidemic situations. The amendments inter alia include (i) Violating restrictions during a state of natural disaster, when an administrative measure has already been taken, incurs a fine or a prison sentence up to 6 months; (ii) Commercial activity in violation of the restrictions during a state of natural disaster incurs a prison sentence up to 2 years; (iii) Breaking quarantine when the person has been mandated to self-isolate by health authorities incurs a 2-3 years long prison sentence; (iv) Intentionally spreading the disease by someone who has been diagnosed with it incurs a 2-5 years long prison sentence; (v) Unintentionally spreading the disease by someone who has been diagnosed with it incurs a fine or a prison sentence up to 2 years; (vi) Violation of preventative measures, that has serious consequences for the health and life of the population, incurs a 3-8 years long prison sentence.
16 April 2020 The Government announced the extended financial plan to deal with the outbreak of COVID – 19 pandemic.
The government has reserved USD 70 million in funds for this extended plan. The extended financial plan provides inter alia tourism, employees who have been suspended by big businesses and employees of small businesses who have not profited from the first financial plan. Each employee in the above categories shall profit a one – time payment of ALL 40.000.
Further, according to the extended financial plan, tourism industry and manufacturing businesses shall be able to profit USD 150 million sovereign guarantee and push their profit taxes until after December 31, 2020.
Please note that the extended financial plan is not yet approved through any Normative Act.
13 April 2020 As of Monday, 13th of April, the curfew hours shall be reduced as follows: 05.30 PM – 05.00 AM.
10 April 2020 Government adopts Normative Act no. 277/2020 on approving the state loan guarantee in the value of ALL 11 billion, with second-level banks for the salaries of businesses whose activity has been affected due to the administrative measures taken against COVID – 19 outbreak.
All businesses which benefit from the State Loan Guarantee, inter alia, shall use the loan funds only to pay their employees’ salaries, can benefit from a free principal period “grace period” not less than three months and can request the restructuring of the loan during the repayment period.
The Normative Act sets out the terms and conditions for the State Loan Guarantee Agreements and the Memorandum of Understanding for Businesses which will receive loans, the allocated limits of the State Guarantee for second-level banks and authorizes the Ministry of Finance and Economy to enter into agreements with the commercial banks.
7 April 2020 Based on the Normative Act no. 13/20, all bailiff service procedures and bankruptcy procedures are suspended until no further notice (i.e. the end of COVID – 19 outbreak).
1 April 2020 Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia & Herzegovina
BiH Constitutional Court: orders of the FBiH Civil Protection Crisis Staff ordering a ban on the movement of persons under the age of 18 and over 65 in the Federation of BiH violated the right to freedom of movement.
22 April 2020 Draft Law on temporarily measures related to the work of judicial bodies in BH,
if adopted it will suspend procedural deadlines during declared state of natural or other disaster in BH, expect in the urgent cases.
16 April 2020 Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia reached an agreement to temporarily close 20 border crossing points.
2 April 2020 It has been announced that the Law on Value Added Tax will be amended in order to prolong filing deadlines from the 10th of the month to the last working day of the month.
30 March 2020 Airports in BH will be closed starting from 30 March 2020 except for humanitarian flights and flights which have as an object the international transportation of goods
25 March 2020 Decision on Engagement of the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina
The Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina adopted a Decision on Engagement of the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina for the assistance to civil authorities in the prevention of COVID-19 spread in special facilities (tents) positioned at the borders to accommodate everyone coming to BH from abroad.
18 March 2020 Decision on declaring state of natural or other disaster
17 March 2020 Decision on supplementing the Decision on additional conditions for foreigners’ entry to BiH:
As of 15 March 2020, no additional conditions for entry into BiH will be applied to drivers and co-drivers of cargo vehicles in international transport in road traffic and aircraft crew and staff, whose final destinations is in BiH. In case of international transit by roads, the stay of cargo crew will be limited to 12 hours longest.
In accordance with the Vienna Convention on diplomatic relations, earlier set of limitations for entry into BiH will not apply to diplomatic-consular personnel, resident in BiH.
All citizens of BiH entering the country will need to be in isolation for the 14 days.
All foreigners entering BH will be under some degree of movement restrictions.
17 March 2020 Entry into BH is prohibited to the foreigners from the following countries:
People’s Republic of China Wuhan Province, South Korea, Japan, Italy, Iran, France. Romania, FR Germany, Austria, Spain, Switzerland and Belgium.
15 March 2020 Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBIH)
Reopening of museums, libraries, galleries, restaurants, coffee shops, hair and beauty salons.
Suspension of public transportation has been lifted.
15 May 2020 FBH Government endorsed the Amendment to the Labour law, which refers to the following:
- working hours may be redistributed, but no longer than 72 hours per week;
- the employer can send all or part of employees to their annual leave from the previous or current year during the state of the natural disaster, but it cannot be done without prior consultation with the employees’ council and the trade union;
- paid leave is increased from 20 to 40 days during one calendar year;
- an employer whose income has dropped by at least 20 percent due to a work ban may terminate the work obligation with its employee for a maximum period of 90 days from the date of such decision;
in case of salary reduction, the reduced salary cannot be below the amount of minimum wage in FBH;
14 May 2020 Ban on movement for persons under the age of 18 and over the age of 65 has been lifted.
14May 2020 Deadlines in court proceedings are suspended during the state of natural and other disaster, with an exemption related to the urgent court proceedings e.g. procedure for protection against discrimination, family law procedure, registration of business entities before Court registry, interim measure procedure, custody procedure.
7 May 2020 FBH Parliament has adopted draft Law on mitigating the negative economic consequences which provides the following measures:
- contributions to the minimum salary will be paid from the budget of FBH;
- additional funding will be provided for the cantons and municipalities;
- businesses will be freed from the obligation to pay income tax advances;
- interest rates on public revenue and debts will be abolished;
4 May 2020 Reopening of the hair and beauty salons.
1 May 2020 The courts are obliged to organize their work in a way that until 15 May 2020 those who will be coming to work will be working full time while following the orders of the Crisis Staff.
30 April 2020 All activities in shopping centers in the territory of FBH are still prohibited, with the exception of shops that sell groceries and hygiene items and pharmacies. The operation of wholesale and retail trade operations of all kinds of products, services, small crafts outside shopping centers is allowed.
29 April 2020 Curfew is introduced for all persons from 10 PM – 5 AM during 1., 2. and 3. May 2020.
29 April 2020 Curfew and compulsory quarantine in special facilities lifted in FBIH
The FBH has decided to lift a curfew from 8 PM to 5 AM as well as compulsory quarantine, meaning that all persons arriving from abroad will no longer have to be in quarantine in special facilities but will have to go into self-isolation in their own home for two weeks.
24 April 2020 Government of FBH endorsed a Draft Law which if adopted will suspend court proceedings during declared state of natural and other disaster with an exemption related to the urgent proceedings.
17 April 2020 The Government of the FBiH is working on amendments of the Labour Law, which will include a possibility of putting an employee on hold during a declared state of natural and other disasters in FBIH.
16 April 2020 All persons entering BiH at the following border crossing points:
- International airport Sarajevo, Orašje, Velika Kladuša/Maljevac, Bosanski Šamac, Kamensko, Gorica, Bosansko Grahovo/Strmica, Doljani, Osoje, Čepikuće, Neum I, Neum II and Ivanica;
will be immediately directed to the cantonal quarantines.
10 April 2020 Canton Sarajevo will bear the costs of minimum salaries for March for those businesses which are under a prohibition to perform their activities, such as trade, transport and storage, catering and other service activities.
10 April 2020 Draft Law on mitigating the negative economic consequences
is to be adopted in the FBiH Parliament under urgent procedure and provides the following measures:
- contributions to the minimum salary will be paid from the budget of FBiH;
- additional funding will be provided for the cantons and municipalities;
- businesses will be freed from the obligation to pay income tax advances;
- interest rates on public revenue and debts will be abolished;
all administrative and judicial proceedings will be suspended for the duration of natural disaster;
6 April 2020 From 6 April 2020 until 10 April 2020 persons aged 65 or more can be outside from 8 AM – 12 AM.
3 April 2020 Curfew for all persons is now from 8 PM – 5 AM.
29 March 2020 The Government of FBH decided to reduce rent by50% in all leased premises owned by the Government.
26 March 2020 FBIH Tax Administration announced that filing tax deadline has been extended to 30 April 2020.
25 March 2020 Banking Agency of FBIH adopted Decision introducing the following measures, which banks may approve to their clients:
- moratorium, or delay in repayment of the loan;
- grace period up to 6 months for annuity loans;
- additional exposure amount for the purpose of overcoming its current liquidity difficulties;
- any other measure that it deems necessary;
The banks will not approve specific measures for clients for whom no changes in their solvency have occurred.
21 March 2020 Curfew is introduced for all persons from 6 PM – 5 AM. Minors as well persons aged 65 or more have an all-day curfew. Exceptions: (i) people needing health assistance, (ii) employees working in night shifts.
21 March 2020 Flat rate tax has been reduced to 50%.
20 March 2020 Public mass transportation suspended.
20 March 2020 In Canton Sarajevo only pharmacy and supermarkets are opened.
19 March 2020 Closure of restaurants, bars, coffee shops, fast food and similar facilities as well as movie theatres, public pools, galleries, beauty salons.
17 March 2020 Order to all banks, grocery stores, post office etc. to provide distance of at least 1.5 meters between their customers.
17 March 2020 Declaration of state of disaster in FBIH.
16 March 2020 Federal ministry of finance is working on the reduction of flat rate tax up to 50% and all taxpayer should submit a request for reduction of income tax in advance.
16 March 2020 All prices shall remain as they were on 5 March 2020.
16 March 2020 Strong recommendation on working from home. If this is not possible, the employers should undertake all necessary measures to ensure health and safety at work (limited number of persons in the same room, personal protective equipment and similar).
Employers should reorganize their working hours, if the work process allows such reorganization, work that takes place in one shift should be split into two shifts.
In case both parents of a child under 10 years of age are employed one parent is allowed to be absent from work.
All business trips inside as well as outside of the country shall be cancelled.
In case isolation due to COVID-19 is ordered to the employee, this situation is to be treated as temporary incapacity to work.
16 March 2020 Republic of Srpska (RS)
Curfew has been lifted.
22 May 2020 State of emergency has been lifted; emergency situation is still in force.
21 May 2020 Ban on movement for persons over the age of 65 has been lifted.
14 May 2020 The Government of the RS passed a Decision on lifting the state of emergency in RS and sent it to the National Assembly for adoption.
14 May 2020 Compulsory quarantine has been lifted, all persons arriving from abroad will no longer have to be in quarantine in special facilities but will have to go into self-isolation in their own home for two weeks.
11 May 2020 Reopening of restaurants and coffee shops on 11 May 2020.
8 May 2020 Curfew for all persons is from 10 PM until 5 AM.
7 May 2020 Curfew for all persons on 6 May 2020 is from 3 PM until 5 AM.
6 May 2020 The courts are obliged to organize their work in a way that until 15 May 2020 those who will be coming to work at court will be working full time while following the orders of the Crisis Staff.
30 April 2020 Reopening of museums, libraries, furniture shops; entrepreneurs may start performing their activities (except hairdressers and beauty salons).
27 April 2020 Curfew is lifted from 7 AM until 10 AM every day for persons over the age of 65.
27 April 2020 On Friday (17 April 2020) curfew is from 3 PM until 5 AM on Saturday, and over the weekend from 3 PM on Saturday until 5 AM on Monday.
17 April 2020 President of RS adopted a Degree that repeals previously adopted Degree which prohibits a share of false news.
17 April 2020 Ministry of internal affairs of RS announced that at their proposal Government of RS adopted Proposal of a Degree which will repeal previously adopted Degree on the prohibition of sharing of false news and allegations during the state of emergency dated 6 April 2020.
16 April 2020 Solidarity fund of RS will bear the costs of income taxes and contributions for March for those businesses which are under a prohibition to perform their activities, such as trade, transport and storage, catering and other service activities.
6 April 2020 Extension of deadlines in court proceedings.
Deadlines in court proceedings are suspended during the state of emergency, with an exemption related to the urgent court proceedings e.g. procedure for protection against discrimination, family law procedure, registration of business entities before Court registry, interim measure procedure, custody procedure.
6 April 2020 It is forbidden to share false news or allegations.
By the decree prescribing that during a state of emergency caused by COVID-19 pandemic, it is forbidden to share false news or allegations that cause panic or severely disturb public order or peace, or impede or significantly impede the implementation of decisions and measures by state bodies and organizations exercising public authority.
Fines for the breach of the prohibition:
- BAM 1000 – 3000 (approx. EUR 500 – 1500) for the natural person or authorized representative if legal entity;
BAM 3000 – 9000 (approx. EUR 1500 – 4500) for the legal entities;
6 April 2020 Curfew is introduced for all persons under the age of 65 from 7AM – 11AM in city of Banja Luka.
3 April 2020 Declaration of the state of emergency.
3 April 2020 RS Tax Administration announced that filing tax deadline has been extended to 30 April 2020
25 March 2020 Curfew is introduced for all persons from 8 PM – 5 AM. Persons aged 65 or more have an all-day curfew. Exceptions: (i) people needing health assistance, (ii) employees working in night shifts.
20 March 2020 Measures to mitigate the economic consequences. Government of RS introduced 6-months moratorium, grace period (no longer than 6 months), permission to grant an additional exposure amount, extension of the repayment period for annuity loans.
20 March 2020 It is forbidden to share false news or allegations. By the decision prescribing that during a state of emergency caused by COVID-19 pandemic, it is forbidden to share false news or allegations that cause panic or severely disturb public order or peace, or impede or significantly impede the implementation of decisions and measures by state bodies and organizations exercising public authority.
Fines for the breach of the prohibition:
- BAM 1000 – 3000 (approx. EUR 500 – 1500) for the natural person or authorized representative if legal entity;
- BAM 3000 – 9000 (approx. EUR 1500 – 4500) for the legal entities;
19 March 2020 Closure of restaurants, bars, coffee shops, fast food and similar facilities as well as movie theatres, public pools, galleries, beauty salons.
18 March 2020 Declared a state of the emergency.
16 March 2020 City of Banja Luka ordered closure of restaurants, bars, cafés, fast food and similar facilities.
15 March 2020 Brčko District (BD)
Reopening of coffee shops and hair salons.
11 May 2020 Curfew for all persons is from 10 PM until 5AM.
7 May 2020 Gatherings are limited to no more than 3 people in public places.
23 March 2020 All BiH citizens entering the country will have to be in isolation for 14 days.
18 March 2020 All prices shall remain as they were on 5 March 2020.
18 March 2020 Croatia
Decision on mandatory use of highways when transiting through Croatia.
18 May 2020 Decision on enabling intercity road and railway traffic.
11 May 2020 Decision on the prohibition of temporarily leaving the place of residence and permanent residence in the Croatia is revoked (except for the island of Brač). E-passes to travel to another city or municipality is no longer needed.
11 May 2020 Decision to allow Croatian citizens to enter Croatia or to go abroad, in compliance with general and special recommendations. Also, entry into Croatia is allowed to citizens of EU member states and their family members, third-country nationals who are long-term residents and to persons entitled to stay in Croatia.
11 May 2020 Decision of quarantine and home isolation for drivers of international transport trucks shall no longer apply for Croatian and foreign citizens with an approved stay in Croatia, who drive trucks for a Croatian employer in international transport.
8 May 2020 The decision on the prohibition of entry into seaports and inland ports in Croatia amended with exceptions for ships and vessels with a Croatian flag, ships for the transport of goods, ships without passengers, and yachts larger than 24 meters.
5 May 2020 Croatian Government introduced new measures to reactivate economic and other activities, in three phases:
The first phase will be opening stores (except those operating within the mall), public transport, libraries, museums, galleries, bookstores, and training for athletes in individual sports, starting with 27 April 2020.
The second phase will include a full-scale operation of the public health system, service activities in which close contact with clients is made (e.g. hairdressers, barbers, pedicures), starting with 4 May 2020.
The third phase will allow gatherings of up to 10 people in one place, operation of shopping malls, school classes, kindergartens, inter-county transport lines, and domestic air flights, operation of restaurants, and bars with terraces and outdoor areas, national parks, and nature parks, starting with 11 May 2020.
24 April 2020 Possibility to waive decision on the prohibition of leaving the place of residence on the basis of a proposal issued by local counties.
18 April 2020 Decision on closing all retail facilities (except for green markets, grocery stores, pharmacies, gas stations etc.), facilities not strictly necessary for everyday life and cancelling of all public gatherings and sporting events is extended until 4 May 2020.
18 April 2020 Decision to on temporary prohibition of border crossing and decision on border crossing points through which the transit of cargo vehicles is takin place are extended until 18 May 2020.
18 April 2020 During the outbreak of the epidemic, the Financial Agency will stop the enforcement on funds against natural persons (with the exception of claims for legal child support, wages or severance payments and security measures in criminal proceedings).
17 April 2020 Recommendation to suspend non-urgent interventions and other activities conducted by firefighters if it is not possible to provide adequate protection for firefighters.
17 April 2020 Decision for enhanced control to prevent and combat the spread of an epidemic in nursing homes.
16 April 2020 Decision to allow stay and work in Croatia for third-country nationals with issued residence permits during the epidemic. Administrative procedures for prolongation of residence permits may be taken within 30 days from the end of the epidemic.
16 April 2020 Decision to extend working hours of stores in the period from 9 to 11 April for adequate supply of citizens due to Easter holiday. Working hours are extended from 7:00 to 20:00 pm.
9 April 2020 Decision introduced to allow operations of closed facilities within the green market (stores and kiosks) in which the entry to the market can be controlled, while complying with strict social distancing measures
9 April 2020 The salary amount financed by the Croatian Government will be increased to an amount of HRK 4,000 (approx. EUR 530). In addition, the costs of public fees (state pension and health insurance) pertaining to the stated amount of financed salary will also be covered, which brings the total amount of state financing to HRK 5,640 (approx. EUR 750) per employee.
Also, new measures will allow a release of tax payment obligations pertaining to profit tax, personal income tax and public fees to entrepreneurs financially affected by the COVID-19 epidemic.
VAT payments will become due upon invoice collection, and not upon its issuance as was the case until now.
Croatian Agency for Small Business, Innovation and Investment introduced two new financial instruments to ensure additional liquidity to entrepreneurs, craftsmen and farmers.
7 April 2020 Decision on the introduction of e-pass that substitutes regular pass as a basis for leaving the place of residence while the general prohibition is in force.
6 April 2020 Agreement between Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina to close 20 border crossing points for the prevention of spreading COVID-19.
2 April 2020 New instructions for issuing permits for agricultural work outside the place of residence and for necessary departures to islands.
1 April 2020 Change in operating hours of airports. Shorter working hours due to non-existent passenger traffic and the obligation to limit the number of necessary staff at airports.
1 April 2020 A new measure of allowing border crossings for individual citizens of Croatia and Hungary (citizens of the two countries who are residents in border areas within the depth of 30 kilometres from the border or are employed by companies seated in the area).
1 April 2020 Decision to allow work of specialized indoor shops within markets, as well as stores selling construction materials (due to the effects of the earthquake in Zagreb and Krapina-Zagorje County).
28 March 2020 Tax authority has announced the conditions for deferred payment of income tax and/or corporate income tax, along with contributions for health and pension insurance.
Also, it will be possible to defer VAT payments, for entrepreneurs who had revenues of up to HRK 7.5 million in the previous year, if VAT was not collected and that the entrepreneur may present evidence of illiquidity.
Croatian Agency for Small Business, Innovation and Investment has announced suspension of payment on all loans until 31.12.2020. for all obligations which are not yet due. No interest or principal amount will be due until the end of the year and default interest will not be charged.
25 March 2020 Recommendations for households and other enclosed spaces during the COVID-19 outbreak (e.g. general prevention measures, cleaning and disinfection of premises occupied by a person under suspicion of infection).
24 March 2020 Decision to postpone lease payment for real estate managed by the Ministry of State Property.
24 March 2020 Measure suspending operations of all green markets and adjacent facilities.
23 March 2020 Decision on the prohibition of leaving the place of residence (except commuting necessary for supply, health care workers, commuting to work, emergency and operational services).
