Foreign Investments in Croatia: New Legal Framework and Risks

The seminar provided a comprehensive overview of the Act on the Screening of Foreign Direct Investments in the Republic of Croatia, including its legal framework and purpose, its impact on strategic sectors, and an explanation of key concepts such as foreign investor, foreign investment, and obligated entities. Participants were introduced to the obligations under the Act, the approval procedure and assessment criteria, as well as the most common challenges and legal risks, practical recommendations, case studies, and the latest legal interpretations. The seminar aimed to enhance understanding of regulatory requirements and enable effective risk management and informed decision-making about foreign investments.

The seminar was intended for board members responsible for business development, chief financial officers (CFOs), heads of legal departments, managers responsible for strategic investments and business expansion, and in-house lawyers involved in foreign investment transactions.

The lecture was delivered by Ana Mihaljević, an attorney cooperating with Schönherr Rechtsanwälte GmbH, specializing in competition law, EU law, and foreign trade. Throughout her career, she has provided legal support to domestic and international clients in the field of compliance, participated in complex regulatory approval procedures and acquisitions, and led internal investigations and compliance projects, helping organizations manage regulatory risks and make sustainable business decisions.

Volker Weiss also participated as a co-speaker, a partner at Schoenherr and head of its Brussels office since 2014. He specializes in EU and competition law, and in foreign direct investment, with a particular focus on Central and Eastern Europe. He leads the firm’s FDI working group and is involved in complex investment screening procedures. He is recognized in international legal rankings, including Chambers and Partners and Who’s Who Legal, in Belgium as a leading expert in competition law and foreign direct investment.