1. Introduction On 21st January 2016, the Italian Cabinet gave the green light for the “Reorganization, rationalization and simplification of Port Authorities” decree (the “Ports Decree”), which reviews a system which has been in place for over 20 years. The Ports Decree is part of the re-launch of ports and logistics in Italy promoted by the Ministry for Infrastructure and Transport (“MIT”) ...
With the economy facing downward pressure, the Hong Kong Government is rolling out various supporting and funding measures to help enterprises. The $30 billion HK$ Anti-epidemic Fund The Legislative Council Finance Committee approved the $30 billion Anti-epidemic Fund on 21 February 2020, more than half of which - HK$16.9 billion - will serve as one-off cash injections to retailers, food and beverages service providers, start-ups and other businesses ...
The sudden rise in the number Covid-19 (“Coronavirus”) cases in Lombardy and other Italian Regions has prompted the relevant governmental authorities to adopt urgent measures to prevent and limit the spread of the virus, and this is starting to have an impact on the economy. In connection with these measures, on 31 January Italian government has declared a six-month state of emergency, which expires on 31 July 2020 (unless it is extended) ...
As the number of novel coronavirus infections (“Covid-19” or “Coronavirus”) and fatalities continue to rise, on 11 March 2020 the Italian Prime Minister issued a decree to impose new emergency measures to contain and manage the spread of the virus (the “11 March Decree”). Always on 11 March, the World Health Organisation has declared that Covid ...
During the press conference of 13 March 2020, Executive Vice-President Margrethe Vestager made a statement regarding the enforcement of EU State aid in connection with measures adopted by Member States to combat the negative repercussions of COVID-19 on the economy ...
COVID-19: health and safety protocol - Last night the Italian Government and National representatives of employers’ associations and unions have reached an agreement over a COVID-19 health & safety protocol that employers need to implement to ensure the maximum possible protection of their employees against the COVID-19 virus. This protocol is a crucial step to allow business continuity for manufacturing companies and professional service providers ...
Dear Clients, Friends and Partners, Since day one, our firm has been responding to the challenges of the Coronavirus emergency with proactive and socially responsible strategies. In these difficult times, our first thoughts are with all those impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak as well as with the health professionals working to help them ...
Payments of tax and penalties falling due between 8 March and 31 May 2020 arising out of tax assessments issued by the Italian Tax Authorities, the National Social Security Agency (INPS), the Italian Customs Agency and by Regional and Local Authorities, and any other enforcement claims aimed at collecting tax revenues, must be made in a single instalment by 30 June 2020. Payments made before the issuance of the Decree cannot be reimbursed to the taxpayer ...
In response to the severe public health emergency and the economically-damaging nationwide confinement measures triggered by the Covid-19 (“Covid-19”) outbreak in Italy, on 17 March 2020 the Italian government has adopted Law Decree #CuraItalia1 (the “Decree #CuraItalia”) ...
1. Introduction On 18 March 2020, the Decree #CuraItalia1 introduced “measures to strengthen the national health ser- vice and economic assistance to families, employees and companies related to the epidemiological emer- gency of COVID-19” (the “Decree #CuraItalia”) ...
Following the publication of the proposal a few days ago, on 19 March the European Commission adopted the communication introducing a new temporary legal framework for State aid measures to support the economy in the current COVID-19 outbreak1. The last time the Commission had adopted a similar temporary framework was during the global financial crisis in 2008 ...
During the outbreak of COVID-19, the Chinese authorities have jointly released a series of measures to support enterprises and industries and reduce the negative economical impact of the epidemic ...
The 22 March Decree was anticipated by two ordinances issued on 21 March 2020 by, respectively, the Lombardy Region1, subsequently amended on 22 March 2020 (the “Lombardy Ordinance”), and the Piedmont Region 2 (the “Piedmont Ordinance”). The ordinances provide for even more stringent restrictions for the regions concerned, and will remain in force until 3 April 2020 (for the Piedmont Region) and 15 April 2020 (for the Lombardy Region) ...
Introduction Covid-19 is a force majeure event, meaning an extraordinary, unexpected and unforeseeable event, which is certainly not attributable to the voluntary conduct of an entrepreneur who is currently undergoing a restructuring or insolvency procedure and now faced with the Covid-19 crisis ...
In times such as these, it is important to get the best available legal information and advice and remember that not all information and advice will be applicable to a particular situation or contract. Many businesses in the United Arab Emirates (the UAE) and the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (the GCC) are wondering what to do with respect to their obligations or those of their cocontracting parties ...
1. Introduction The Law Decree n. 18 of 17 March 2020 (the so-called "Cura Italia" Decree, the "Decree"), providing "Measures to strengthen the national healthcare system and to economically support households, workers and enterprises in the context of the COVID-19 epidemiological emergency" has been published on the Official Gazette of the Republic of Italy no. 701 of 17 March 2020. The Decree covers mainly the following four areas of intervention: a ...
On 1 April the Prime Minister adopted a new decree (the “1 April Decree”) to extend the lockdown measures previously introduced through the decrees issues on 8 March, 9 March, 11 March and 22 March 2020 ...
Introduction The UK government has recently adopted a series of recommendations aimed to face the Coronavirus outbreak due to the rise in the number of infections and deaths caused by this virus. The strict approach of the UK Government would be in line with the measures adopted by the other countries in Europe, such as Italy or Spain ...
The new measures adopted by the European Commission Last Friday, the European Commission (“Commission”) has adopted an amendment to existing State aid rules to widen the perimeter of the national measures which can be authorized based on the exceptional legal framework to cope with the current crisis. a. In particular, the Commission considered the following measures:a. More support for research and development related to the current health crisis ...
Introduction The Italian Government has adopted Law Decree no. 23 of 8 April 20201 (the "Liquidity Decree"), which provides for additional measures to support companies in the current COVID-19 emergency ...
ThThe Italian Government has adopted Law Decree no. 23 of 8 April 2020 (the "Liquidity Decree"), published in the Official Journal of the Italian Republic no. 94 of 8 April 2020, which provides for additional measures to support companies in the current COVID-19 emergency ...
Law Decree n. 23 of 8 April 2020 (the “Liquidity Decree”) has introduced significant changes to the socalled “golden power rules” and to the disclosure duty of relevant shareholdings in listed companies. These rules are aimed at discouraging “predatory purchases” of Italian strategic and listed companies in times when their share price may be particularly depressed due to the COVID-19 emergency ...
On April 24, 2020, the Protocol signed on March 14 2020 (the “H&S Protocol”), providing for the measures to be complied with by employers to continue the activity while ensuring the maximum degree of protection for the employees, has been amended. The amendments encompass all the sections of the H&S Protocol ...
As the contagion rate and death toll caused by the Covid-19 emergency (“Covid-19”) continues to decrease, on 26 April 2020 the Prime Minister announced in a press conference the measures adopted to ease the lockdown during the so-called “phase 2”. The new measures are reflected in the Prime Minister Decree dated 26 April 20201 (the “26 April 2020 Decree”) ...
“We continue to work closely with Member States to ensure that European businesses have access to urgently needed liquidity”, said the vice-president of the European Commission (“Commission”) Margrethe Vestager in connection with the amendment to the Temporary Framework on State aid adopted on 8 May 2020 ...