23 March 2020 Decision on temporary suspension of public transport, e.g. road transport, railway, tram and other public urban traffic (except taxi transport). All railway and bus stations will be closed for the duration of this decision.
21 March 2020 Strict limitation of movement and group staying in the streets and other public places where a large number of people can be located. Measure will be in force for the next 30 days.
21 March 2020 State co-financing of minimal salary for employers with closed business operations and/or with a drop in revenues of at least 20% in the amount of up to HRK 3.250 HRK per worker (approx. EUR 428).
20 March 2020 Croatian Parliament adopted 66 measures to help the economy due to the epidemic coronavirus. Much of the measures concern the preservation of jobs and financial liquidity (e.g. deferred payment of taxes, state co-financing of minimal salary in affected industries, 3-month moratorium on credit obligations, reprogramme of existing loans etc.)
20 March 2020 Border crossing points are temporarily closed. Exceptions relate to health workers, cross-border workers, carriers of goods, diplomats, police officers and passengers in transit.
19 March 2020 Border crossing points are temporarily closed. Exceptions relate to health workers, cross-border workers, carriers of goods, diplomats, police officers and passengers in transit.
19 March 2020 Decision on closing all retail objects (except for green markets, grocery stores, pharmacies, gas stations etc.), facilities not strictly necessary for everyday life (such as restaurants, gyms, saunas, beauty parlours) and cancelling of all public gatherings and sporting events. The decision is effective as of 19 March and will be in force for 30 days with the possibility of prolongation.
18 March 2020 On the basis of an agreement between Croatian and Slovenian governments, border crossing points between Croatia and Slovenia used for local transit of people are closed, major international crossing points used for transport of goods and people remain open.
18 March 2020 Decision on exceptional price control measures for certain products such as e.g. flour, milk and milk powder, eggs, sugar, salt, rice, pasta, fresh meat, fish, fruit and vegetables, canned meat, canned fish, edible oil, baby food, baby diapers, drinking water etc.
16 March 2020 The Croatian Government recommends that employers should organize work from home for their employees.
14 March 2020 Suspended classes in educational institutions.
13 March 2020 Persons who visited impacted areas and are arriving to Croatia are required for 14 days (starting with the day of their last presence in affected areas):
- to conduct active health surveillance (reporting of health status to the competent epidemiologist)
- to perform self-isolation based on the border health inspector’s order.
24 February 2020 Croatia introduced health surveillance of persons coming from areas affected by the epidemic.
03 February 2020 Montenegro
The ban on air traffic for own needs (non-commercial air traffic) is no longer in force. The aircraft used for non-commercial air traffic can have a capacity of up to 10 seats. The crew and passengers are obliged to wear protective masks when getting off the aircraft and during their stay in the airport building. When entering Montenegro, passengers and crew must have a PCR test for SARS-CoV-2 not older than 48 hours.
After entering in Montenegro, health supervision measures are taken against passengers, in accordance with the recommendations of the Institute of Public Health of Montenegro. For the arrival/departure of passengers from the passenger terminal to the accommodation, it is necessary to organize a special transport. When staying in a hotel or other accommodation, passengers are obliged to apply the recommendations of the Institute of Public Health.
19 May 2020 Residential buildings gatherings. The ban on gatherings in residential buildings for individuals who are not members of a joint family household is no longer in force.
19 May 2020 Extended deadline for submitting applications for subsidies. The deadline for submitting applications for subsidies is extended, as well as the deadline for submitting objections, until 31 May 2020 for subsidies for April salaries, and until 30 June 2020 for subsidies for May salaries.
14 May 2020 Curfew ceases to be valid. Starting from 15 May 2020, the temporary measure on banning the movement from 11 pm to 5 am, will not be longer in effect.
14 May 2020 Reduction of measures on the prohibition of movement and detention in public areas. It is forbidden to move and keep more than two persons in a group (except members of a joint family household) in all public areas, with the obligation to respect the physical distance of at least two meters in relation to the other group of persons. Measure related to the ban on the movement and detention of more than one person in public areas has ceased to be valid.
13 May 2020 Sports activities. Starting from 18 May 2020, indoor and outdoor sports activities that can be performed in groups in compliance with the prescribed measures and without the presence of the audience and the organization of competitions. Measures related to the ban on sports activities cease to be valid.
13 May 2020 Reusing of beaches and bathing areas, starting from 15 May 2020. The measure relating to the prohibition of beaches and bathing areas ceases to be valid. Obligation of companies, other legal entities and entrepreneurs engaged in the provision of tourist services at beaches and bathing areas, to organize their work in a way that:
– at the entrance/exit to the beach/bathing area, prominently display a notice on the prescribed temporary measures for prevention and control of Covid19;
– provide a distance between the sets of beach furniture of at least 2m;
– in the part of the public bathing area where the beach furniture is not installed, provide a physical distance of at least 2 m, except for members of the joint family household;
– provide regular hygiene maintenance and disinfect beach furniture and equipment if necessary (deck chair, changing cabins, shower cabins, children’s props, etc.);
– in showers, fountains and toilets on the beach/bathing area, be sure to install disinfectants;
– provide marked places for hygienic waste disposal on the beach/bathing area.
Users of unarranged bathing areas are obliged to respect a distance of at least two meters, except for members of the joint family household.
13 May 2020 Reopening of shopping centers starting from 15 May 2020. The measure relating to the closing of shopping centers ceases to be valid. Obligation of owners/users and managers of shopping centers and legal entities and entrepreneurs engaged in indoor trade on stands/stalls are obliged to organize their work in such a way that: – at the entrance / exit to the shopping centers or space, display a notice in a visible place on the prescribed temporary measures for prevention and control of Covid19;
– limit the number of consumers/visitors who can be in the shopping centre/sales area at the same time, or in each individual facility in the shopping center, so that there can be one consumer/visitor on 10m² of the facility area, with the obligation to respect a physical distance of at least 2m ;
– provide mandatory control of the number of consumers/visitors in the shopping center/space, or in each individual facility in the shopping center;
– clearly mark the obligatory direction of movement of consumers/visitors in a visible place in the shopping center/space;
– provide means for disinfection of the hands of consumers/visitors at the entrance/exit to the shopping center, ie in each individual facility in the shopping center and provide means for disinfection of the hands of employees;
– ensure that employees and consumers / visitors wear protective masks;
– provide regular hygiene and disinfection of common areas;
– provide marked places for hygienic waste disposal.
13 May 2020 Reopening of hospitality facilities (restaurants, bars, nights clubs, fast foods and similar facilities) starting from 15 May 2020. The measure relating to the closing of hospitality facilities ceases to be valid. The obligation of hospitality facilities owner is to organize the work in such a way that: – at the entrance/exit to the hospitality facility, prominently display a notice on the prescribed temporary measures of prevention and control of Covid19;
– a maximum of four (4) guests sit at the table, unless the guests are members of a joint family household, when it is possible for several guests to sit at the same table;
– between tables, provide a distance of at least 2m;
– ensure that employees wear protective masks; provide means for disinfection of employees’ hands, provide means for disinfection of guests’ hands at the entrance/exit to hospitality facility with disinfectants;
– disable the service of self-service, standing and staying in front of the bar; provide regular maintenance of hygiene and disinfection of common areas, furniture, equipment, etc.;
– in the hospitality facility (inside the facility and on the terrace/garden) provide marked places for hygienic waste disposal.
13 May 20202 Repeal of the measure on prohibition of public transport (bus and van transport) of passengers in road traffic (intercity, suburban, city) and railway traffic. Starting from 15 May 2020, passenger and taxi vehicles will be allowed on the entire territory of Montenegro, and the temporary measure that a maximum of two adults can be transported in a passenger vehicle will also ceases to be valid.
Starting from 18 May 2020, the measure relating to the prohibition of public transport (bus and van transport) of passengers in road traffic (intercity, suburban, city) and railway traffic ceases to be valid. Both passenger and public transport still involve the use of protective masks, except in passenger transport in the case when members of the family household are transported in the vehicle.13 May 2020 New measure of the Central Bank of Montenegro. A new decision, by which the rate of required reserves that banks are required to deposit with the Central Bank of Montenegro is reduced by two percentage points, has been adopted.
Thus, in the future, banks will calculate the required reserve by applying a rate of 5.5%, instead of the current 7.5% (on the part of the base consisting of demand deposits and deposits with a maturity of up to one year, or up to 365 days), or a rate of 4, 5% instead of the previous 6.5% (on the part of the base that consists of deposits with a maturity of over one year, or over 365 days).13 May 2020 Measures related to traffic. Possible traffic by personal vehicles and public transport of passengers within the region of Montenegro: i) Coastal region (Herceg-Novi, Kotor, Tivat, Budva, Bar, Ulcinj) + Cetinje, ii) Central region (Podgorica, Danilovgrad, Tuzi , Cetinje, Nikšić, Šavnik, Plužine) iii) Northern region (Pljevlja, Žabljak, Bijelo Polje, Berane, Mojkovac, Kolašin, Plav, Rožaje, Andrijevica, Petnjica, Gusinje). In addition to this, the internal maritime traffic is fully opened. Coming into force on May 11.
8 May 2020 Religious communities are committed to adapt their activities to the current epidemiological situation and that religious rites in religious buildings are performed in such a way that: i) during a religious rite, the number of persons who may be in a religious establishment at the same time is limited, one person can be located on ten square meters of the religious facility, with the obligation to respect a physical distance of at least two meters, ii) at the entrance/exit of the religious facility provide the use of hand sanitizer iii) at the entrance to the religious facility the facility shall prominently display a notice of the maximum number of persons who may be inside the religious facility at the same time, iv) persons in the religious facility shall wear protective masks, except for religious officials who participate in performing religious rites, v) up to 20 persons may be present in an open space belonging to a religious facility, with the obligation to respect a physical distance of at least two meters, vi) a responsible person in a religious facility to ensure consistent compliance with prescribed measures by this order. Coming into force on May 11.
8 May 2020 Obligation to change the functioning of the health system in the provision of health services in such a way that: i) in the Clinical Centre of Montenegro, general and special hospitals, as well as institutions in the Health System Network ensure gradual availability of specialist examinations for all patients, ii) ensure that all patients during their stay in the health institution wear protective masks and ensure respect for physical distance from at least two meters between patients, iii) prominently display a notice of interim measures in the health facility prevention and control of new coronavirus prescribed by this measure, iv) provide means for disinfection of patients’ hands at the entrance/exit of the health institution, v) postpone the implementation of screening programs for colon cancer, breast cancer and cervical cancer while the measures last, vi) in health centres implement measures that will enable rational and efficient use of human resources in the current epidemiological conditions, vii) continue to work in the point for patients “suspected of infection with COVID 19 virus” which was opened in the health facility Tološi , viii) provide referral and transport of patients for treatment outside Montenegro, exclusively in cases of life-threatening of the patient. Coming into force on May 11.
8 May 2020 Reduction of measures. Sports activities will begin but in phases. The first phase will start on 6 May, as individual training will be allowed, the second one will be on 18 May, when the group trainings will be allowed, and competitions will begin on 1 June, although without audience.
5 May 2020 Extension of implementation of measures. The implementation of the measures adopted on 21 April 2020 is now extended until 18 May 2020
28 April 2020 Extension of implementation of measures. The implementation of the measures adopted on 15 March 2020 is now extended until 18 May 2020.
28 April 2020 Extension of implementation of measures. The implementation of the measures adopted on 15 March 2020 is now extended until 18 May 2020.
28 April 2020 Extension of implementation of measures. The implementation of the measures adopted on 24 March 2020 is now extended until 18 May 2020, except measures related to the extension of validity of driving licenses, sanitary booklets, permits for permanent and temporary residence and work of foreigners.
28 April 2020 Extension of temporary disability for work determined by the doctor of the medical committee. Temporary disability for work established by the competent medical commission to the insured persons shall be extended until 15 May 2020. temporary disability for work beyond 30 days, at the request of the insured persons and on the instructions of the chosen doctor, the competent medical commission shall extend until 15 May 2020.
28 April 2020 The suspension refers to public transport of passengers in the international road, rail, and air traffic will be valid until 1 June 2020.
28 April 2020 Plan for gradual mitigation of measures.
If the epidemiological situation remains under control, form 4 May 2020 (second phase) wiil be open shops (textiles, footwear, technical goods, construction materials, crafts, services, hairdressing and beauty salons, fitness centers, bookstores, dental offices, driving schools, car rental services, museums and galleries, etc.); access to cottages in other municipalities will be provided, urban taxi transport, as well as local public urban transport in municipalities where no cases of new Covid-19 have been registered, will start operating.
The third phase will start from 18 May 2020, when restaurants, cafes, hotel terraces, beach bars, beaches and shopping malls will open.The fourth phase would start on 1 June 2020 when road, rail and navigable urban and intercity traffic will start operating.
25 April 2020 The Government has introduced a special package of support measures for agriculture and fisheries worth more than EUR 17 million. This includes:
• Market intervention to maintain market stability, price and income stability of producers, purchase and storage of surplus agricultural products, assist in their placement or transfer to public institutions. The appropriations foreseen for this measure are EUR 3 million;
• Support for the purchase of local products;
• Support for payment of products to domestic producers within 15 days;
• Affordable loans for the acquisition of working capital to registered agricultural producers, processors, and fishermen. Loans will be granted up to a maximum of EUR 20,000, with interest at 1.5 percent, repayment period of up to two years and grace period of up to one year. The appropriations foreseen for this measure are approximately EUR 10 million;
• Payment of contributions to insured persons on the basis of agriculture;
• One-time support for beneficiaries of old-age benefits in the amount of 64 euros and one-time assistance for 184 fishermen with a valid license, for which 200,000 euros have been allocated;
• Advance payment of 80 percent of premiums in livestock and per hectare of arable land, based on data from the previous year.24 April 2020 The Government introduced a second set of measures to help the economy and its employees. This help includes:
• Subsidies in amount of 100% of the minimum salary and subsidies in amount of 100% of taxes and contributions to the minimum gross salary for each registered employee in companies whose work was banned due to the COVID-19 epidemic measures (for April and May 2020);
• Subsidies in amount of 50% of the minimum gross salary for each registered employee in sectors affected by the COVID-19 epidemic measures (for April and May 2020);
• Salary subsidies for employees who are on paid leave (for the care of a child under the age of 11) in amount of 70% of the gross minimum salary for each employee (for April and May 2020);
• Salary subsidies for each employee who had to be quarantined or self-isolated in the amount of 70% of gross minimum salary (for April and May 2020);
• Subsidies for new employment in the amount of 70% of the gross minimum salary for entrepreneurs, micro, small and medium-sized companies registering new employees in April 2020 (for a period of 6 months);
• Subsidies in amount of 100% of the minimum gross salary and subsidies in amount of 100% of taxes and contributions to the minimum gross salary for employees in companies in the field of tourism sector, whose work is not prohibited but has significantly reduced the scope of activities (for April and May 2020);
• Exemption from the fixed portion of the electricity bill for the months of April, May and June 2020, for which period will not be charged to users in companies whose work was banned due to the COVID-19 epidemic measures;
• State bodies will request a delay of enforcement for 60 days (enforcement initiated on their proposal) for companies whose work was banned due to the COVID-19 epidemic measures (for April, May and June2020);
• Taxes and customs – shortening of VAT refund deadlines, extending the limit of the customs guarantee for payment of customs debt.24 April 2020 The ban on the entry of all cruisers and yachts into nautical ports – marinas and commercial ports open to international traffic remains in force. Except for the organized reception and management of foreign vessels and their crews, respecting self-isolation measures.
23 April 2020 The ban on entry to foreigners is still in force. Except for: i) foreigners with permanent or temporary residence in Montenegro, ii) foreign seafarers in transit embarking or disembarking in the ports of Bar, Budva, Kotor, Kumbor-Portonovi and Tivat ports (Gat I and Gat II) , iii) foreigners operating motor vehicles engaged in the transport of goods.
23 April 2020 Reduction of measures. Individual physical recreational activities on public lands are allowed.
21 April 2020 Reduction of measures. Consumer goods-enabled stores will be open from 7 am to 10 pm in the future.
21 April 2020 Reduction of measures. Curfew hours are now from 11 pm until 5 am, every day.
Exceptionally, pets may stay in the public area for a maximum of 60 minutes.
21 April 2020 Extension of implementation of measures. The implementation of the measures adopted on 13 March, 16 March, 18 March 2020 is now extended to 2 May 2020.
16 April 2020 Extension of implementation of measures. The implementation of the measures adopted on 15 March, 30 March, 2 April and 8 April 2020 is now extended to 30 April 2020.
15 April 2020 Temporary exemption from payment of membership contributions to the Chamber of Economy. In order to exercise this right, companies and entrepreneurs are required to submit to the Chamber of Economy an application for exemption from payment of membership contributions by 30 April 2020.
14 April 2020 Exemption from payment of VAT and duty on medical assets and protective equipment imported as a donation.
14 April 2020 An order to companies, other legal entities, or entrepreneurs who carry out the activity of construction or execution of individual works and are responsible for the execution of construction works on the building, or for the execution of individual works.
This order includes that: i) the notice of provisional measures for the prevention and suppression of new coronavirus prescribed by this order shall be prominently displayed on the construction site; ii) they shall provide to all employees who carry out construction work during their organized transportation to and from the construction site, as well as during their stay and work on the construction site (except during the consumption of food, at meal times), personal protective equipment – masks and gloves; iii) all employees who carry out construction work on the construction site, during working hours, are prohibited from leaving the construction site in order to procure groceries, etc.; iv) they have to provide food delivery to employees performing construction work on site; v) during the organized transportation of employees from and to the construction site (bus or van), to schedule the employees in such a way as to ensure their physical distance; vi) at larger construction sites (with 40 or more employees), and to be sure to organize work in several groups of 20 or less employees, whose composition cannot be changed, while ensuring their physical distance at the construction site and to the greatest extent possible avoiding physical contact between those groups after leaving the construction site. This obligation also applies to the organization of collective accommodation of employees, their transportation, food space at the construction site, the time distance when arriving at the construction site, which must be such as to prevent the merging of employees divided into groups; vii) to organize the work of the principal, responsible and other engineers indoors in such a way as to provide greater physical distance with the mandatory use of personal protective equipment – masks and gloves.
8 April 2020 Mandatory institutional isolation. Mandatory institutional isolation is ordered for: i) individuals who have been quarantined or self-isolated, and whose test results on the new coronavirus are positive, who also must be isolated from healthy individuals and cannot be provided with family-based self-isolation; ii) patients who have been hospitalized and who have been recovered and also have no symptoms of the disease, but have not yet had two consecutive negative results from samples taken at 24-hour intervals; iii) as well as for persons who came from abroad and when quarantined, they were tested positive for the new coronavirus.
Institutional isolation involves the placement of people in a facility intended for self-isolation and staying of persons who have a positive test result on a new coronavirus and who do not have symptoms of the disease, do not require medical treatment but must be supervised by health care professionals, based on a sanitary inspection decision.
8 April 2020 Change in curfew, Sunday. It is forbidden to leave the housing facilities from Sunday from 11 am to Monday at 5 am.
8 April 2020 The presence and retention of individuals on beaches (river, lake and sea), landscaped and unregulated bathing areas and picnics are prohibited.
8 April 2020 The presence and retention on all public areas of more than one person is prohibited. An exception to this prohibition applies to a child under the age of 12, a child with autism spectrum disorders and other disabilities and wheelchair users, in the presence of one parent, guardian, adoptive parent, breadwinner, escort or other adult family member. This prohibition does not apply to individuals carrying out regular work in the activities permitted by the orders.
8 April 2020 Increased of the inspection of illegal transport in relation to public transport of passengers and freight, as well as transportation for own use.
7 April 2020 Extension of validity of the licenses, extracts of licenses and other documents for public transportation of passengers and cargo in international, domestic and domestic local road traffic. They will be considered valid until 30 June 2020.
7 April 2020 Extension of validity of the reports on the assessment of the health or fitness of employees in workplaces with special working conditions, or with increased risk. They will be considered valid until 30 June 2020.
