The latest online panel discussion of Property Forum focused on the effects of the COVID-19 lockdown on the Romanian property industry. The experts discussed, with the moderation of Răzvan Gheorghiu-Testa FRICS, Partner and Co-Head of Real Estate Practice Group at Ţuca Zbârcea & Asociaţii, how governmental measures affect the market and how different asset classes are impacted by the crisis.  

For residential developments executed in brownfield zones a VAT rate of 5% will apply instead of the normal 27%, the Minister of the Prime Minister's Office announced today.

Countries in CEE acted early by closing their borders and introducing lockdown measures in response to the pandemic. Now, Austria and the Czech Republic are among the first in Europe to begin lifting their coronavirus restrictions.

Most CEE governments have already introduced measures aimed at helping employed people and struggling businesses amid the coronavirus outbreak. In most countries, at least half of the average wage will be taken over by the state, up to 80% or more in certain countries. Hungary is the only country in the region where no concrete measures have been announced yet. We looked at what workers of affected companies can expect across the region.

As part of the fight against the coronavirus, many firms have decided to temporarily cease their production to ensure the health of their employees.

The first online panel of Property Forum took place yesterday, where six experts discussed the effects of the coronavirus outbreak on the real estate market in CEE. Our panelists discussed who could be the biggest winners and losers of the current situation, what to expect in the logistics and retail markets and how the current spread of remote working may affect the office market and coworking operators. They also explained the possible impact of the coronavirus crisis on investments and ongoing and planned developments.

The government of Slovakia is opening some shops that have been closed for the past two weeks, while the country's parliament will debate and possibly pass the cabinet’s proposals to help companies and the self-employed. We asked Andrej Leontiev LL.M., Partner at Taylor Wessing to comment on the aid package.

Governments continue to come up with measures to help stabilize the economy. Property Forum collected the latest efforts by CEE governments to rescue businesses and individuals affected by the coronavirus crisis.

As a result of the coronavirus outbreak, most CEE/SEE countries have introduced similar moratoria provisions to the Hungarian regulations, but there are several countries that have not yet taken this step. With the help of Dr. Gergely Szalóki, Partner at Schönherr Hetényi Law Firm, we provide an overview of the regulation of these regions' countries in respect of moratoria of bank loans.

Governments in CEE countries have introduced further measures to ease the impact of the coronavirus crisis on the economy. Property Forum summarised the latest actions.