Since it experienced democratic changes in 2000, Serbia has invested great efforts in order to attract foreign investments. The accession of Serbia to European Union is expected to happen with great certainty (official status of member candidate is expected soon), monetary and banking systems are stable, and legislation has been to a great extent adjusted to fostering market economy and foreign trade. Besides, the Government of Serbia in 2010 enacted a Decree on terms and manner of attracting direct investments, which foresees special measures and incentives.

The Law on Protection of Consumers (effective as of 1 January 2011) has raised the level of consumer protection in Serbia. One of the main goals of the new law is to eliminate unfair and unconscientious business behavior by defining more precisely the codes of conduct and obligations of merchants. At the same time, the new law completely complies with the European Union law, having in mind implementation of the fifteen key EU Directives on consumer protection.

The custom union based on the 6. October 2007 Custom Union Agreement among Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan, is the most successful attempt at economic integration of any of the countries in the post-Soviet territory. On 10. January 2010, the Custom Union member-states implemented the Unified Custom Tariff for goods imported to the common custom territory from third party countries.

Institutional practice shows, that the timely disclosure of annual financial statements is being monitored strictly. A breach of the obligation to disclose can lead to imposition of high administrative penalties.

The thriller “Margin Call” has enjoyed widespread success beyond this year's Viennale. Today it’s the only movie showing what events in a major US investment bank caused the current financial crisis and the desperate attempts of the bank’s employees to avoid the infamous margin call, which would mean the end of the bank.

But what exactly is this much-feared margin call?

By virtue of the new Law for the protection of users of financial services, which is in the procedure of adoption before the Parliament of Serbia, the EU Directive on granting loans to consumers shall be applied, which will afford users of financial services in Serbia the protection in accordance with standards and level of protection in the European Union.

Recent changes in the Austrian law on mortgages and loans have changed and modernized parts of the Austrian Civil Code and introduced an Austrian Consumer Credit law. The newly introduced regulations draw a distinction between mortgages and loans which fall under the Austrian Civil Code and those that are regulated according to the new Consumer Credit Law. With the exception of a few transition provisions, the new regulations enter into force as of 11. June 2010.