7 April 2020 Decision on declaration the existence of serious disorders in the market caused by the epidemic of the COVID 19.
6 April 2020 Amendment to the prohibition of movement (curfew hours). Movement is allowed on Sundays, from 5 a.m. to 1 p.m.
2 April 2020 Extension of implementation of measures. The implementation of the measures adopted on 16 and 17 March is now extended to 17 April.
2 April 2020 Temporary prohibition to banks from paying dividends to shareholders, except for payments in the form of bank shares. This means that a dividend distribution is allowed only in the way that it is transformed into equity. This will increase the level of capitalization of the Montenegrin banking system and ensure that it is fully prepared for potential challenges. This measure has not yet come into force.
31 March 2020 Increment of banks’ exposure to one person or group of related parties through granting loans or otherwise. Banks will be allowed to increase their exposure to one person, or group of related parties, through the approved exposure limits (25% of the bank’s own funds) through granting loans or otherwise. This will be possible with the prior approval of the Central Bank of Montenegro. This facilitates the acquisition of additional financial resources for the part of the borrowers affected by the current crisis and provides an incentive to continue their business. This measure has not yet come into force.
31 March 2020 Deferral of collection of overdue tax and non-tax receivables. Taxpayers who are unable to settle their tax liabilities due to the negative effects on the business caused by the COVID-19 epidemic can be granted a 90-day deferred payment of their due tax liabilities. The following are considered tax and non-tax receivables: i) personal income tax; ii) compulsory social security contributions; iii) liabilities arising from tax rescheduling in accordance with the Law on Rescheduling Tax Receivables; iv) liabilities arising from deferred collection of tax and non-tax receivables under the Regulation on Conditions for Delaying Collection of Tax and Non-Tax Receivables.
31 March 2020 Gatherings.
Prohibition on gathering in the housing facilities for individuals who are not members of the joint family household.
30 March 2020 Sports.
Prohibition of sports and recreational activities in all public areas.
30 March 2020 Prohibition that includes children.
Children under the age of 12 are prohibited from going on outdoor public spaces, from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m., without the presence of one parent, guardian, adoptive parent, foster parent or another adult member of the family household, with the obligation to comply with the prescribed measure distances from other persons at least two meters;
30 March 2020 Curfew is introduced for all citizens. Curfew hours are i) from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. from Monday to Friday and ii) from 1 p.m. on Saturday to 5 a.m. on Monday.
Exceptionally, for the duration of the curfew, citizen with pets may stay on
public area, maximum 60 minutes.
This prohibition does not apply to individuals who perform regular tasks and provide services from public interest and are an indispensable condition of life and work of citizens (health, inspection bodies, police, military, fire services, utilities, media-including persons visiting media shows, agricultural activities on farms, etc.), as evidenced by a certificate issued by the employer.
30 March 2020 First instance court hearings scheduled in the Commercial Court of Montenegro in the period of 30 March 2020 to 13 April 2020 are delayed.
27 March 2020 Extending the duration of self-isolation and quarantine measures. It means:
- to persons who have been imposed a measure of self-isolation for a period of 14 days, after the expiration of that period the imposed measure will be extended for another 14 days;
- persons who have been issued a measure of quarantine placement for a period of 14 days and who have not had symptoms of a COVID-19 during the quarantine period, after quarantine, they will be placed in self-isolation in a family accommodation for 14 days;
self-isolation of persons who have been in contact or are suspected to have been in contact with persons who suffering from COVID-19 and who did not have symptoms of this disease, is extended by 14 days.
27 March 2020 Extension of the deadline for submission of the issuer’s annual financial report. The deadline for submission of the annual financial statements of the issuers for 2019, which expires on 31 March 2020, will be extended by 15 days. The financial statements submitted by 15 April 2020 will be considered timely submitted.
26 March 2020 Extension of validity of sanitary booklets. Sanitary booklets, held by certain persons, who have expired, shall be valid until 30 June 2020.
26 March 2020 An epidemic of infectious disease COVID-19 has been declared.
26 March 2020 Credit line of the Investment and Development Fund for the purpose of solving the illiquidity problem arising from the consequences caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. On a credit line, the credit amount can be up to 3 million. The Grace period is up to 2 years, and the interest rate is 1.5 percent. The credit is realized free of charge.
This line of credit will be used solely for the purpose of addressing the illiquidity problem arising from the effects caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. The funds can be used to procure products, semi-finished products, raw materials, and pay salaries. The credits are also intended for entrepreneurs, micro and small companies that are directly at risk. Credit can also be supported by medium and large companies.
The documentation shall be submitted electronically or by post, beginning on 26 March 2020.
25 March 2020 Recommendations for competent inspections. The competent inspectorates are obliged to, in the case of violation of the measures prescribed by the orders, impose a measure on the prohibition on performing works.
25 arch 2020 Recommendations to specific categories of citizens. Elderly persons, persons with chronic illnesses and persons with disabilities are urged and warned to refrain from leaving residential buildings without maximum need.
25 March 2020 Modified working hours at newsstands. The obligation of the owner or user of the newsstands to organize working hours in the period from 7am to 3pm, in two shifts of four hours per employee.
24 March 2020 Modified working hours at individual commercial facilities. Obligations to organize working hours between 8 am and 6 pm for pharmacies, food, beverage and hygiene facilities, specialized facilities for the sale of baby equipment, construction products, plant protection products and planting materials, animal nutrition and treatment products, agricultural machinery and funeral equipment. Exception: delivery to the customer’s address, which can be done during business hours which the merchant points out, in accordance with the regulations. This measure will take effect from 26 March 2020.
24 March 2020 Ability to extend employees temporary disability to work. The new measure provides an ability for the selected doctor, at the request of the employee, to extend to 30 April 2020: (i) temporary disability for up to 30 days (as determined by the selected team or the selected doctor), (ii) and temporary disability for more than 30 days (as determined by the competent medical commission).
24 March 2020 Prohibition on passenger intercity traffic. Exceptions: (ii) passenger motor vehicles performing activities relevant to the traffic of goods, (ii) supply and delivery of medicines, (iii) emergency medical services, (iv) utilities, (v) supply of fuel and electricity, (vi) transportation of employees, (vii) transportation of persons who resided outside the place of domicile or residence, for the purpose of returning to that place.
24 March 2020 Measure relating to legal entities and individuals performing construction works. This measure implies an obligation for legal entities and individuals performing construction work to organize work in a manner that ensures respect for epidemiological measures, in particular respecting the social distance between employees and other measures of occupational health and safety.
24 March 2020 Suspension of international passenger traffic. Exceptions: (i) the arrival of Montenegrin nationals whose arrival was announced through diplomatic missions and consular posts, (ii) the Operational Headquarters of the National Infectious Diseases Coordination Body. The quarantine of these persons is mandatory, in accordance with the decision of the health and sanitary inspection.
24 March 2020 Obligation of state bodies, state administration bodies, local self-government bodies and local authorities, companies, public institutions and other legal entities, entrepreneurs and natural persons to consider valid permanent residence permits, temporary residence permits and permits for temporary residence and work of foreigners with whom the period of validity has expired (on the basis of which they exercise before their bodies some of their rights or obligations).
24 March 2020 Prohibition on the presence and detention of more than two persons together in an open public place. The prohibition refers to the presence and detention of more than two persons together sidewalks, squares, streets, parks, promenades, beaches, etc., except for persons performing their regular work tasks.
24 March 2020 Suspension of fee collection (in the amount of EUR 2.00) for citizens who have ordered the issuance of birth certificates and certificates from the register of Montenegrin citizens through the portal www.dokumenti.me.
24 March 2020 Measures concerning traffic licenses that have expired. This measure implies the obligation of the competent authorities that perform the control and regulation of traffic on the roads to consider traffic licenses which have expired shall be valid if the driver with the license possesses a valid insurance policy and proof of performed technical inspection of the vehicle.
24 March 2020 Religious rites to be held without the presence of citizens.
22 March 2020 Identities. The National Coordinating Body for Infectious Diseases will begin releasing identities of people in self-isolation from tonight.
21 March 2020 Complement to new Covid19 anti-proliferation measures. Prohibition on transporting more than two adults in the same vehicle does not include transport of members of a joint family household and does not apply to vehicles of legal entities carrying out transportation of employees, vehicles of media representatives and vehicles used for emergency services (health, police, army, fire department, etc.) Prohibition on the organization of weddings. The funerals of deceased to be held exclusively in the immediate circle of the family.
21 March 2020 New Covid19 anti-proliferation measures. Maximal control of violations of self-isolation and criminal charges against violators is envisaged, as well as a prohibition on transporting more than two adults in the same vehicle.
19 March 2020 Tax Suspension. The Government of Montenegro has also introduced a new measure that provides tax suspensions and contributions on salaries as well as obligations under the Rescheduling Law for a period of 3 months.
19 March 2020 Continued major capital projects. The Government of Montenegro also provided advance payments to providers and contractors on started capital projects with the provision of a bank guarantee in the amount of advances. Started capital projects will not be stopped.
19 March 2020 Economic recovery measures. The Government of Montenegro announced the creation of a new Investment and Development Fund line of credit designed to improve the liquidity of entrepreneurs, micro, small, medium and large companies up to a maximum amount of EUR 3 million per user, by a simplified procedure, no approval fee and an interest rate of only 1.5 %.
19 March 2020 Fiscal measures. Central Bank of Montenegro introduces a moratorium on credit repayments (legal entities, natural persons, entrepreneurs and other credit users) approved by banks, microcredit institutions and Investment and Development Fund, for up to 90 days. The moratorium includes the suspension of all payments of liabilities on the basis of the credit (principal, interest, default interest, fees, etc.). The credit user wishing to exercise the right to the moratorium is obliged to electronically provide the bank with a notification that it accepts the moratorium, and if it is unable to do so, it shall submit the notice in writing to the bank. The bank is obliged to ensure that the moratorium is implemented within five working days from the day of receiving the notification.
19 March 2020 Relieves. The fees and commissions for using mobile and electronic banking services will be temporary suspended.
The Municipality of Kotor is among the first municipalities in the country to receive the approval of the Government of Montenegro on the proposal of the Decision on Administrative Fees, that involves reducing all taxes in that city.
18 March 2020 Criminal charges. Communal police officer is specifically authorized to file criminal charges for determining criminal liability for failure to act provisions of established commands, mainly related to the operations of catering facilities, stores, salons, taxi services etc.
18 March 2020 Provisions related to health institutions, for example, all scheduled examinations are deferred until the epidemiological conditions are created, except those examinations where the selected doctor indicates as “urgent”. Also, work of dental ordinations is suspended, with obligation for providing on-call duty for emergency cases.
18 March 2020 Prohibition on the operation of commercial establishments, except pharmacies and establishments in which food, beverages, hygiene products, motor fuels, construction products, plant protection products and planting products, animal nutrition and treatment products are traded, as well as printing kiosks, facilities for the sale of baby products and facilities for the sale of funeral equipment.
Suspension of taxi transportation.
18 March 2020 Securing of regular work and provision of services by legal entities founded by the country or local self-government, performing activities of public interest, which are an irreplaceable condition of life and work of citizens.
18 March 2020 Suspension of public transport. Suspension of public transport of passengers in interurban, suburban and urban traffic by buses and vans, as well as the public transport of passengers in inland rail transport.
17 March 2020 Maintaining social distancing. Regardless of the surface, the stores cannot accommodate more than 50 consumers at the same time; the obligation of the responsible persons in the stores is to provide/mark a distance of at least two meters between the persons in front of the outlets, at the cash registers and the sectors in which the goods are served by the employees in the stores.
15 March 2020 Entry into Montenegro is prohibited to all foreign nationals. Exceptions:
- i) foreigners with permanent or temporary residence in Montenegro,
- ii) foreigners operating motor vehicles engaged in the transport of goods.
15 March 2020 Protection of the employees due to schools\kindergartens closure. Government of Montenegro has ordered that, during the interruption of work of public and private educational institutions (among which appertains schools/kindergartens) for at least 15 days, one of the parents/legal guardians/foster parents/adoptive parent or single parent of a child not older than 11 years of age shall be entitled to a paid leave from work (excluding health care employees).
13 March 2020 Recommended work from home. The Government of Montenegro strongly recommended that employers should organize work from home for their employees. If this is not possible, the employers should undertake all necessary measures to ensure H&S at work in light of COVID-19 outbreak (limited number of persons in the same room, personal protective equipment and similar).
13 March 2020 Closure of border crossings for passenger border traffic. The prohibition was introduced for border crossings to Bosnia and Herzegovina (except for border crossing points Nudo, Ilino brdo and Krstac), Albania (except for border crossing point Božaj), Croatia (except for border crossing point Debeli brijeg), Serbia(except for border crossing points Dobrakovo and Dračenovac).
13 March 2020 Provisional measures: prohibition of public and private gatherings; interruption of educational work in public and private educational institutions for at least 15 days; the right to paid parental leave; prohibition of travelling to the affected regions and prohibition on entering the country by foreign nationals coming from the affected regions.
13 March 2020 North Macedonia
Revoked curfew. As of 27 May 2020, the curfew is no longer in effect.
27 May 2020 Extended validity for measures in retail stores. The measures which include keeping distance between customers conducted by personnel upon entry into the stores and use of disinfectant prior to entering retail stores shall be extended for 200 days after the end of the state of emergency.
22 May 2020 Revoked ban on transport in Kumanovo. Entry and exit to and from Kumanovo for city and inter-city transport have been normalized.
19 May 2020 Resumed work of the Basic Civil Court Skopje. The Basic Civil Court Skopje shall resume all scheduled hearings starting from 19 May 2020. All parties in the procedures must take all precautions in accordance with the measures and recommendations from the Government.
19 May 2020 Extended validity in tax regulation. The interest rate of the amount of more or less paid taxes for each day of delay of payment reduced to 0.015% shall continue to be valid during the state of emergency, as well as for 60 days after the end of the state of emergency (i.e. until 31 July 2020).
Additionally, the validity of the provisions regulating VAT exemption for donated goods and services to budget users, as well as the deadlines for the submission of VAT return have been extended for the duration of the state of emergency, as well as for 90 days after the end of the state of emergency (i.e. 31 August 2020).
18 May 2020 Extension of the state of emergency. The state of emergency has been extended for 14 more days, i.e. until 31 May 2020.
17 May 2020 Amended curfew. All citizens have curfew from 7 p.m. until 5 a.m.
15 May 2020 Extended validity on the offering of amended contractual conditions of loans. The period where banks and savings houses may offer amended contractual conditions of loans shall be valid for the duration of the state of emergency, as well as for 90 days after the end of the state of emergency.
15 May 2020 Extended validity for permits regulating the stay of foreigners. The validity of temporary residence of foreigners with or without visa after the expiration of the validity of the temporary residence or visa, as well as the expired permits for temporary residence and long-term residence has been prolonged until 31 August 2020.
15 May 2020 Unilateral termination of the agreement on concession for exploitation of non-metal minerals. During the state of emergency, the Government of North Macedonia may unilaterally terminate the agreement on concession for exploitation of non-metal minerals if it deems that such exploitation disrupts the public interest, health and safety of the local population. If such termination occurs, the concessioner may file a request for obtaining another concession at a different location within 60 days after the termination of the agreement.
15 May 2020 Gradual reduction of restrictive measures. Starting from 13 May 2020: (i) outdoor practices for individual sports and tennis are allowed; (ii) sports betting places and other organizers of games of chance may open for business; (iii) trainings, seminars and other work activities in education centers may be organized; (iv) shopping malls may open for business; (v) restaurants and other food and drink joints within shopping malls may open for business without visitors – sales should be conducted via telephone or online, through a delivery service or by over-the-counter pick up of the order; (vi) driver schools may resume with driver trainings. The Government of North Macedonia prescribed certain protocols for each of these activities which must be followed.
13 May 2020 Suspended deadline for submission of approved financial reports. The deadline for submission of approved financial reports, together with the annual report for 2019 of large and medium LLCs to the Central Registry of North Macedonia is suspended for the duration of the state of emergency and shall continue to run after the end of the state of emergency. Additionally, accounting documents on whose basis trade books are kept shall be deemed as reliable when scanned and sent via e-mail.
13 May 2020 Extended validity for work permits of foreigners. The validity of work permits of foreigners which are issued with a duration of one year shall be extended for the duration of the state of emergency, as well as for 60 days after its end. The deadline for completion of services related to procurement of goods and machine assembly, maintenance and servicing for a period of 60 days, which has expired or expires during the state of emergency, shall be extended for the duration of the state of emergency, as well as for 60 days after its end.
13 May 2020 Extended validity of passports and driver’s licenses. Passports and driver’s licenses that are expired or have expired during the state of emergency shall be valid for the duration of the state of emergency and until 31 July 2020.
13 May 2020 Extended validity of construction permits. Construction permits whose validity period has expired during the state of emergency shall be extended for the duration of the state of emergency, as well as for 60 days after its end.
11 May 2020 Amended curfew for the weekend. During the weekend, all citizens have curfew from 7 p.m. until 5 a.m. Persons aged 67 or older have curfew from 12 a.m. until 5 a.m., whereas persons aged 18 or below have curfew from 7 p.m. until 1 p.m.
Access to the park forest Vodno is restricted for people and vehicles from 7 p.m. until 5 a.m.
8 May 2020 Amendment to the Decree for salary contributions. The stipulation on the reduction of employees was amended – companies must retain the same number of employees as in April 2020, for two months after the use of this measure (i.e. until August 2020 at the latest), except in the following cases: (i) death or retirement of the employee; (ii) termination of the employment by the employee; (iii) termination of the employment due to violation of the working order and discipline; (iv) overtaking of employees pursuant to a settlement; (v) termination of the employment-based on court order; and (vi) termination of the employment-based on permanent work incompetence.
The method of calculation of numbers of employees which must be retained is percentual, in the same way as in the decree for the minimal salary subsidy. Furthermore, companies in the hospitality, tourism, and transport sectors may now use this measure in combination with the minimal salary subsidy measure.
5 May 2020 Remote online classes until the end of the school year. Students in elementary and high school shall finish the 2019/2020 school year through remote online classes. High school students will not take the state graduation exam.
5 May 2020 Amendments to the conduction of public presentation of urban plans. The municipalities and the City of Skopje are required to conduct the public presentation and public survey of urban plans, urban-plan documentation and urban-project documentation in accordance with the protocols for keeping appropriate distance, disinfecting the participants and requiring the same to wear masks. The duration of public presentation and public survey may last for longer than one work day, but not longer than the determined deadline for conducting such public presentation and public survey.
5 May 2020 Amendment to the Decree for minimal salary subsidies. These amendments stipulate that companies using this measure cannot reduce the number of employees, unless in the following cases: (i) death or retirement of the employee; (ii) termination of the employment by the employee; (iii) termination of the employment due to violation of the working order and discipline; (iv) overtaking of employees pursuant to a settlement; (v) termination of the employment-based on court order; and (vi) termination of the employment-based on permanent work incompetence.
1 May 2020 Amendment to the Decree on the Labor Law. Employers who have terminated the employment of their employees between 11 March 2020 and 30 April 2020 may conclude a settlement with the employee to have him return to work. This must be registered with the Employment Agency by 7 May 2020 at the latest. If the employee does not sign the settlement, the employer may employ another person from the Employment Agency’s list of unemployed persons.
1 May 2020 Amended conditions for minimal salary subsidy. A new decree was adopted where certain conditions for the minimal salary subsidy are amended and further regulated. These include the application method for the subsidy, the number and method of calculation of the number of employees which must be retained and the conditions on returning the funds of the subsidy.
28 April 2020 Amended curfew for the weekend. All citizens have curfew from 2 p.m. until 5 a.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday (1, 2 and 3 May 2020). Persons aged 67 or older have curfew from 11 a.m. until 5 a.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday (1, 2 and 3 May 2020). Persons aged 18 or below have curfew from 2 p.m. until 12 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday (1, 2 and 3 May 2020).
28 April 2020 Extension of the validity of licenses in the hospitality sector. The validity period for licenses for night clubs, disco clubs and cabarets which have expired or shall expire during the state of emergency, is prolonged for the duration of the state of emergency.
