Publication date: May 11, 2026
An unauthorized transaction is a financial transaction made without the consent of the account or cardholder, for example, as a result of data theft. In such a situation, the bank is obligated to return the funds unless it can prove the customer’s intentional act or gross negligence.
Currently, there is a noticeable increase in unauthorized transactions. This causes payers and banks to lose nearly a billion złoty annually. The Polish Financial Ombudsman is noticing a growing number of requests for intervention regarding unauthorized payment transactions. In the first half of 2020 alone, it received 416 requests. This is more than in all of 2018, when there were 367. In 2019, there were 612 requests, an increase of almost 60%. It is worth noting that in the first half of 2020, requests regarding unauthorized transactions accounted for 80% of all requests related to violations of the Payment Services Act.
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Publication date: May 05, 2026
With the development of technology, in the age of digital innovation, increasing emphasis is being placed on the so-called token model, which provides a portion of employee compensation. This model involves companies paying a specific portion of an employee’s earnings in the form of utility tokens, which are digital units of value created using blockchain technology — the same technology used for cryptocurrencies. These tokens constitute a form of barter that can be exchanged for loyalty points, various benefits (training on specific topics, language courses, etc.), bonuses, and specific services or privileges at work. These tokens are stored in a virtual wallet within an app, accessible by each employee. Furthermore, these tokens can sometimes be exchanged for cash, which sometimes raises legal issues, as discussed below.
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Publication date: April 14, 2026
The Strategic Technologies Platform for Europe (hereinafter referred to as STEP) is a European Union initiative established to, among other things, “ensure the sovereignty and security of the Union, reduce the Union’s strategic dependencies in strategic sectors, and strengthen the Union’s competitiveness by increasing its resilience and productivity.”[1] STEP was established by Regulation (EU) 2024/795 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 February 2024[2], which entered into force on 1 March 2024, and provides the legal framework for the entire platform. Its primary mission is to reduce the European Union’s dependence on external technology suppliers and strengthen European value chains in key technology areas. This is part of the implementation of the European Union’s core policy of “improving the competitiveness and resilience of the European economy through the green and digital transformation.”.
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Publication date: March 11, 2026
Regulation of concluding a sales contract by auction according to the Civil Code
Pursuant to Article 701 of the Polish Civil Code, a contract – including a sales contract – may be concluded through an auction or a tender. These two distinct contract-formation methods are distinguished by their specific characteristics, which include the multilateral and eliminatory nature of the procedure. Both procedures allow for the conclusion of a contract with the participant offering the most favorable terms from among many potential contractors, on equal terms and in compliance with the principles of free competition.
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Publication date: February 26, 2026
Introduction
The Act of 13 February 2026 on the SAFE Financial Instrument for Enhancing Security is the national legislature’s response to the European Union’s establishment of a new financial mechanism aimed at strengthening the defense capabilities of Member States. The SAFE Instrument (Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform) was established pursuant to a regulation of the Council of the European Union of 27 May 2025 as an emergency measure to accelerate investment in the European defense industry and increase the interoperability and readiness of the armed forces of EU Member States.
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