28 April 2020 Possibility to donate the VAT return to the Budget for COVID-19 relief. Citizens who scan fiscal receipts through the “Moj DDV” app in order to obtain a return on VAT may choose to donate the funds to the Budget in order to help with the consequences caused by COVID-19.
24 April 2020 Internet betting. Betting places, casinos and other organizers of games of chance may offer their services online or through an app for the duration of the state of emergency, as well as for six months following the end of the state of emergency.
24 April 2020 Extended deadline for submission of VAT return. The deadline for the submission of VAT return for the period between 1 January and 31 March has been extended until 30 April 2020, whereas the deadline for the period between 1 April and 30 April has been extended until 31 May 2020
24 April 2020 Mandatory self-isolation for persons who are tested for COVID-19. Anyone who is tested for COVID-19 must self-isolate until receiving a negative test result.
23 April 2020 Mandatory use of masks in public. All domestic and foreign persons must wear protective equipment – masks in public. Other than masks, silk or scarves, shawls, or any other cloth which covers the mouth and nose area may be used. Exceptions: (i) individual sporting activities; (ii) during car rides with persons from the same household; (iii) in public open spaces while keeping the necessary two-meter distance from others.
23 April 2020 Amended curfew. All citizens have curfew Monday to Friday from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. During the weekend, the curfew starts from 3 p.m. on Saturday and ends at 5 a.m. on Monday. Persons aged 67 or older have curfew from 12 a.m. until 5 a.m. Monday to Friday, and from 11 a.m. on Saturday to 5 a.m. on Monday. Persons aged 18 or below have curfew from 7 p.m. until 1 p.m. Monday to Friday, from 5 a.m. until 12 a.m. on Saturday, and from 3 p.m. on Saturday until 5 a.m. on Monday.
23 April 2020 Measures in banks, savings houses, and post offices. Banks, savings houses, and post offices are obliged to place markings before the entry into the facilities in order to keep a two-meter distance between queueing citizens. Disinfection and maintaining appropriate distance should be conducted by personnel upon entry into the facilities. Misdemeanour sanctions are prescribed for banks, savings houses, and post offices that do not comply with this measure.
23 April 2020 Ban on organized transport to and from Tetovo. Organized transport to and from Tetovo is prohibited for the duration of the state of emergency.
21 April 2020 Second interest-free credit line for micro, small and medium companies. The Development Bank of North Macedonia is expected to publish a second public call for providing interest-free loans to micro, small and medium companies affected by the COVID-19 crisis. With this second call, all companies which meet the criteria are eligible to apply for the loans (and not only companies from the affected sector, as was the case with the first public call). Depending on the number of employees and other criteria, companies may receive up to MKD 5.5 million (EUR 90,000) with a grace period of 12 months and repayment period of three years.
21 April 2020 Extension of the state of emergency. The state of emergency in North Macedonia has been extended for 30 days.
16 April 2020 Retail store measures. Retail stores are obliged to place markings before the entry into the store and the cash registers in order to keep a two-meter distance between queueing citizens. Disinfection and maintaining appropriate distance should be conducted by personnel upon entry into the stores. Penalties of up to EUR 2,000 are envisioned for retail stores that fail to adhere to these measures.
16 April 2020 Exemptions from enforcement over certain types of income. Income from social security, temporary unemployment, scholarships, lifetime support agreements etc. are exempt from enforcement for the duration of the state of emergency.
16 April 2020 Suspension of deadlines envisioned in the Law on Mineral Resources. Deadlines for activities related to detailed geological research as well as concessions are suspended for the duration of the state of emergency and shall continue to run after the end of the state of emergency.
16 April 2020 VAT exemption for donated goods and services to budget users. The turnover of goods and services given as a donation to budget users is exempt from VAT payment.
14 April 2020 Longer curfew during Orthodox Easter weekend. All citizens have curfew from 4 p.m. on Friday, 17 April to 5 a.m. on Tuesday, 21 April. Persons aged 67 or older have curfew from 12 a.m. until 10 a.m. Monday to Friday, except on Monday 20 April when it is all day curfew for all citizens. Persons aged 18 or below have curfew from 3 p.m. until 1 p.m. Monday to Friday, except on Monday 20 April when it is all day curfew for all citizens.
13 April 2020 Ban on movement and grouping during Orthodox Easter weekend. All parks, picnic spots, recreation areas in national parks and forests as well as weekend settlements shall be closed for the duration of the Orthodox Easter weekend curfew starting from 4 p.m. on Thursday, 16 April until 5 a.m. on Tuesday, 21 April.
13 April 2020 Longer state quarantine. Citizens entering North Macedonia from high risk countries via humanitarian flights or convoys after 13 April 2020 shall have to endure a mandatory state quarantine for at least 21 days.
13 April 2020 Amendment of the Decree for minimal salary subsidies. The conditions stipulating that owners and managers of companies cannot use the measure for minimal salary subsidy is removed. The period for retaining the employees after use of this measure is reduced to two months instead of four (i.e. the same number of employees must be retained until July 2020 instead of September 2020).
9 April 2020 Use of vacation time for employees in the public sector. Employees who work in the public sector and have unused vacation days from 2019 must use the same until 31 May 2020. The unused vacation days from 2019 of employees who are exempt from work in accordance with the measures shall be considered as used.
8 April 2020 Prohibition of payment of allowances and salary compensations in the public sector. Employees who are part of the public sector shall not receive allowances and salary compensations for the duration of the state of emergency.
7 April 2020 Temporary suspension of deadlines predicted with the laws regulating pension insurance. The deadlines predicted in the laws which regulate pension insurance are temporarily suspended for the duration of the state of emergency and shall proceed after its end for as many days as there are left after the end of the state of emergency.
7 April 2020 Extended deadline in accordance with the Law on Tobacco. The deadlines for concluding agreements with tobacco manufacturers and purchasers, as well as for submitting the list of concluded documents has been extended until 30 April 2020.
7 April 2020 Minimal salary subsidies. Companies affected by the COVID-19 crisis may request financial support from the Government in the form of one minimal salary in the amount of MKD 14,500 (approx. EUR 235) per employee for the months of April and May, in proportion to the effective hours spent at work. The exception are employees who have received a net salary higher than MKD 39,900 (approx. EUR 649) in December 2019, as well as January and February of 2020. In order to use this financial support, the companies: (i) must not pay out dividends, annual rewards and/or bonuses to their management or employees; (ii) must retain the same number of employees as in the month for which the financial support was requested, until September 2020, except for retired employees and/or deceased employees; (iii) must have at least 30% reduced revenue in comparison to the monthly average of the total revenue generated in 2019; (iv) must have 10% of the employees at most with net salaries higher than MKD 120,000 (approx. EUR 1,950) for the month for which this financial support is requested. Companies are obligated to return up to 50% of the achieved financial result for 2020 increased for the amount of taxable expenses and less expressed income.
7 April 2020 Stricter curfew hours. All citizens have curfew from 4 p.m. to 5 a.m. Persons aged 67 or older have curfew from 12 a.m. until 10 a.m. Persons aged 18 or below have curfew from 9 p.m. until 12 p.m. Public transportation is banned from 3 p.m. to 1 a.m. All weekend curfew is introduced for all citizens from 4 p.m. on Friday until 5 a.m. on Monday. This shall be applicable from 8 April 2020.
6 April 2020 Subsidies of salary contributions. The Government shall provide subsidies of up to 50% of salary contributions for the months of April, May and June. The amount of subsidized contributions cannot be more than 50% of the contributions calculated on the average gross salary in January 2020. Companies must fulfil certain conditions in order to apply for this measure, such as 30% less generated revenue in comparison to the average monthly revenue in 2019 and retaining the same number of employees as before 31 March 2020. Companies must return the used sum to the budget, but not more than 50% of the profit in 2020.
6 April 2020 Ban on group gatherings. Gatherings of more than two persons are prohibited in parks and public places.
6 April 2020 The Decree on the amendment of the Company Law is repealed. The Decree which stipulated that shareholder’s and stockholder’s meetings shall not be held for the duration of the state of emergency, as well as the amendment forbidding the payment of dividend to foreign shareholders/stockholders for the duration of the state of emergency, is repealed.
4 April 2020 Amendments to the Decision on export of wheat and wheat flour. Export of wheat and wheat flour is limited to 70% of the total produced wheat and wheat flour in the previous month. This shall be valid until the end of the state of emergency.
3 April 2020 Amended conditions in loan agreements with financial companies and leasing agreements. Citizens will pay a reduced rate of 70% of monthly annuity between 1 April and 30 June 2020 for loans concluded until 31 March 2020 with financial companies. Creditors may not calculate additional costs, provisions and/or legal penalties. The payment period of monthly annuity is prolonged for 90 days. Financial companies may amend the conditions of the loan in line with the Decree on the amendment of contractual conditions of loans dated 27 March 2020. This is valid for leasing agreements as well.
3 April 2020 Customer protection. Creditors must not charge costs that are not included in the calculation of the annual rate of total costs exceeding 30% of the amount of the approved loan, otherwise they may be fined in the amount of EUR 3,000.
3 April 2020 Financial help for sportsmen and artists. Sportsmen and artists shall receive MKD 14,500 for the months of April and May. This decree has not been published yet
3 April 2020 Use of vacation time for employees in the private sector. Employees affected by the temporary measures who work in the private sector and have unused vacation days from 2019 must use the same until 31 May 2020. Vacation days of two consecutive work weeks envisaged for 2020 must be used until 30 June 2020.
2 April 2020 Amendments to the Law on Obligations. The legal penalty interest rate is reduced for 50%. The legal penalty interest rate shall now be determined in the amount of: (i) the reference rate of the NBRM valid on the last day of the previous month; or (ii) the monthly rate of Euribor for euros which was valid on the last day of the semester preceding the current semester for monetary obligations in foreign currency, both increased for five percentual points (instead of 10) in trade agreements, i.e. four percentual points (instead of eight) for agreements where at least one person is not a merchant.
2 April 2020 Prolonged validity period of construction licences. Designing, contractor, supervisory licences, as well as licences for audit of project documentation issued in accordance with the Construction Law whose validity has expired, shall be prolonged for the duration of the state of emergency, as well as for 60 days after the end of the state of emergency.
2 April 2020 Reduction of current expenditures in public enterprises and state-owned joint stock companies. Public enterprises and state-owned joint stock companies should reduce their current expenditures for 15%.
2 April 2020 Ban on new employment in the public sector. New employments in the public sector are temporarily suspended, except for appropriate staff in the medical field. In case of necessity to fill in certain job positions, this should be done by allocating staff from institutions where there is a surplus of employees.
2 April 2020 Suspension of enforcement procedures until 30 June 2020. Enforcement agents are obliged to cease all actions, except: (i) cases for claims based on legal support; (ii) distribution of funds received on their separate accounts if the legal conditions have been met; (iii) actions which follow debt collection from the debtor, successful public bidding or sales with direct settlement; (iv) receiving enforcement requests and their electronic recording; (v) drafting data and information requests for the economic state of the debtors and electronic delivery to institutions; (vi) drafting enforcement orders over real estate and electronic submission to the public books; (vii) drafting prohibition orders on the disposal and encumbrance of securities and electronic submission to the Central Securities Depositary. Employers of debtors, the Pension and Disability Insurance Fund of North Macedonia and the carriers of payment operations are obliged to cease acting on the orders issued by the enforcement agents until 30 June 2020.
1 April 2020 Minimal salary subsidies. Companies affected by the COVID-19 crisis may request financial support from the Government in the form of one minimal salary in the amount of MKD 14,500 (approx. EUR 235) per employee for the months of April and May, in proportion to the effective hours spent at work. The exception are employees who have received a net salary higher than MKD 39,900 (approx. EUR 649) in December 2019, as well as January and February of 2020. In order to use this financial support, the companies: (i) must not pay out dividends, annual rewards and/or bonuses to their management or employees; (ii) must retain the same number of employees from the moment of applying for this measure until September 2020; (iii) must have at least 30% reduced revenue in comparison with the same period in the previous year; (iv) the average portion of the highest net salaries of 10% of the number of employees must not exceed the monthly amount of MKD 120,000 (approx. EUR 1,950) per employee. Companies which have expressed losses for 2020 shall not be obligated to return the financial support. The rest are obligated to return up to 50% of the pre-tax profit, increased for taxable expenditures. This decree has not been published yet.
31 March 2020 Financial help for sportsmen and artists. Sportsmen and artists shall receive MKD 14,500 for the months of April and May. This decree has not been published yet.
31 March 2020 Monetary compensation for citizens who are unemployed as a result of the crisis. Citizens who have lost their jobs due to the COVID-19 crisis shall receive monthly monetary compensation in the amount of 50% of their average net salary in the past 24 months in accordance with the years of service (e.g. for five years of service – monetary contributions for five months; 24 years of service – monetary contributions for 12 months, etc.) This decree has not been published yet.
31 March 2020 Minimal salary for all state officials. State and local officials shall receive a net salary in the amount of MKD 14,000 for the months of April and May. This includes the President of North Macedonia, the Prime minister of North Macedonia, all ministers, state secretaries, directors of state institutions, etc. This decree has not been published yet.
31 March 2020 Compensation for jobless citizens and citizens who were a part of the informal economy. For the months of April and May, these citizens shall receive MKD 7,000 per household. This decree has not been published yet.
31 March 2020 Delay of rent payment for social housing. Rent payment shall be delayed for all citizens who use social housing, as well as for all citizens. Rent payment delay for companies shall be additionally regulated. This decree has not been published yet.
31 March 2020 Suspension of judicial deadlines.Legal and preclusive deadlines for submission of (i) lawsuit in a litigation proceeding; (ii) private lawsuit in criminal proceedings; (iii) prosecution proposal; (iv) proposal for initiation of extra-judicial proceedings; (v) proposal for initiation of enforcement and securing claims proceedings; (vi) lawsuit in administrative proceedings; (vii) initiating proceedings before the Constitutional court; or (viii) initiation of other court proceedings stop running for the duration of the state of emergency, starting from the day of entry into force of this decree. The decree has not yet been published in the Official Gazette of North Macedonia.
30 March 2020 Curfew amendments. During the weekends it is allowed to walk the pets between 8 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. within a radius of 100 m of the place of residence.
30 March 2020 Amendments to the contractual conditions of loans. Banks and savings houses may publish the offers for the amended contractual conditions on their website, or individually notify their debtors in electronic form or in writing. If the debtor – a natural person does not notify the bank/savings house that he rejects the offer within 10 days as of the day of receiving the offer, it shall be deemed accepted. Legal entities, however, must notify the bank/savings house whether they accept or reject the offer within 10 days as of the day of receiving the offer. Otherwise, the offer shall be deemed rejected. These amended conditions are legally valid without the need to conclude a new contract or an annex to the existing contract.
27 March 2020 Vouchers granted by travel agencies. Travel agencies will be allowed to issue vouchers to clients in the amount of the paid fee for unused travel arrangements that can be used for any subsequent travel up to 31 December 2021.
27 March 2020 Amendments to the Company Law. The deadlines for holding shareholder meetings as well as yearly stockholder assemblies are prolonged for the duration of the state of emergency.
26 March 2020 State budget amendments. Activities for preparation and adoption of the Fiscal Strategy for the medium period of three years and the Final Budget Account are postponed for the duration of the state of emergency. Budget users may cut the budget approved funds through redistribute at a rate level of up to 70%.
26 March 2020 Tax exemptions. Taxpayers who generate income activity in the hospitality, tourism and transport sectors and have suffered damages due to COVID-19 shall be exempt from paying advance personal income tax and corporate income tax for the months of April, May and June, provided that they meet certain criteria. The interest rate of the amount of more or less paid taxes for each day of delay of payment is reduced to 0.015% instead of 0.3%. The Public Revenue Office shall not publish a list of debtors for the months of April, May and June 2020.
26 March 2020 Curfew amendments. All citizens have curfew from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. Persons aged 67 or older have curfew from 11 a.m. until 6 a.m. Persons aged 18 or below have curfew from 9 p.m. until 12 p.m. Public transportation is banned from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m.
25 March 2020 Open call for interest-free loans for micro, small and medium companies. The Development Bank of North Macedonia published the public call for submitting applications for direct financial support. Affected companies may start submitting their applications for 30 days starting at 00:00 a.m. on 26 March 2020. The public call may be accessed here.
25 March 2020 Suspension of enforcement procedures until 30 June 2020. Enforcement agents are obliged to cease all actions, except: (i) cases for claims based on legal support; (ii) distribution of funds received on their separate accounts if the legal conditions have been met; (iii) actions which follow debt collection from the debtor, successful public bidding or sales with direct settlement.
24 March 2020 Vouchers granted by travel agencies. Travel agencies will be allowed to issue vouchers to clients in the amount of the paid fee for unused travel arrangements that can be used for any subsequent travel up to 31 December 2021.
24 March 2020 Ban on movement in Kumanovo. Entry and exit to and from Kumanovo has been banned for city and inter-city transport.
24 March 2020 Curfew amendments. All citizens have a curfew from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. Persons aged 67 or older have a curfew from 11 a.m. until 6 a.m. Persons aged 18 or below have a curfew from 9 p.m. until 12 p.m. Public transportation is banned from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m.
23 March 2020 Suspension of bankruptcy procedures. No bankruptcy proceedings shall be opened on bankruptcy debtors for the duration of the state of emergency. All bankruptcy procedures which have commenced are delayed for the duration of the state of emergency.
23 March 2020 The customs rate import duty is abolished for all medical devices and medical supplies.
23 March 2020 Amendments to the Law on Obligations. The legal penalty interest rate is reduced by 50%. The legal penalty interest rate shall now be determined in the amount of: (i) the reference rate of the NBRM valid on the last day of the previous month; or (ii) the monthly rate of Euribor for euros which was valid on the last day of the semester preceding the current semester for monetary obligations in foreign currency, both increased for five percentual points (instead of 10) in trade agreements, i.e. four percentual points (instead of eight) for agreements where at least one person is not a merchant.
23 March 2020 Amendments to the Law on General Administrative Procedure. Deadlines determined for undertaking certain actions in the procedure, i.e. deadlines determined by the authorized official are suspended for the duration of the state of emergency. The deadlines shall be reinstituted after the expiry of the state of emergency, but only for as many days as were left over.
23 March 2020 Curfew is introduced for all persons from 9 PM to 6 AM. Exceptions: (i) persons needing urgent medical assistance; (ii) employees from public health institutions which have permission slips issued by the Ministry of Interior Affairs; (iii) members of the Ministry of Interior Affairs and members of the Army of North Macedonia; (iv) firefighters; (v) employees working the night shift at PE Communal Hygiene.
The number of pharmacies working 24/7 has been limited, and taxi companies must have on-call vehicles used only for transport to and from hospitals or pharmacies. Public transport is prohibited during curfew.
21 March 2020 Restriction of access. Public gatherings of more than five people in public places has been prohibited from 6 AM to 9 PM Factories must organize their working hours and production in line with the curfew. All stores, pharmacies and public institutions must restrict the number of people inside these objects to the number of cash registers/counters.
21 March 2020 Mandatory state quarantine. Persons entering North Macedonia through the border crossings from high, medium and low risk countries must be put in a 14-day state quarantine. Persons who have been or suspect to have been in contact with a COVID-19 infected person must self-isolate for a period of 14 days or be put in mandatory state quarantine if they break the self-isolation. All citizens of North Macedonia who have returned from abroad on organized humanitarian flights must be put in a state quarantine of at least 15 days.
21 March 2020 Prolonged validity period of expired personal documents and permits. During the state of emergency, validity of the following personal documents and permits has been prolonged: (i) expired passports and identification; (ii) temporary residence of foreigners with or without visa after the expiration of the validity of the temporary residence or visa; (iii) expired permits for temporary residence and long-term residence; and (iv) expired driver’s licenses.
20 March 2020 Frozen prices for citrus fruits. The highest price of citrus fruits is determined based on the prices which were valid between 1 January 2020 and 11 March 2020. This decision shall be valid until 30 April 2020.
20 March 2020 More favourable contractual terms for existing loans. The National Bank of North Macedonia (“NBRM”) adopted regulatory amendments where banks and savings houses may offer more favourable contractual terms for existing loans to borrowers – natural persons and legal entities who have been duly repaying their loans prior to 29 February 2020. Such favourable terms include a grace period, lower interest rate and extension of maturity, among others.
20 March 2020 Restriction of access. It is prohibited for persons and vehicles to access the park forest “Vodno” from 6pm to 6 am the next day. Group gatherings of more than five people in parks and other public places is prohibited. All supermarkets, pharmacies, banks and post offices are obliged to control the entry and the number of persons entering these objects by keeping a minimal distance of two meters between the persons inside and outside of these objects.
19 March 2020 Export restrictions. The export of wheat and wheat flour has been prohibited until 30 April 2020.
19 March 2020 Determination of highest prices of certain products. Highest prices of certain products in wholesale and retail, including those of bread, salt, sugar, oil, flour, milk and dairy, eggs, meat, pasta, medicine, personal protective gear, personal hygiene products and disinfectants are determined based on the prices which were valid on 11 March 2020. This decision shall be valid until 30 April 2020
19 March 2020 Postponement of exams. The taking of the Expert Exam, Bar Exam, Mediator Exam and Notary Exam has been postponed for the duration of the state of emergency.
19 March 2020 North Macedonia declared a state of emergency. The duration of the state of emergency shall be 30 days.
18 March 2020 Prohibited entry for the next three months for citizens who choose to travel abroad. Every person who leaves the territory of North Macedonia must sign a statement that they commit to not return to North Macedonia in the following three months. Exceptions: (i) cargo vehicles who cross the borders to and from North Macedonia every day; and (ii) citizens who leave the territory of North Macedonia due to health problems or treatment abroad.
18 March 2020 Organized return flight for citizens who are abroad and want to return to North Macedonia. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is obliged to determine how many citizens of North Macedonia are currently abroad, which wish to return to the country. These citizens should return via a specially organized charter flight. This shall be the last measure which the Government of North Macedonia shall undertake for its citizens which are outside of the territory of North Macedonia.
18 March 2020 Economic measures for mitigating the consequences of the COVID-19 outbreak. Micro, small and medium companies whose businesses are affected by COVID-19 can obtain interest-free loans from the Development Bank of North Macedonia and repay them in two years. For the months of April, May and June 2020, companies from the tourist, hospitality and transport sectors, as well as affected companies can receive subsidies for salary contributions. These subsidies shall be in the amount of up to 50% of the average salary paid in 2019 per employee, provided they fulfil certain conditions. The Ministry of Finance additionally announced the reduction of statutory default interest and penalty interest of public duties for 50%.
18 March 2020 Entry into North Macedonia is prohibited to all foreign nationals. Exceptions: entry allowed only to (i) Macedonian citizens, (ii) entry and transit of cargo vehicles, (iii) diplomats, and (iv) other persons who have permission from the Ministry of Interior Affairs. The airport „St. Paul“ in Ohrid is completely closed, and the International Airport Skopje allows only state, military, humanitarian, hospital, cargo and flights without passengers.
16 March 2020 Prohibited mass gatherings. All mass gatherings and indoor and outdoor events, as well as all cultural events and manifestations for more than 1000 people across the territory of North Macedonia are prohibited. All cinemas, theatres, museums, playgrounds and other institutions where mass gatherings can be held are closed. All cafes, restaurants, bars, clubs, casinos and sports betting objects are completely closed. All stores in closed-type shopping malls are completely closed, except for supermarkets and pharmacies.
14 March 2020 Recommended to work from home. The Government of North Macedonia strongly recommended that employers should organize work from home for their employees. If this is not possible, the employers should undertake all necessary measures to ensure H&S at work in light of the COVID-19 outbreak (limited number of persons in the same room, personal protective equipment and similar).
14 March 2020 Mandatory self-isolation. Mandatory self-isolation is introduced for citizens of North Macedonia returning from high and medium risk countries in a period of 14 days. Upon entering the country, the citizens must sign a statement under full moral, material and criminal liability that they will self-isolate for 14 days.
13 March 2020 Declared crisis state on two territories. A crisis state has been declared on the territory of Debar and Centar Zhupa where local transmission of the Coronavirus – COVID19 has been observed.
13 March 2020 Parents of children aged under 10 years are exempt from the work process. Due to the suspension of the educational process, one of the parents of children aged under 10 (including single parents) is exempt from work and work duties, and their absence should be recorded as justified by their employer. These employees are obligated to provide proof that they meet this criteria (such as certificate issued from kindergartens or payment order for paid fee for kindergarten stay, copy from passport or copy from a birth certificate to prove the child’s age, certificate from educational institutions that the child regularly attends classes or copy from the child’s report card). Additionally, employees must submit a statement that they will use such absence, and that they will be available to work from home if the employer requires them to do so. In urgent situations, these employees may be required to be physically present at their workplace, in a period of two or three hours.
11 March 2020 Pregnant women and people with chronical illness. It is recommended for pregnant women and those who are chronically ill to be exempt from their work duties and stay at home. Those who are chronically ill should obtain a certificate from their general practitioner.
10 March 2020 Sanctions for non-compliance with the measures and restrictions. Individuals and legal entities that fail to honour and violate recommendations issued by the Government could be sanctioned under Articles 205 and 206 of the Criminal Code (Transmitting an infectious disease and Not acting according to health regulations during an epidemic, respectively).
10 March 2020 Prohibition of organized bus transport to high risk countries. Organised international bus transport (bus, van, minibus etc.) to high risk countries, as well as from such countries to North Macedonia is prohibited.
10 March 2020 Serbia
Public gatherings in closed and open spaces. The number of people at public gatherings is limited to 100. Protective measures must be undertaken and the distance between persons should be at least 2m.
21 May 2020 Status of foreign nationals. The new decision prescribes that foreign nationals whose temporary residence expired after the declaration of the state of emergency may enter Serbia until 1 July 2020 and file a request for extension of temporary residence within 30 days as of the entry. Until the procedure upon such a request is completed, these persons may lawfully reside in Serbia.
The provision of a previous regulation that is still in force prescribes that procedures for determination of the status of foreign nationals which have not been commenced during the state of emergency shall be commenced within 30 days as of the ending of the state of emergency.
21 May 2020 Persons being treated from Covid-19. Persons infected with Covid-19 are directed to isolation and treatment in objects specially designated and equipped for isolation and treatment.
Persons who, after isolation and treatment of Covid19, have one negative test will be released for home treatment. These persons must remain in self-isolation (at home) for additional 14 days, after which they should take another test at a health institution at their place of residence.
21 May 2020 Entry of residents. Serbian citizens, foreign nationals who have been granted temporary residence or permanent residence and diplomats who enter Serbia will not be subjected to self-isolation (at home) for 14 days or to another health surveillance measure determined by the Minister of Health if they: (i) possess a negative PCR test for Covid-19 not older than 72 hours, issued by a referent laboratory of the country from which they come from; or (ii) have spent less than 72 hours abroad and show no symptoms of Covid-19. Children under 12 do not need to have a negative Covid-19 test if the accompanying parent, guardian, or person living in the same household possesses such negative test.
21 May 2020 Termination of self-isolation upon entry. Previously imposed measures of self-isolation (at home) in the duration of 14 days upon entry to Serbia which have not yet expired are terminated.
21 May 2020 Entry to Serbia is allowed to all persons.
21 May 2020 Public services, Business Registers Agency, counters of the Ministry of Interior, Courts, Cadastre operate in normal regime.
12 May 2020 Courts operate in normal regime. Special protective measures apply.
11 May 2020 Elections. Parliamentary, provincial, and local elections procedures continue.
It has been announced that parliamentary elections will be held on 21 June 2020.
6 May 2020 The Parliament ended the state of emergency.
The measures introduced by regulations adopted by the Government and co-signed by the President that are no longer in effect include:
- curfew;
- prohibition on gathering in closed and open spaces;
- prohibition on air, road, railway and waterway transport;
- duty to enable remote work when this is prescribed in general enactment of employment agreement;
- delay of enforcement against persons with deferred payment of tax and reduced interest for late payment of tax;
- extension of deadlines in court proceedings;
- presence in criminal proceedings hearings through audio-visual means;
- special regime concerning transport documentation.
The measures introduced by regulations adopted by the Government and co-signed by the President that continue applying until respective laws are adopted include:
- extended deadlines in administrative proceedings;
- simplified procedure for issuance of debt securities;
- financial support measures;
- extended deadlines for general meetings, submission of financial statements and tax returns;
- extended deadline for hiring persons who may be as considered qualified employees.
The effectiveness of measures prescribed in regulations that were not adopted by the Government and co-signed by the President depends on the terms of such respective regulations.
6 May 2020 Export of protective equipment to the EU is permitted.
30 April 2020 Reopening of restaurants and cafes. Sale of food and drinks may continue in closed and open spaces of restaurants, cafes, fast-food, bars, etc. All prescribed protective measures need to be undertaken, and a special plan of implementation of measures, which constitutes an integral part of the Act on Risk Assessment, should be adopted
30 April 2020 Reopening of shops in shopping malls. All shops inside shopping malls and similar objects are permitted to operate as of 8 May. All prescribed protective measures need to be undertaken, and a special plan of implementation of measures, which constitutes an integral part of the Act on Risk Assessment, should be adopted.
30 April 2020 Reopening of bus and railway transport. Bus and railway transport shall continue: (i) on 4 May for intercity transport; and (ii) on 8 May for city transport. Special protective measures will be undertaken.
30 April 2020 Visits to public parks and public areas intended for recreation and sports are permitted again. Protective measures must be complied with: distance of at least 2m for persons which are not members of the same household; use of gloves; disinfection of equipment for exercise or other equipment prior to using it.
30 April 2020 Travel arrangements. The organizer of a travel arrangement may offer to a passenger a replacement for those travel arrangements which are cancelled or not realized due to Covid-19 and fully or partially paid until 15 March 2020, regardless of the period of realization of the travel. Such replacement travels may be realized within one year as of the offer, but in any case, not later than 31 December 2021. Passengers who instead of a replacement journey opt for a refund shall receive their funds within the period of 14 days as of 31 December 2021.
30 April 2020 The Government has lifted the ban on moving outside the municipality of permanent or temporary residence as of 30 April.
29 April 2020 Reopening of hairdresser, cosmetic and similar services. Companies, other legal entities and entrepreneurs may conduct activities of providing hairdresser and cosmetic services, pedicures, manicures, services of fitness clubs and gyms, activities of Turkish baths, saunas and steam baths, solariums, slimming salons, massage parlors and other services for the care, maintenance and beautification of faces and bodies where the nature of the service is such that it requires close contact between the service provider and the user, as well as between the users themselves. All prescribed protective measures need to be undertaken, and a special plan of implementation of measures, which constitutes an integral part of the Act on Risk Assessment, should be adopted.
27 April 2020 Reopening of games of chance. Organizing special and classic games of chance is permitted in objects smaller than 400m2. All prescribed protective measures need to be undertaken, and a special plan of implementation of measures, which constitutes an integral part of the Act on Risk Assessment, should be adopted.
27 April 2020 The Crisis Staff recommends all employers to continue operations in full capacity. All protective measures need to be undertaken.
24 April 2020 No more prohibition on export of medicines.
24 April 2020 Exception from the measure of self-isolation for certain persons. The measure of self-isolation (at home) for persons entering Serbia in the duration of 14 days or another health surveillance measure determined by the Minister of Health does not apply to (i) nationals and foreigners which conduct agricultural works or have agricultural land on the territory of a neighbouring country; (ii) nationals employed in a neighbouring country which possess evidence on work engagement and foreigners employed in Serbia with a working permit.
24 April 2020 Entry of residents. Serbian citizens and foreign nationals who have been granted temporary residence or permanent residence who enter Serbia are subjected to self-isolation (at home) for 14 days or to another health surveillance measure determined by the Minister of Health.
24 April 2020 Curfew.
Persons under 65. The curfew applies every day from 6 PM until 5 AM, and 24/7 during Saturdays and Sundays. In addition, there is also an all-day curfew on Friday 1 May 2020. These persons may walk their pets every day from 11 PM until 1 AM on the following day, and on Saturdays, Sundays and 1 May also from 8 AM until 10 AM, for 20 minutes, within the range of 200m from the place of residence.
Persons aged 65 or more (in urban areas) or 70 or more (in rural areas). The curfew applies every day from 1 AM until 6 PM, except on Fridays from 4 AM until 7 AM for buying food. Movement is allowed for 60 minutes, in the range of 600m from the place of residence. Persons working for state, autonomous province or municipal authorities may obtain a permission for movement during the curfew hours if their presence is necessary for conducting work and if all protective measures are in place.
Exceptions from the curfew include: (i) licenced health workers; (ii) personnel of Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Defense, intelligence agencies and military; (iii) persons licenced by the Ministry of Interior; (iv) crews of cargo motor vehicles, cargo ships, trains and airplanes conducting international transport; and (v) persons in need of immediate health assistance, accompanied by a maximum of two persons.
The curfew does not apply to construction workers.
Movement during the curfew is allowed for persons who suffer from developmental disabilities or autism, accompanied by one parent or guardian, within the range of 200m from the place of residence. Persons who are not able to move independently may be accompanied by one person during the hours when movement is allowed.
Aside from violation of the curfew being a criminal offense, the monetary penalty for misdemeanour is introduced in the amount of in between approx. 400 EUR and 1,250 EUR.
24 April 2020 Extension of the deadline for hiring persons who may be as considered qualified employees. The deadline for hiring certain categories of persons who have not been in an employment relationship and who may acquire the status of qualified employees is extended to 60 days as of the cessation of the state of emergency.
24 April 2020 Exception from the measure of self-isolation for certain persons. The measure of self-isolation (at home) for persons entering Serbia in the duration of 28 days or another health surveillance measure determined by the Minister of Health does not apply to (i) nationals and foreigners which conduct agricultural works and have agricultural land on the territory of a neighbouring country, who must report crossing the border to the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management; (ii) nationals employed in a neighbouring country and foreigners employed in Serbia with a working permit, who must report crossing the border to the National Employment Service.
22 April 2020 Supply of masks and gloves. The National Health Insurance Fund delivers masks and gloves to legal entities which distribute protective equipment, based on orders (i) for at least 500,000 masks, whereby the distributors must deliver a list of legal entities which operate in the retail; or (ii) for their own needs, or for the needs of other legal entities with the aim of protecting employees and complying with the prescribed measures, whereby the distributors must deliver a list of such legal entities interested. The Government approves and sets the conditions for the delivery.
Retail. In retail, the maximum price of a mask may be approx. 1 EUR and epidemiological mask approx. 1.6 EUR, with one person being allowed to buy 10 masks at once. The maximum price of gloves in retail may be approx. 0,3 EUR, with one person being allowed to buy 10 pairs at once. The quantity restriction also applies when masks and gloves are being bought for legal entities.
Tax exemption: The delivery of masks and gloves by the National Health Insurance Fund to legal entities is exempted from the VAT with the right to preliminary tax deduction.
22 April 2020 Annex of the Special Collective Agreement for public health institutions. Employees of public health institutions have the right to reimbursement of full salary if the temporary disability for work occurred due to confirmed infection with Covid-19 or due to a measure of isolation imposed in relation to such disease, in connection to direct exposure to risk at work.
20 April 2020 The Government supports reopening of certain businesses. The Government adopted a Conclusion by which it supports the following businesses to continue working in full capacity starting from 21 April: (i) construction; (ii) services (e.g. mechanics, dry cleaning); and (iii) retail commerce (e.g. bookshops, sales of cars, bikes, construction material). The prohibition for businesses where many people gather in closed spaces (e.g. shopping malls) or where the provider of the service and the customer are in close contact (e.g. hairdressers, beauty parlors, gyms) continues. The Government also supports the markets in open and closed space (srb. pijace) to continue working. Employers and market managers are obliged to undertake all preventive measures (social distancing, disinfection, protective equipment, limited number of persons in closed spaces) and to adopt a special plan of implementation of measures, which constitutes an integral part of the Act on Risk Assessment, and employees, customers as well as users of the markets are obliged to comply with instructions.
20 April 2020 Curfew for all persons from 6 PM – 5 AM and 24/7 on weekends. Everyday curfew for all persons lasts from 6 PM – 5 AM, and on weekends from 6 PM on Friday until 5 AM on Monday. Movement during the curfew is allowed for persons who suffer from developmental disabilities or autism, accompanied by one parent or guardian, within the range of 200m from the place of residence. Persons who are not able to move independently may be accompanied by one person during the hours when movement is allowed. Persons younger than 65 may walk their pets every day from 11 PM until 1 AM on the following day, and on Saturday and Sunday also from 8 AM until 10 AM, for 20 minutes, within the range of 200m from the place of residence.
Persons aged 65 or more (in urban areas) or 70 or more (in rural areas) have an all-day curfew. Movement for these persons is allowed on Tuesday, Friday and Sunday in the period from 6 PM until 1 AM of the next day in the duration of 30 minutes in the range of 600m from the place of residence, as well as on Friday from 4 AM until 7 AM for buying food.
The curfew does not apply to construction workers.
Exceptions from the curfew include: (i) licenced health workers; (ii) personnel of Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Defense, intelligence agencies and military; (iii) persons licenced by the Ministry of Interior; and (iv) persons in need of immediate health assistance, accompanied by maximum of two persons.
Aside from violation of the curfew being a criminal offense, monetary penalty for misdemeanour is introduced in the amount of in between approx. 400 EUR and 1,250 EUR.
20 April 2020 Adoption of a Regulation on Determination of the Guarantee Scheme as a Measure of Support for the Economy. If fulfilling certain conditions set out in the Regulation, credits secured by guarantees from the guarantee scheme may be utilized by persons seated in the Republic of Serbia, including farms, registered in the Business Registers Agency and classified as entrepreneur or micro, small or medium enterprise, as well as persons to whom in accordance with credit policy of the bank a new or renewal of existing credit for which the Republic of Serbia may guarantee has been approved. The Republic of Serbia may guarantee for credits for financing liquidity and working capital, and the credit may not be used for refinancing or prepayment of undue instalments of existing credits in banks’ portfolio, nor for refinancing of credits provided by other banks. Aside from fulfilling other conditions under the Regulation, the credit agreement must be entered into before 31 December 2020 and the credit must be approved before 31 January 2021. Repayment period is up to 36 months as of the approval, including grace period of from 9 to 12 months.
16 April 2020 Extension of deadlines for general meetings, submission of financial statements and tax returns, and others.
The deadline for holding an ordinary general meeting is extended for 90 days after the state of emergency ceases.
The deadline for submission of annual statements and audited annual financial statements for entities subject to the Law on the Capital Market, Law on Investment Funds, and Law on Open-ended Investment Funds Subject to Public Offering is extended for 60 days after the state of emergency ceases.
The deadline for filling annual financial statements is extended for 90 days after the state of emergency ceases. The extension is also applicable for entities whose business year is different from calendar year, if the deadline for filling their financial statements expires during the state of emergency. The deadline for filling consolidated annual financial statements is extended for 120 days after the state of emergency ceases. The deadline for filling extraordinary financial statements is extended for 30 days after the state of emergency ceases, if the deadline for such filling expires during the state of emergency.
The deadline for filing tax return for corporate income tax is extended for 90 days after the state of emergency ceases for taxpayers whose tax period matches the calendar year, as well as for taxpayers whose tax period is different than the calendar year if the deadline for such filling expires during the state of emergency. The deadline for filling tax return and tax balance for income from self-employment is extended for 90 days after the state of emergency ceases for entrepreneurs who have double-entry or single-entry bookkeeping.
Deadlines concerning issuance, extension and termination of auditor’s licence which expire during the state of emergency will be considered expired upon 30 days after the state of emergency ceases. All issued licences continue to be valid until this date. Deadlines concerning issuance and renewal of real estate evaluator’s licence which expire during the state of emergency or after 30 days after the state of emergency ceases will be considered expired upon 60 days after the state of emergency ceases.
16 April 2020 Adoption of a Regulation on Monetary Aid for Farms. Beneficiaries of monetary aid are legal entities, entrepreneurs and holders of commercial family farms registered with the Registry of Farms and having an active status if they fulfil one of specific conditions: (i) possess registered areas under cultivation of vegetables in a protected area (in the maximum amount of cca. EUR 750); (ii) own of a cow which is marked and registered in the Central Animal Labelling Database or the cow owner is a member of his family farm (in the maximum amount of cca. EUR 250); (iii) own a sheep or goat which is marked and registered at the Central Animal Labelling Database or the owner of a sheep or goat is a member of his family farm (in the maximum amount of cca. EUR 170); or (iv) own a bee hive that is marked and registered at the Central Animal Labelling Database or the owner of the bee hive is a member of his family farm and the owner of the bee hive is 70 years of age or older in 2020 (in the maximum amount of cca. EUR 170).
16 April 2020 Adoption of a Regulation on Financial Support for Farms through Facilitating Access to Credit. The financial support is intended to facilitate access to loans by covering part of the interest for: (i) the development of animal husbandry, which covers the procurement of animals and the animal insurance premium prescribed by the regulation; (ii) development of arable farming, fruit growing, viticulture, vegetable growing and floriculture; (iii) investment in agricultural machinery and equipment; (iv) procurement of animal feed; (v) investment in certain types of machinery and equipment used in crop production; and (vi) liquidity. Persons who may benefit from the support are: (i) natural persons – holders of commercial family farms; (ii) entrepreneurs; and (iii) legal entities: a) agricultural cooperative with a minimum of 5 members who are registered as holders or members of 5 different registered farms; and b) micro and small legal entities. These persons have to be registered with active status and fulfil specific requirements under the Regulation. The maximum amount of the loan is cca. EUR 50,000 for natural persons and entrepreneurs and cca. EUR 150,000 for legal entities. Loans for liquidity are limited to cca. EUR 25,000.
16 April 2020 The National Bank of Serbia recommends insurance companies to enable delayed payments of due premiums. The insurance companies are encouraged to enable such delayed payments without reducing the rights of insured persons stemming from their insurance agreements. Interest should not apply, and the unsettled due premiums ought to be distributed throughout the rest of the contractual period.
15 April 2020 Prohibition of export of medicines. Export and re-export of medicines are forbidden, except: (i) when medicines are produced in Serbia but are not registered in Serbia, i.e. those which are produced exclusively for foreign markets; (ii) when a foreign person is delivering medicines in transit procedure from customs area in Serbia. The prohibition lasts for 30 days.
As an exception, export and re-export may be permitted by a special act of the Government.
Domestic producers, importers, and exporters of medicines are obliged to undertake, through a statement of a responsible person, to continuously and uninterruptedly supply the Serbian market with all medicines which they produce or import.
15 April 2020 Adoption of a regulation concerning transport documentation. During the state of emergency, goods in transit must be accompanied by documents directly related to their carriage and containing in particular: the number and date of the document, business name, address, TIN or company number or number of the farm, i.e. the number from the relevant register of the supplier, recipient and carrier (if any), place and address of the facility from which it is delivered and to which it is delivered, name and surname of the responsible persons of the supplier and carrier, name of the goods and quantity. Supplier, recipient and carrier (if any) may consensually determine the manner of confirmation of delivery.
14 April 2020 Adoption of a regulation concerning road transport. The regulation prescribes, among other, that CEMT permits which expired after 12 March 2020 will be considered valid until 29 June 2020 and that transport vehicles registered with the Ministry as vehicles used on the basis of financial leasing or lease, which expired or will expire during the state of emergency, continue to use such vehicles until the cessation of the state of emergency, if the transporter does not require change of such basis of use.
14 April 2020 Serbian Export Credit and Insurance Agency introduces moratorium. The Agency provides a moratorium on due and undue receivables until the end of the year, except for debtors subject to consensual financial restructuring, bankruptcy, liquidation, or those borrowers for whom the Executive Board of the Agency issued a decision on commencement of judicial enforcement before 31 March 2020. Debtors whose accounts have been blocked on the basis of bills of exchange will be unblocked, if the blockade has occurred for instalments due in 2020 and only by the Agency. During the moratorium, there will be no enforcement, and default interest will not accrue. After the moratorium, the Agency shall conclude annexes of the agreements by which it will regulate the manner of payment of entire outstanding due and undue debt in 24 monthly instalments, including grace period of 3 months, with 2,5% annual interest rate. Those who do not wish to utilize the moratorium ought to deliver a statement to the Agency until 24 April 2020 at latest.
11 April 2020 New decision on prohibition of the export of basic products. Export of certain basic food items (e.g. sunflower oil), protective personal equipment and cleaning items has been prohibited for 30 days. The export of commercial corn from season 2019 is restricted to 400,000 tons. The Government may grant permission for export through a special act.
10 April 2020 Simplified procedure for issuance of debt securities. The procedure of issuance of debt securities is simplified during the state of emergency and 180 after its cessation, e.g. the prospect is drawn as a single document, without the summary prospect; there is no need to submit documents containing certain publicly available information, it is enough to provide a link to a website where this information may be found. The Securities Commission issues a decision within 10 working days. Within 15 days, the Commission will issue a simplified form and minimum contents that ought to be included in the prospect.
10 April 2020 Adoption of the Regulation on Determination of the Programme of Financial Support to Business Entities for Preserving Liquidity and Working Capital. The programme pertains to providing loans to entrepreneurs, cooperatives, micro, small and medium enterprises which are majority privately or cooperatively owned and which conduct production, service, trade or agricultural activities, excluding the organization of games of chance, trade of oil and oil derivatives and production and trade of product or activity which is considered prohibited. The repayment period is up to 36 months, including grace period of up to 12 months, and the interest rate is 1% annually.
10 April 2020 Adoption of the Regulation on Fiscal Incentives and Direct Payments to Business Entities in the Private Sector and Monetary Aid to Citizens for Mitigating the Economic impact of COVID-19.
Beneficiaries. Business entities in the private sector registered before 15 March 2020 may utilize fiscal incentives and direct payments if from 15 March 2020 until 10 April 2020 they have not reduced the number of employees for more than 10%. Entrepreneurs, farmers, and entrepreneurs paying lump-sum tax who temporarily interrupted their activities before 15 March 2020 are not eligible.
Fiscal incentives. For legal entities, including branches and representative offices of foreign legal entities, the maturity of the following obligations may be delayed: (i) taxes and mandatory social contributions on salaries and reimbursement of salaries for 4 January 2021; (ii) advances on corporate income tax for March, April, and May until the submission of the final tax return. Payment of such delayed obligations will be made in 24 monthly instalments without any interest applying. The above rules for legal entities apply accordingly to entrepreneurs and farmers. The incentive does not apply to banks, insurance and reinsurance companies, voluntary pension fund management companies, financial leasing companies, payment institutions, and e-money institutions.
Direct payments. Entrepreneurs, entrepreneurs paying lump-sum taxes, farmers, other entrepreneurs and micro, small and medium-sized enterprises may receive non-repayable payments for May, June, and July calculated by multiplying the number of employees with the amount of base minimum net salary for March 2020.
Large enterprises may receive non-repayable payments in the amount calculated by multiplying the amount of base minimum net salary for March 2020 with the sum of the number of workers whose work has been interrupted without their fault and the number of workers whose work was interrupted at the order of state authority or employer due to failure to ensure H&S. The aid is payable in May, June, and July. Banks, insurance and reinsurance companies, voluntary pension fund management companies, financial leasing companies, payment institutions and e-money institutions are not eligible.
Business entities lose the right to fiscal incentives and direct payments if from 15 March 2020 until the passage of three months as of the last received direct payment they reduce the number of employees for 10% or more. In this case, they are obliged to, within 5 days (i) pay all delayed obligations with interest in accordance with the law; and (ii) repay direct payments with interest.
Deduction of VAT. VAT is not payable on donations to the Ministry of Health, National Health Insurance Fund or public health institution, and the taxpayer has the right to a deduction on the basis of such donations made from 15 March 2020 until the state of emergency ceases.
Direct payment to citizens. Upon the cessation of the state of emergency, every citizen of legal age will receive EUR 100.
Prohibition of payment of dividends. Business entities that utilize fiscal incentives and direct payments may not pay dividends until the end of 2020. The prohibition does not apply to the payment in the company’s shares.
10 April 2020 NBS reduces the reference rate from 1.75% to 1.5%.
9 April 2020 Curfew for all persons from 5 PM – 5 AM and 24/7 on weekends. Everyday curfew for all persons lasts from 5 PM – 5 AM, and on weekends from 5 PM on Friday until 5 AM on Monday. Owners may walk their pets every day from 11 PM until 1 AM on the following day, and on Saturday and Sunday also from 8 AM until 10 AM, for 20 minutes, within the range of 200m from the place of residence.
Persons aged 65 or more (in urban areas) or 70 or more (in rural areas) have an all-day curfew, except on Friday from 4 AM until 7 AM when they may buy food.
Exceptions from the curfew include: (i) licenced health workers; (ii) personnel of Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Defense, intelligence agencies and military; (iii) persons licenced by the Ministry of Interior; and (iv) persons in need of immediate health assistance, accompanied by a maximum of two persons.
Aside from violation of the curfew being a criminal offense, monetary penalty for misdemeanour is introduced in the amount of in between approx. 400 EUR and 1,250 EUR.
9 April 2020 Recommendation to employers regarding annual leave. Employers are recommended to enable the employees (i) who work regularly during the state of emergency, to use the remaining part of their annual leave for 2019 until 31 December 2020; and (ii) who work remotely during the state of emergency, to use the remaining part of their annual leave for 2019 in accordance with the law, i.e. until 30 June 2020. Employers which are unable to organize the process of work during the state of emergency are recommended to give advantage to the employees’ annual leave when directing employees to a leave of absence, in accordance with the law.
7 April 2020 Coordination body for implementation of economic package for support to the economy is formed
7 April 2020 Announced postponement of payment of rent for the City of Belgrade’s office spaces. It has been announced that the city will not charge rent for office spaces during the state of emergency. The tenants will be able to decide within 30 days after the state of emergency ceases whether they prefer: (i) to pay the rent until 31 December 2020, with 50% discount; or (ii) to pay the entire rent in annuities during 2021.
5 April 2020 Gatherings at open public spaces. No more than two persons are allowed to gather at open public spaces. The prohibition does not apply for parents with underage children.
3 April 2020 Curfew for all persons from 5 PM – 5 AM. On weekends the curfew lasts from 1 PM on Saturdays until 5 AM on Mondays. Owners may walk their pets from 11 PM until 1 AM on the following day, and on Sundays from 8 AM until 10 AM, for 20 minutes, within the range of 200m from the place of residence.
Persons aged 65 or more (in urban areas) or 70 or more (in rural areas) have an all-day curfew, except on Saturday from 4 AM until 7 AM.
Exceptions from the curfew include: (i) licenced health workers; (ii) personnel of Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Defense, intelligence agencies and military; (iii) persons licenced by the Ministry of Interior; and (iv) persons in need of immediate health assistance, accompanied by maximum of two persons.
Aside from violation of the curfew being a criminal offense, monetary penalty for misdemeanour is introduced in the amount of in between approx. 400 EUR and 1,250 EUR.
3 April 2020 Recommendation to employers to reimburse 100% of the salary to persons in self-isolation or infected with Covid-19 due to the direct exposure at work. All employers whose workers are temporarily absent due to confirmed Covid-19 or are subjected to self-isolation or isolation due to the disease, which occurred due to direct exposure to the risk at work, are recommended to amend their general enactments, employment agreements or other acts, so as to reimburse 100% of their salary.
The employers are recommended (i) to ensure the reimbursement of salaries for the first 30 days of absence; (ii) starting from 31st day of absence, to utilize means obtained from the mandatory health insurance in the amount prescribed by law, and to compensate the difference needed for the reimbursement of 100% of salaries at their own expense.
The absence from work due to Covid-19 is proved with a decision of the competent authority (sanitary inspector, authority competent for the control of state border, customs authority, excerpt from the records of the Ministry of Interior, etc.) or with a doctor’s report on temporary inability to work.
All citizens may file a Request for Issuance of a Certificate of Isolation, available here.
3 April 2020 Announced changes to rules on gatherings. No more than two persons will be allowed to gather at one place.
2 April 2020 Announced changes to the curfew hours. Curfew is announced from 1 PM on Saturday until 5 AM on Monday, while pet owners may walk their pets within the range of 200m between 11 PM on Saturday and 1 AM on Sunday. Retirees will still be able to do shopping on Sunday between 4 AM and 7 AM.
2 April 2020 Prohibition of games of chance. Organizing special and classic games of chance is prohibited, except through means of electronic communication, such as the Internet, mobile phone, television, radio, SMS or other.
1 April 2020 Persons under health surveillance who need to leave Serbia. The sanitary inspector may allow persons who, upon their arrival to Serbia or after contact with an infected person were subjected to self-isolation (at home), who need to leave Serbia before the expiry of the determined measure, to leave if until submitting the request such persons did not develop any symptoms of the disease. The deadline for deciding on the request is 24h.
1 April 2020 Health care and other workers with no symptoms of COVID-19 to return to work. Health care workers who, upon their return to Serbia or after contact with an infected person were subjected to health surveillance, and who do not develop any symptoms of the disease, are obliged to, after 14 days and one negative test conducted on the 14th day after the measure was imposed, contact the health institutions in which they work for continuation of their work obligations.
The above rule applies also to health workers in military health institutions and members of the Serbian Armed Forces, members of the Ministry of Interior and security services and employees of prisons – in the treatment, security, training and employment services, and for health care.
1 April 2020 Self-isolation of persons cured from COVID-19. Persons who, after isolation and treatment of the disease, had two consecutive negative test results shall be released for home treatment. These persons must remain in self-isolation (at home) for an additional 14 days.
1 April 2020 Prohibition of hairdresser, cosmetic and similar services. Companies, other legal entities, and entrepreneurs are forbidden to conduct the activity of providing hairdresser and cosmetic services, pedicures, manicures, services of fitness clubs and gyms, activities of Turkish baths, saunas and steam baths, solariums, slimming salons, massage parlors and other services for the care, maintenance and beautification of faces and bodies where the nature of the service is such that it requires close contact between the service provider and the user, as well as between the users themselves.
1 April 2020 Criminal proceedings. When the judge in the first instance criminal proceedings finds that, due to the disease, it is difficult to ensure the presence at the hearing of the detained suspect, it may decide that the participation of the suspect is enabled through audio-visual means, if this is technically possible.
1 April 2020 Economic package for supporting to the economy is announced. The package worth 5,1 billion EUR should be implemented through 4 groups of measures:
(i) Fiscal policy: payment of salary tax and contributions for the private sector during the state of emergency is postponed for 2021; payment of advance corporate income tax for the second quarter of this year is postponed; providers of donations are exempted from paying the VAT.
(ii) Direct aid to the private sector: direct aid to entrepreneurs paying lump sum tax and entrepreneurs paying tax on actual revenue, micro, small and medium enterprises in the private sector – payment of aid in the amount of three minimum salaries (250 EUR) for every employee; direct aid to large enterprises in the private sector – payment of aid in the amount of 50% of net minimum salary for employees whose work is interrupted without their fault or at the order of a state authority or employer due to failure to ensure H&S. A moratorium on payments of dividends until 2020 will be introduced.
(iii) Preservation of liquidity: financial support for the economy by the Development fund for Entrepreneurs, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Farms and Cooperatives; guarantee scheme for supporting the economy during Covid-19 crisis for loans for preserving liquidity and working capital for entrepreneurs, micro, small and medium enterprises, farms, through commercial banks.
(iv) Direct aid to citizens: 100 EUR for every citizen of legal age (18 and above).
The measures will apply to all business entities, except from those which: (i) reduced the number of employees during the state of emergency for more than 10% (not including those employed for definite amount of time whose contract has expired during the state of emergency); or (ii) temporarily interrupted operations before the declaration of the state of emergency, i.e. before 15 March 2020.
31 March 2020 Entry of residents who have symptoms of COVID-19. Persons who enter Serbia, which have symptoms of COVID-19, are immediately directed to appropriate health institutions. These persons are isolated and treated in objects specially designated and equipped for isolation and treatment, and are obliged to accept such isolation and comply with measures and instructions, under the threat of coercive measures.
31 March 2020 Entry of residents. Serbian citizens and foreign nationals who have been granted temporary residence or permanent residence who enter Serbia are subjected to self-isolation (at home) for 28 days or to another health surveillance measure determined by the Minister of Health.
31 March 2020 Higher salaries for health care workers. Health care workers have the right to an additional 10 % of the amount of base salary. This measure will apply until there are conditions to alter the elements for calculation and payment of base salary in accordance with the law.
31 March 2020 Supply of masks and gloves. The National Health Insurance Fund delivers masks and gloves to legal entities that distribute protective equipment, based on orders for at least 500,000 masks, whereby the distributors must deliver a list of legal entities that operate in the retail. The Government approves and sets the conditions for the delivery.
Retail. The maximum price of a mask in retail may be approx. 1 EUR, with one person being allowed to buy 10 masks at once, while the maximum price of gloves in retail may be approx. 0,3 EUR, with one person being allowed to buy 10 pairs at once. The quantity restriction also applies when masks and gloves are being bought for legal entities.
Tax exemption: The delivery of masks and gloves by the National Health Insurance Fund to legal entities is exempted from the VAT with the right to preliminary tax deduction.
31 March 2020 Adoption of economic measures has been announced for 31 March 2020.
The following has been announced: (i) the state has appropriated 700 million EUR for helping micro and small enterprises. It will pay every entrepreneur a minimum salary (250 EUR) for every employee for 3 months, i.e. 750 EUR in total, under the condition that they have not fired more than 10% of employees. The payments could be expected in about 2 months; (ii) payment of taxes, contributions and advance corporate income tax will be postponed for 2021; (iii) there will be a special guarantee fund and around 550 million EUR will be provided for subsidized loans. The interest shall be 3,56 or 3,57 on amounts in RSD. Additional funding shall be provided through the Development Fund, with 1% interest and grace period from 9 to 12 months; (iv) introduction of company bonds for medium and large enterprises.
29 March 2020 Prohibition of export of medicines. Export and re-export of medicines are forbidden, except: (i) when medicines are produced in Serbia but are not registered in Serbia, i.e. those which are produced exclusively for foreign markets; (ii) when a foreign person is delivering medicines in transit procedure from customs area in Serbia. The prohibition lasts until 18 April 2020.
As an exception, export and re-export may be permitted by a special act of the Government.
Domestic producers, importers, and exporters of medicines are obliged to undertake, through a statement of a responsible person, to continuously and uninterruptedly supply the Serbian market with all medicines which they produce or import.
28 March 2020 Curfew is introduced for all persons from 5 PM – 5 AM. On Saturdays, the curfew lasts from 3 PM to 3 AM and on Sundays from 3 PM until 5 AM.
Persons aged 65 or more (in urban areas) or 70 or more (in rural areas) have an all-day curfew, except on Sundays from 3 AM until 8 AM.
Exceptions from the curfew include: (i) licenced health workers; (ii) personnel of Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Defense, intelligence agencies and military; (iii) persons licenced by the Ministry of Interior; and (iv) persons in need of immediate health assistance, accompanied by a maximum of two persons.
Aside from violation of the curfew being a criminal offense, the monetary penalty for misdemeanour is introduced in the amount from approx. 400 EUR to 1,250 EUR.
28 March 2020 Extension of self-isolation. The previous measure of self-isolation (at home) for 14 days which has not expired as of 28 March 2020 is extended for an additional 14 days, counting from the date of expiry of such previous measure.
28 March 2020 Persons diagnosed with COVID-19.Persons having COVID-19, i.e. persons to whom the presence of the virus has been determined by testing are isolated and treated in objects specially designated and equipped for isolation and treatment. These persons are obliged to accept such isolation and comply with measures and instructions, under the threat of coercive measures.
28 March 2020 Extension of work permits. Work permits which have expired or which will expire during the state of emergency will be considered valid until the state of emergency ceases.
27 March 2020 Exemptions from the list of basic products prohibited for export. After white flour and white sugar, yeast culture, active yeast and baby wet wipes are also allowed to be exported.
27 March 2020 Measures for persons arriving from areas that are not highly affected by Covid-19. Serbian citizens and foreign nationals who have been granted temporary residence or permanent residence in Serbia, who arrive from areas not deemed heavily affected with Covid-19 are subjected to self-isolation (at home) for 28 days or to another health surveillance measure determined by the Minister of Health.
27 March 2020 Measures for residents arriving from areas heavily affected with Covid-19. Serbian citizens and foreign nationals who have been granted temporary residence or permanent residence in Serbia, who arrive from countries or areas which are heavily affected with Covid-19 are subjected to 28-days quarantine in a specially designated area, except if the Minister of Health issues an act by which it determines another health measure or object in which such measure is to be implemented.
27 March 2020 Extension of deadlines in administrative proceedings – limited application for tax and customs purposes. The extension of deadlines is limited to the deadlines for filing legal remedies against first instance decisions and conclusions of the competent tax and customs authorities in the procedures for determining, paying, collecting and controlling public revenues of tax and customs taxpayers.
27 March 2020 Supply of masks – tax exemption The delivery of masks by the National Health Insurance Fund to legal entities is exempted from the VAT with the right to preliminary tax deduction.
27 March 2020 Banks may not charge fees for processing Covid-19-related donations. Banks may not charge fees for processing payments to special purpose accounts of the Republic of Serbia and National Bank of Serbia opened for receiving donations for the fight against Covid 19
25 March 2020 Status of foreign nationals during the state of emergency. Foreign nationals which were lawfully residing in Serbia at the time when the state of emergency was proclaimed may lawfully remain in Serbia until the state of emergency ceases, without the need to commence proceedings for further determination of their status.
24 March 2020 Extension of deadlines in administrative proceedings. Parties to the administrative proceedings may not bear consequences for overstepping deadlines in general or special administrative proceedings during the state of emergency. Delivery of documents from which the deadlines commence, which has taken place during the state of emergency, is deemed to have occurred 15 days after the state of emergency ceases. Deadlines for taking actions in administrative proceedings that end during the state of emergency are deemed to have ended 30 days after the state of emergency ceases.
24 March 2020 Curfew is introduced for all persons from 5 PM – 5 AM. On Saturdays the curfew lasts from 5 PM to 3 AM. Pets owners may walk their pets from 8 PM until 9 PM, for 20 minutes, within the distance of 200m from the address of permanent or temporary residence.
Persons aged 65 or more (in urban areas) or 70 or more (in rural areas) have an all-day curfew, except on Sundays from 3 AM until 8 AM.
Exceptions from the curfew include: (i) licenced health workers (ii) personnel of Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Defense, intelligence agencies and military (iii) persons licenced by the Ministry of Interior; and (iv) persons in need of immediate health assistance, accompanied by maximum of two persons.
Aside from violation of the curfew being a criminal offense, monetary penalty for misdemeanour is introduced in the amount of in between approx. 400 EUR and 1,250 EUR.
22 March 2020 Supply of masks. The National Health Insurance Fund delivers masks to legal entities which distribute protective equipment, based on orders for at least 500,000 masks, whereby the distributors must deliver a list of legal entities which operate in the retail. The Government approves and sets the conditions for the delivery.
Retail. The maximum price of a mask in retail may be approx. 1 EUR, with one person being allowed to buy 10 masks at once. The quantity restriction also applies when masks are being bought for legal entities.
22 March 2020 Curfew is introduced for all persons from 8 PM – 5 AM. On Saturdays the curfew lasts from 8PM to 3 AM.
Persons aged 65 or more (in areas) or 70 or more (in rural areas) have an all-day curfew, except on Sundays urban from 3 AM until 8 AM.
Exceptions from the curfew include: (i) licenced health workers (ii) personnel of Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Defense, intelligence agencies and military (iii) persons licenced by the Ministry of Interior; and (iv) persons in need of immediate health assistance, accompanied by maximum of two persons.
Aside from violation of the curfew being a criminal offense, monetary penalty for misdemeanour is introduced in the amount of in between approx. 400 EUR and 1,250 EUR.
21 March 2020 White sugar also removed from the list of basic products prohibited for export. After white flour, white sugar has also been added to basic products the export of which is permitted.
21 March 2020 Meals and drinks may be sold only as take-aways. Sale may be conducted through delivery service or through counters whereby customers would not enter the object nor sit in the open parts of such objects. This applies not only to restaurants and cafes, but to anyone who enables consummation of food and drinks in their premises (fast-food, bars, beer houses, taverns, night clubs, bookmakers, etc).
21 March 2020 Gatherings of more than 5 persons in closed spaces are prohibited. The prohibition does not apply only for public authorities in cases necessary for the fight against Covid-19, when a maximum of 50 people may gather.
21 March 2020 Closure of shops in shopping malls. All shops inside shopping malls and similar objects are closed except supermarkets, food shops and pharmacies.
21 March 2020 Total prohibition of visits to public parks and public areas intended for recreation and sports.
21 March 2020 Self-isolation for persons arriving from areas which are not highly affected with Covid-19. Serbian citizens and foreign nationals who have been granted temporary residence or permanent residence in Serbia, who arrive from areas not deemed heavily affected with Covid-19 are subjected to self-isolation (at home) for 28 days
21 March 2020 Suspension of public transport. The suspension applies to (i) intercity and city public bus transport, except for transport done exclusively for the realization of work tasks of employees; (ii) international and internal railway passenger transport; and (iii) international and internal riverway passenger transport. Penalty is introduced for legal entities for a violation of the suspension in the amount of in between approx. 12,500 EUR to 17,000 EUR. Approvals for conducting transport may be obtained from the competent authorities in certain cases.
21 March 2020 Delay of tax obligations for certain taxpayers. Enforcement measures shall not be taken during the state of emergency against taxpayers – legal entities, entrepreneurs, farmers and natural persons who have an approved deferred payment of tax due, starting from the instalment due in March 2020. Interest does not apply during the state of emergency.
Interest applies for taxpayers – legal entities, entrepreneurs, farmers and natural persons for the amounts of underpaid or overpaid taxes and secondary tax duties, except on interest, in the amount of National Bank of Serbia’s annual reference rate.
20 March 2020 Filing deadlines extended. Deadlines for filing a lawsuit in civil proceedings, private lawsuit in criminal proceedings, proposal for initiation of extra-judicial proceedings or enforcement and security interest proceedings, lawsuit in administrative proceedings and constitutional appeal stop running during the state of emergency declared on 15 March 2020. The same applies for deadlines for filing legal remedies and undertaking other procedural actions in said proceedings.
In criminal proceedings, misdemeanour proceedings and proceedings for economic offenses, the deadlines for filing appeals against decisions terminating the proceedings, as well as for filing extraordinary legal remedies, stop running during the state of emergency declared on 15 March 2020.
20 March 2020 Suspension of intercity bus and rail transport.
20 March 2020 Expanded list of counters excepted from closure. Counters of the Customs Administration and the Post Office, as well as certain counters of the Tax Administration, the Treasury Administration and Public Enterprise “Elektroprivreda” Serbia remain open.
19 March 2020 Cancellation of prohibition of export of wheat flour.
19 March 2020 Quarantine for residents arriving from areas highly affected with Covid-19. Serbian citizens and foreign nationals who have been granted temporary residence or permanent residence in Serbia, who arrive from Switzerland, Italy, Iran, Romania, Spain, Germany, France, Austria, Slovenia and Greece are subjected to 28-days quarantine in specially designated areas.
19 March 2020 Closure of all border crossings for entry of passengers into Serbia for road, railway and riverway transport. All border crossings for entry of passengers into Serbia in international road, rail and riverway transport, as well as for entry through border crossings for border traffic to neighbouring countries is closed. Entry may be temporarily granted on the basis of an approval of the competent authority, in accordance with national interests and for humanitarian reasons.
19 March 2020 Prohibition of all arrivals and departures for international air transport of passengers. The measure applies for all airports in Serbia.
19 March 2020 Closure of border crossing point at Airport Nikola Tesla in Belgrade. The Government adopted a decision to suspend all passenger air transport from and to Airport Nikola Tesla in Belgrade and to close the border crossing point. The airport remains open for transport of cargo.
19 March 2020 Closure of counters. All governmental institutions and public entities should terminate any work through direct contact with the parties. They are obliged to provide services through mail, email or telephone. Only exemptions include the Post Office and certain counters of Public Enterprise “Elektroprivreda” Serbia.
18 March 2020 Closure of border crossing point at Airport Constantine the Great in Niš. The second largest airport in Serbia has been added to the list of closed border crossing points.
18 March 2020 Restrictions on increase of prices and margins for certain goods. The restriction on increase of prices includes basic food items (e.g. wheat, yogurt and milk), protective personal equipment and cleaning items. Margins of all participants in the supply chain are restricted for certain goods (vegetables and fruits; fresh meat; plastic masks with textile filter; paper masks; rubber, surgical and other gloves; bleach and other disinfectants; asepsol; alcohol).
18 March 2020 Curfew is introduced for all persons from 8 PM – 5 AM. Persons aged 65 or more (in urban areas) or 70 or more (in rural areas) have an all-day curfew. Exceptions: (i) people needing health assistance, (ii) certain groups of agriculture manufacturers, (iii) employees working in night shifts.
17 March 2020 Gathering of people in open and closed spaces is restricted. Distance between persons needs to be at least 2 meters and only 1 person can be on a surface area of 4 square meters. Owners of closed premises need to designate how much persons can simultaneously reside within the premises. This restriction does not pertain to persons who cannot apply this measure due to specific manner of organization of work.
17 March 2020 National Bank of Serbia introduces a 90-day moratorium on credit and leasing repayments. Effective from 18 March 2020, the moratorium cannot be shorter than 90 days or length of the state emergency, whichever is longer. During this period, the debtor is not under an obligation to repay the due instalments and no default interest is applicable. The bank / leasing provider cannot initiate enforcement proceedings against the debtor or undertake any similar legal actions with the purpose of claiming the debt.
17 March 2020 Suspension of parliamentary elections. All parliamentary elections activities and deadlines are suspended.
16 March 2020 Entry into Serbia is prohibited to all foreign nationals. Exceptions: (i) Serbian citizens, (ii) diplomats, and (iii) foreign nationals with a valid residence permit, subject to a 14-day period of self-isolation following entry into Serbia. Persons entering Serbia from especially endangered territories need to go through a 28-day period of self-isolation. In addition, 44 border crossings have been closed.
16 March 2020 Recommended work from home. The Government of Serbia strongly recommended that employers should organize work from home for their employees. If this is not possible, the employers should undertake all necessary measures to ensure H&S at work in light of the COVID-19 outbreak (limited number of persons in the same room, personal protective equipment and similar).
16 March 2020 Serbia declared a state of emergency.
16 March 2020 Gatherings of 50 persons or more in closed spaces are prohibited. Assemblies having more than 50 persons in closed spaces are prohibited, regardless of the rationale for the assembly.
15 March 2020 Restriction to increase of price for certain consumer goods. This restriction includes basic food supplies (e.g. wheat, yogurt and milk), protective personal equipment and hygiene products.
15 March 2020 Closure of smaller border crossing points. Certain smaller border crossing points were closed.
12 March 2020 Gatherings of 100 persons or more in closed spaces are prohibited. Assemblies having more than 100 persons in closed spaces are prohibited, regardless of the rationale for the assembly.
12 March 2020 Covid-19 declared an epidemic. Entry to persons coming from areas heavily affected with Covid-19 is being denied or their movement limited.
10 March 2020 Slovenia
According to newly adopted decree, a 14-day quarantine is required for (i) persons from third countries who do not have permanent or temporary residence in EU-countries and (ii) persons who have temporary or permanent residence in EU-countries or countries within the Schengen area, unless they are Slovenian citizens, foreigners with temporary or permanent residence in Slovenia or travel from countries that are listed on special list of countries from which entry into Slovenia is allowed without mandatory quarantine. Until today only Croatia was put on the list. Several exceptions apply to this general rule, the most important being that persons who have temporary or permanent residence in EU-countries or countries within the Schengen area and dispose with an evidence of reservation at tourists accommodations in Slovenia are now allowed to cross borders without mandatory quarantine.
26 May 2020 In line with the Decision on termination of temporary measures in relation to judicial, administrative and other public matters for the control of the spread of contagious disease SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) all intervention measures in judicial, administrative and other public matters, including the suspension of procedural and material deadlines, will be revoked from 1 June onwards.
21 May 2020 The Government adopted a draft of the following acts:
- the Act on the intervention measures to mitigate the consequences of the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) epidemic;
- the Act regulating the guarantee of the Republic of Slovenia in European instrument for temporary support to mitigate unemployment risks in an emergency (SURE) following the COVID-19 outbreak; and
- the Intervention act to remove obstacles to the implementation of important investments for economic recovery after the COVID-19 epidemic.
The National Assembly will discuss all the above draft acts by urgent procedure.
20 May 2020 The Government finished discussing the third Anti-Corona package which will introduce additional intervention measures in labour, public finance, economy, tourism and agriculture sector. The draft third Anti-Corona package is expected to be adopted by the Government later today.
20 May 2020 Excise duties on petrol and gas oil have been reduced. Accordingly, the prices of these energy sources will still be EUR 1 per liter.
18 May 2020 Additional exceptions that are applicable as of 17 May are provided for persons from third countries who are not quarantined for a period of 14 days upon entry into Slovenia, those are persons who are seconded to or from performing tasks in the international transport sector or travel via Slovenia to another country in the same day. Also just recently upon arrival in Slovenia, quarantine is no longer necessary for citizens of Slovenia and other EU countries citizens.
17 May 2020 As of May 18, the process of sports training is allowed to all athletes, as stipulated by the Sports Act either in sports facilities or in the outdoor sports areas. The implementation of sports competitions is allowed up to and including the state level, in sports branches that have a registered official competition system in accordance with the Sports Act. The presence of spectators at sports competitions is still not allowed.
15 May 2020 As of 18 May, all kindergartens and most schools are reopened. Students will be able to return to schools on 25 May, for others distance education continues.
15 May 2020 As of May 18, the gathering of up to 50 people is it is again allowed if it is possible to ensure minimal contact with people in accordance with the instructions of the National Institute of Public Health. However, the gathering of people in public places and places where it is not possible to prevent minimal contact between people and to ensure the implementation of NIJZ measures is still temporarily prohibited.
15 May 2020 The Government announced revocation of the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) epidemic. The current epidemiological situation allows the release of measures that were necessary to contain and control COVID-19, but not their complete elimination.
14 May 2020 The Government adopted a list of goods that is temporarily exempt from import duties and VAT on imports, that are among others, protective and medical equipment – gloves, face protection equipment, etc.
14 May 2020 The Government adopted two new decrees that regulate the state guarantee for the obligation of borrowers from the first two packages in more detail.
13 May 2020 As of 18 May, all activities in the field of offering and selling goods and services to consumers except for certain services in the field of tourism will be allowed. However, the following services remain prohibited: (i) accommodation establishments with more than 30 rooms, (ii) accommodation establishments for the purposes of spa treatment, (iii) wellness and fitness centers, (iv) swimming pools and water activities, (v) discos and nightclubs.
13 May 2020 The Government has extended the validity of driving licenses until June 30, which expire from March 18 to May 17 due to the current ban. It has also lifted some bans on driving school activities. Additionally, mandatory disinfection of apartment buildings is abolished.
13 May 2020 As of 12 May, international air passenger traffic to Slovenia is again allowed. The transport of passengers to international airports in Slovenia is allowed both from the EU and from other countries, however not to local airports, where the ban on international passenger traffic remains in force until 12 June.
11 May 2020 Public passenger transport is enabled as of 11 May.
8 May 2020 As of 9 May, the provision of health and dental services at all levels is reintroduced. Services are provided only to persons who have a negative epidemiological history and show no clinical signs of respiratory infection.
8 May 2020 As of 8 May, crossing the border at new checkpoints Nova Gorica (Erjavčeva ulica) – Gorizia (Via San Gabriele) and Neblo – Vallico di Venco will be allowed only to daily migrant workers and other persons on the basis of a certificate from the local community justifying the need to cross the state border, agricultural cross-border activities and to visit close family members.
A new checkpoint on the railway connection in the border area with Austria has also been opened, namely Šentilj – Spielfeld (Eisenbahn).
Among the exceptions to the measure of mandatory seven-day quarantine for passengers entering Slovenia, amendments to the decree now add cross-border weekly labor migrants who have proof of employment in a neighboring country (so far this only applied to weekly migrant workers at the border with Austria), persons who have a medical examination or intervention planned in Slovenia or in a neighboring country on the day of crossing the border providing proof.
7 May 2020 The new Ordinance on temporary measures in the implementation of compulsory health insurance provides for two temporary measures, namely the power to determine temporary suspension from work due to the exercise of the right to salary compensation and the method of deciding on extending (duration) spa treatment to a total of 21 days.
7 May 2020 The Government adopted an Ordinance on the Temporary Conditions for the Exercise of a Sports Activity, which lays down the conditions for conducting sports activities for athletes and conducting sports competitions. The measure covers those athletes who are already focused on quality or elite sports and are officially registered under the Sports Act. Under special conditions, competitions at a national level may be organized. The presence of spectators at sports competitions is not allowed. The ordinance shall enter into force on 7 May.
6 May 2020 The period during which the validation of the verification for metering devices shall expire is extended for one month, ie until 31 May 2020. The decree also specifies that the validity of the verification expiring on 31 May 2020 shall be extended until 31 July 2020.
4 May 2020 New deadlines are set for the implementation of agricultural policy measures for 2020 and new ordinances that determine financial compensation due to the loss of income because of the epidemic in the beef industry, for the performers of supplementary farming activities, in the forestry sector as well as in wine production were adopted. Each ordinance sets out the beneficiaries, conditions and procedures for granting compensation that is in general, a lump-sum compensation.
30 April 2020 The Government has made a commitment to gradually release education measures starting 18 May. First, kindergartens, elementary schools for the first triad of pupils, and high schools for final years will be opened, followed by students in the 9th grade of elementary schools. For everyone else, education for this year will be completed at a distance.
30 April 2020 The Government has lifted the ban on moving outside the municipality of permanent or temporary residence as of 30 April.
29 April 2020 The Act on additional liquidity to the economy to mitigate the effects of the COVID-19 infectious disease epidemic was adopted, according to which, the State shall grant surety for loans of companies from commercial banks. The surety will be given for loans that were granted between 12 March and 31 December 2020, which have a maturity of 5 years or less and do not exceed 10% of the revenue of the borrower in 2019. The surety will amount to (i) 80% of the principal of the loan for SME and (ii) 70% of the principal of the loan for large companies. The Act shall enter into force on the day following its publication in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia.
28 April 2020 The amendment of the Anti Corona Act increases the total amount of aid and adds new beneficiaries, with these rights being recognized retrospectively in the majority (ie from 13 March onwards). Each employer who anticipates more than a 10% decrease in its annual revenues in 2020 in comparison to annual revenues in 2019 is eligible for reimbursement of salary compensation. Employees that were ordered to wait for work at home have the right to return to work at the request of the employer, up to seven days in the current month. The Act shall enter into force on the day following its publication in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia.
28 April 2020 As of 29 April real estate brokerage services, chimney sweeps, libraries, galleries and museums are reopened.
28 April 2020 According to the amendment to the Act on provisional matters for judicial, administrative and other public matters to cope with the spread of infectious disease SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19), the courts and administrative authorities will be allowed to decide in non-urgent matters and serve the documents. However, at least until the end of the epidemic, the parties will not have to react unless they wish to, since urgent matters in judicial and administrative procedures do not run during the epidemic. The Act shall enter into force on the day following its publication in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia.
28 April 2020 Insurance brokerage services are added to the exceptions not covered by the prohibition on the offering and sale of goods and services due to the necessity of concluding insurance contracts. Car washes are also added to the exceptions.
24 April 2020 The Rateče checkpoint is reopened at the border with Italy from Thursday 23 April 2020. Crossing the border at Rateče is only allowed for daily migrant workers and other persons on the basis of a certificate from the local community, which justifies the necessity of crossing the state border due to the urgent need to carry out economic and agricultural cross-border activities.
24 April 2020 The operation of international scheduled and special (charter) passenger transport and the flight of general aviation aircraft with landing at public and national airport areas is further prohibited until including 11 May.
23 April 2020 The Government adopted a new Ordinance restricting the release of medicinal products for human use by pharmacy operators and increasing the production of disinfectants for surfaces and hands, which stipulates that a pharmacist may dispense a medicinal product for human use without a prescription in the amount of one package per person. The Ordinance entered into force on 23 April.
22 April 2020 The decision on the exchange of personal data on specific isolation, quarantine and mandatory treatment measures for COVID-19 disease between the National Institute of Public Health and the Police was adopted by the Government, that determines the way in which personal data are exchanged between the Police and the National Institute of Public Health as well as the extent and retention period of audit trails.
22 April 2020 The Government has adopted the draft of the Act Amending the Act Determining the Intervention Measures to Contain the COVID-19 Epidemic and Mitigate its Consequences for Citizens and the Economy (“Anti-Corona package 1”) as well as the draft of the Intervention Measures on additional liquidity to the economy to mitigate the effects of the COVID-19 invectious disease epidemic Act (“Anti-Corona package 2”). Both of which the National Assembly shall discuss by urgent procedure.
The expected goals are to facilitate the position of companies in taking urgently needed liquidity bank loans, thereby contributing to maintaining economic stability in the country, preventing serious economic damage and maintaining jobs.
21 April 2020 Temporary border crossing Predel has been established at the Slovenian-Italian border and shall operate from 21 April to 21 May.
21 April 2020 As of 20 April, special regular passenger transport services, intended for the transport of workers from home to work, are allowed under special conditions.
17 April 2020 The Government released the ban on performing the technical examination of vehicles and other procedures related to vehicle registration on 20 April.
17 April 2020 In order to gradually release the measures, stores that mainly sell construction and installation materials, technical goods or furniture, specialized shops for the sale of cars and bicycles, dry cleaning and service workshops, personal pick-up of goods or food at pick-up points, hairdressers and beauty salons, certain sports and recreational services, pet care salons may open their doors on 20 April and some of the listed on 4 May.
16 April 2020 Dental doctors and doctors who are not licensed but are included in the healthcare system (interns, trainees and specialists) are involved in the implementation of measures.
16 April 2020 A new exception to the Ordinance on the temporary general prohibition of movement and public gathering in public places and areas in the Republic of Slovenia and the prohibition of movement outside the municipality of permanent or temporary residence has been introduced. It is permitted to do some sporting activities by individuals in their municipality, as well as maintenance and seasonal work on private land outside the municipality.
15 April 2020 The validity of driving licenses is extended until 17 June, as well the validity of traffic permits and the prohibition of performing technical inspection of vehicles.
15 April 2020 As of 15 April, compulsory wearing of protective gloves in closed public places is suspended and replaced with obligatory disinfection of hand which the service provided should provide.
14 April 2020 The new decree on measures at border crossing upon entry into Slovenia, which also terminates the previous decrees concerning border measures, specifies where the checkpoints at the internal borders with Italy, Austria and Hungary are when they are open and who can cross the state border at the individual checkpoints, who is to be entered into quarantine and who is allowed to enter Slovenia. The decree doesn’t apply to: (i) cross border daily and weekly (at the border with Austria) migrants, (ii) persons attending a funeral, (iii) persons transporting goods to or from Slovenia and freight transport, (iv) Slovenian citizens and foreigners traveling across Slovenia to another country, (v) persons with diplomatic passport, (vi) persons providing emergency services, members of the protection, health and rescue services, police, firefighters, humanitarian transport, (vii) Slovenian, Italian, Hungarian, Austrian citizens who have their land on both sides of the border and perform agricultural activities.
The decree entered into force on 12 April 2020.
11 April 2020 By supplementing the decree, the implementation of elective (non-urgent) ambulatory specialist activity (specialist, diagnostics), rehabilitation and other non-essential forms of treatment is reintroduced. However, only for patients who have a negative epidemiological history and who have no evidence of respiratory infection and whose failure or postponement of health care would lead to a deterioration of their health status. The decree will enter into force the day after its publication in the Official Gazette.
9 April 2020 People over 65 may enter grocery stores (from 8AM to 10AM and the last store opening hour) proving their age with ID.
9 April 2020 The operation of international scheduled and special (charter) passenger transport and the flight of general aviation aircraft with landing at public and national airport areas are prohibited from 14 April to 27 April, for international air services operated in the EU in accordance with EU rules from 14 April until cancellation for international air transport from countries or to countries not members of the EU. Exceptions: (i) aircraft engaged in the international scheduled and special air carriage of goods and/or mail (cargo/mail) without the carriage of passengers on flights to their base, (ii) flights on maintenance, and (iii) flights dedicated to aircraft parking.
9 April 2020 The new Ordinance establishing the State Protocol Services of the Republic of Slovenia, stipulates that in case of disasters, declared epidemic or a state of war, accommodation and other capacities within the physical assets owned by republic of Slovenia, shall be allocated for the necessary accommodations, logistics and other measures.
9 April 2020 Slovenia requested international assistance in the provision of transport of protective equipment and means of protection.
9 April 2020 Extension of the validity of traffic permits for all vehicles that do not require a technical permit at the time of registration is now also enabled through the E-uprava web portal, as currently measures determine that it is prohibited to carry out technical inspections and other procedures related to the registration of motor vehicles in Slovenia until 16 April 2020. Electronic renewal of permits is optional since traffic permits are valid until 16 May 2020.
8 April 2020 Operation of temporary border crossing Robnič at the Slovenian-Italian border, which shall be open on weekdays and on Saturdays from 5AM to 6AM and closed on Sundays and public holidays, is extended until 5 May 2020.
7 April 2020 Slovenia and Austria have agreed to reopen the Holmec border crossing from 5AM to 8AM and from 3PM to 6PM. A total of 10 border crossing points have been set up at road crossings in the border area with Austria.
6 April 2020 The Ministry of Public Administration announced that in line with the Act on provisional measures for judicial, administrative and other public matters to cope with the spread of infectious disease SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19), urgent matters where deadlines are not suspended, include also the following: (i) deciding on the rights that determine a party’s financial resources (veteran’s allowance, disability allowance, etc.); (ii) issuing acts necessary for the construction of residential buildings, public infrastructure, economic infrastructure, the provision of public services, public utilities, public authorizations; (iii) issuing permits necessary for the pursuit of a gainful activity engaged in by an individual or a business entity (business license, food production / processing licenses, traffic permits for the first registration of trailers, buses, tractors and their trailers, and work machines, etc.).
5 April 2020 The Government extended the time period during which only vulnerable groups (disabled people, pensioners and pregnant women) may make purchases in grocery stores, that is from 8AM to 10 AM as well as the last store opening hour.
3 April 2020 Act on the intervention measures to stem and mitigate the consequences of the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) communicable disease epidemic for citizens and the economy was adopted and will be applied retroactively from 13 March 2020 onwards and shall remain in force until 31 May 2020. In case the epidemic will not be revoked by mid-May 2020, the validity of the Act may be prolonged by the end of June 2020. The Act introduced changes to moratorium of loans, employment relationship measures, insolvency, public procurement etc, and provides for a deferral of management’s obligations. As regards the moratorium of loans, during the deferral period, interest is charged on the deferred part of the principal at the regular interest rate agreed upon when the credit agreement is concluded. This is the first package worth EUR 3 billion, the Government is preparing package no. 2 – the liquidity of the economy and no. 3 – a strategy for the time after the epidemic is over.
2 April 2020 A new Decision to invite business entities operating in the Republic of Slovenia to donate medicinal products to the Agency for Medicinal Products and Medical Devices of the Republic of Slovenia was adopted.
2 April 2020 According to the new Decree which enters into force on 3 April, two new exceptions are added to the ban on offering and selling goods and services to consumers: (i) nurseries and florists, (ii) construction work in/on unoccupied construction sites, houses or flats, the implementation of which is ensured that there is no contact with consumers.
2 April 2020 The Government adopted a draft of the Act Amending the Referendum and Popular Initiative Act, which the National Assembly shall discuss by urgent procedure. The Amendment is expected to ensure faster legislative procedures and thus immediate action for the security of citizens also in the event of an epidemic.
1 April 2020 A new Decree regarding medical practice activities was adopted and according to which preventive activities, dental services, except urgent cases and those whose omission would lead to permanent damage to general and oral health, as well as home births are suspended. All specialist examinations and surgeries, except those indicated with urgent or very quick, oncology services and treatment of pregnant women are cancelled. The Decree enters into force on the day following its publication in the Official Gazette.
31 March 2020 With the new Ordinance on the temporary general prohibition of movement and public gathering in public places and areas in the Republic of Slovenia and the prohibition of movement outside the municipality of permanent or temporary residence, that entered into force on 30 March, movement and access to public places is permitted for: (i) coming to and of work and performing work tasks, (ii) performing economic, agricultural activities, (iii) protecting and assisting people in need of support or care, (iv) access to pharmacies, health services, (v) access to grocery stores, agricultural shops, agricultural direct sales, drugstores, gas stations, bank, post offices, car services. If these services are not provided in the municipality of residence, access is allowed to another municipality only to the nearest accessible service by public road. When entering closed public places, use of a protective mask and gloves is mandatory.
29 March 2020 The Government adopted the text of #antiCorona legislative package and submitted it to the National Assembly for consideration. The package includes new measures for the self-employed affected by the crisis, aid for all full-time students, large families and pensioners, allowance for performing hazardous work and for higher workloads during the epidemic in the private sector and a 30 % decrease in the basic wage of some high officials.
28 March 2020 Disinfection of multi-dwelling buildings at least twice per day is mandatory pursuant to the new Ordinance on the mandatory disinfection of multi-dwelling buildings.
28 March 2020 Purchases between 8.00 and 10.00 may only be carried out by vulnerable groups (e.g. persons with disabilities, pensioners, pregnant women). Ordinance enters into force on 30 March.
28 March 2020 The new Ordinance on the temporary prohibition of the operation of air services in the RS temporarily prohibits the operation of international air passenger transport from all countries to the RS.
28 March 2020 With a new Ordinance, all health care professionals and medical associates who are trained (trainees) in the pursuit of a particular health profession and are involved in the health care system in the implementation of the COVID-19 measures.
27 March 2020 Decree on setting prices for certain petroleum products was adopted and enters into force on 1 April and shall be valid until 30 September 2020.
27 March 2020 Slovenia submitted a request to the European Commission for relief from customs duties and VAT on the import of protective equipment and medical devices and other goods that are absolutely necessary to prevent the spread and control the consequences of the epidemic in Slovenia.
24 March 2020 A new Order establishing the conditions of entry into RS from Austria in order to prevent the spread of infectious diseases has entered into force on 25 March. Exceptions: (i) freight transport, cross border labour migrants, ambulance vehicles, intervention vehicles and for transit in the form of organized humanitarian convoys, (ii) if an foreigner submits proof showing negative result on SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) or if his body temperature is below 37.5 and shows no clear signs of upper respiratory tract infection. This order does not apply to citizens of RS, permanent and temporary residents of Slovenia, citizens of RS or Austria that also own land in both the Austrian and Slovenian territory along the state border and perform agricultural activities. Train passenger traffic is not running.
24 March 2020 A new proposal for a Decree on temporary measures in the implementation of compulsory health insurance in order to curb the control of the COVID-19 epidemic provides measures to facilitate the exercise of the entitlements from compulsory health insurance by insured persons and establishment of eligibility for Health Insurance Institute of Slovenia to compulsory health insurance entitlements.
24 March 2020 The Crisis Staff of the Republic of Slovenia for curbing and controlling the COVID-19 epidemic ceased to operate due to the establishment of operational activities of all ministries. All operational functions attached to the Crisis Staff in the extended composition in the form of additional intervention and coordination capabilities are now being carried out within the home departments of the Ministries and their constituent bodies.
24 March 2020 Order concerning the temporary working time of notary public during the duration of the COVID-19 outbreak has come into force on 24 March. According to the order, the notary public in Slovenia shall have the following opening hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 9 to 12 AM and on Wednesday from 13 to 17 PM.
24 March 2020 Decree on interim measures in the field of health care to curb and control the COVID-19 epidemic was adopted. The decree is suspending the provision of preventive health services to all healthcare providers except those whose omission could have adverse effects on the patient’s health. All specialist examinations and surgeries are cancelled. Exceptions: urgent cases, oncology patients and the treatment of pregnant women. Only emergency dental services are performed.
20 March 2020 Decree on the temporary non-payment of contributions to provide support for the production of electricity in high-efficiency cogeneration and from renewable energy sources for small business customers and household customers was adopted. The electricity bill for the average household is estimated to be reduced by about 20 percent.
20 March 2020 Decree on the temporary ban on the implementation of active fire protection systems and regular technical control of the hydrant network in Slovenia, was adopted, and it comes into force on 23 March. It is temporarily prohibited to carry out surveillance of the active fire protection systems installed and to carry out regular technical monitoring of the hydrant network.
20 March 2020 Stores that mainly sell groceries, including the sale of farm produce, have a working time of at least 8.00 to 18.00. Exception: micro and small companies, self-employed, and cooperative societies may determine their own hours based on their business decision. The amendment to the Decree temporarily prohibiting the supply and sale of goods and services directly to consumers came into effect on 21 March.
20 March 2020 Decree on the temporary prohibition of the gathering of people at public gatherings and public events and other events in public places in Slovenia has come into force. Most relevant exceptions of the prohibition of movement and gathering of people in public places: (i) coming to work and performing work tasks, (ii) access to pharmacies, banks and post offices, grocery stores, gas stations, (iii) access to public parks and walking trails.
20 March 2020 Act on Interim measures in the fiscal area was adopted, which extends the deadlines for filing tax return and submission of annual reports.
20 March 2020 Act on Interim measures on deferral of payment of borrower’s liabilities has been adopted. Borrowers who, due to the negative effects of epidemics, will not be able to meet their credit agreement obligations will be granted a 12-month repayment delay.
20 March 2020 Act on Interim Measures in the field of wages and contributions was adopted, according to which the government will cover 40 % of the wage compensation, whereby employers will still have to carry 60 % of the compensation. Payments of social security contributions for the self-employed due in April, May and June 2020 are automatically deferred, no default interest apply.
20 March 2020 Act on Interim Measures Relating to Judicial, Administrative and Other Public Law Matters for the Management of the Spread of the Infectious Disease SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) has been adopted and will enter into force on 20 March. Suspension of deadline, both procedural and substantive, except for urgent matters. Authorities will not perform personal service, applications can be submitted electronically without a secure electronic signature.
19 March 2020 A prohibition of entry into Slovenia from Italy in order to prevent the spread of infectious diseases has entered into force on 19 March. Exceptions: (i) freight transport of post, medicines, protective equipment, medical supplies and humanitarian aid, (ii) if an individual submits proof showing negative result on SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19). This order does not apply to citizens of RS, permanent and temporary residents of Slovenia, citizens of RS that also own land in the Italian territory along the state border and perform agricultural activities, and for freight which final destination is Slovenia or in transit and it is agreed with the neighboring country to accept the freight vehicle.
18 March 2020 The Government issued an amendment to the Decree temporarily prohibiting the supply and sale of goods and services directly to consumers in the territory of the Republic of Slovenia. The amendment enters into force on 19 March. The opening hours of grocery stores are extended and a special interval is available from 8AM to 10 AM for all vulnerable groups. On Sundays all shops are closed with the exception of gas stations.
18 March 2020 The government has allocated 28 million to increase commodity reserves
18 March 2020 The Ministry of Labor Family, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities has issued instructions for an adequate protection of all users and employees in the field of social protection.
18 March 2020 Temporary suspension for the border crossings for border traffic at the border with Croatia.
18 March 2020 Prohibition of public transport: prohibition on the provision of public, personal, permanent, occasional regular passenger services, public rail passenger services in domestic and international traffic, except for auto-taxis.
16 March 2020 Prohibition on the supply and sale of goods and services directly to consumers in the territory of the Republic of Slovenia. Accommodation services, catering services, sports and recreational services, cosmetics, culture, cinema services etc are forbidden. The temporary prohibition does not, apply to the purchase of foodstuffs in grocery stores, nor is the sale of agricultural produce on farm and the sale of agricultural produce agricultural stores. The sale of goods and services online is also permitted.
16 March 2020 Prohibition of the operation of air services in the Republic of Slovenia. Exceptions: aircraft operating international scheduled and special air services of goods and / or mail, and aircraft operating international special air services without transporting passengers on their base or maintenance flights. The prohibition will be in force until 30 March.
17 March 2020 The Government gave its consent to the Key Elements of the Financial Engineering Measure for Micro, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises. These include measures by the Slovenian Enterprise Fund in the form of favorable financial instruments, such as loans for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises and guarantees for bank loans with a reduced interest rate.
16 March 2020 The Government has set maximum prices for safety, protective and other medical equipment, which means that companies should not raise prices for these types of goods.
14 March 2020
COVID-19 Slovenia Update
Impact of the Second Anti-Corona Act on Lease Agreements
The National Assembly of the Republic of Slovenia adopted the Act on additional liquidity to the economy to mitigate the effects of the COVID-19 infectious disease epidemic (“Act”) on 28 April 2020, which entered into force on 1 May 2020. Pursuant to Article 34 of the Act, the tenants of commercial premises owned by the […]
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COVID-19 Regional Update
Merger Control Insight of the Western Balkans
As the COVID-19 pandemic seems to show signs of slowing down in the Western Balkans, the economy inevitably dictates a moderate easing of state-imposed restrictions throughout the region, with most of the measures being relaxed or lifted. This will also be reflected in the work of the regional competition authorities. After working remotely and with […]
Read more COVID-19 Force Majeure Global Overview
Force Majeure Global Overview
Karanović & Partners is pleased to share a global Force Majeure Overview, covering 36 countries. The outbreak of COVID-19 combined with restrictive measures imposed by governments around the world caused major disruptions to businesses and their ability to perform contractual obligations. In collaboration with our colleagues from leading law firms abroad, we participated in a […]
Read more Startup Overview
Karanovic & Partners Holds Future of Startups Webinar
Karanovic & Partners held the third in a series of webinars, this time dedicated to the future of startups. The event was centered around the implications brought about by the outbreak of COVID-19, and their effect on the startup scene in the region. Speakers, including Senior Partner Rastko Petaković, Attorney at law in cooperation with […]
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State Aid Measures in the Countries of the Western Balkans
Karanovic & Partners is pleased to present a general overview of state aid measures adopted to help the economy mitigate the negative consequences caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in the countries of the Western Balkans. The overview covers beneficial loans, employment stimuli, and tax measures in Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and […]
Read more COVID-19 Montenegro Update
Subsidies for Closed and Endangered Industries in Montenegro
This article will cover subsidies for closed and endangered industries under the so-called Economy and Employee Support Program presented by the Government of Montenegro. More information about the Program and its novelties can be found here. Subsidies for Closed Industries (100% of gross minimum salary) This measure regulates the granting of a subsidy to a […]
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Employment Subsidies in Montenegro
The Government of Montenegro presented the first package of economic measures on 9 April 2020, and subsequently, introduced the so-called Economy and Employee Support Program (“Program”) on 24 April 2020, as the second package of economic measures in order to curb the negative impact of the coronavirus outbreak on the economy and overcome the crisis. […]
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Serbian Parliament Terminates State of Emergency – Impact on Deadlines Before the Competition Commission
The Serbian Parliament terminated the state of emergency on 6 May 2020, following the flattening of the epidemic curve and the creation of conditions for the gradual attainment of collective immunity. Since the introduction of the state of emergency, the Serbian Government issued 44 regulations that were aimed at combating the COVID-19 crisis, including the […]
Read more Karanovic & Partners approach to COVID-19
In line with the latest developments regarding the COVID-19 outbreak and for the safety and well-being of both our team and clients, Karanovic & Partners followed advice given by the authorities in the SEE region to its maximum extent.
