Latest Publications
On 10.05.2023, Directive (EU) 2023/970 of the European Parliament and of the Council to strengthen the application of the principle of equal pay for equal work or work of equal value between men and women through pay transparency and enforcement mechanism was adopted. The Directive establishes a set of minimum requirements for the application of the principle of equal pay and for overcoming gender discrimination through pay transparency.
»BILL ON THE USE AND DEVELOPMENT OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
At the beginning of October 2025, the Bill on the Use and Development of Artificial Intelligence (the Bill) was submitted to the National Assembly, which aims to introduce legal regulations in the field of artificial intelligence (AI). The Bill ensures the implementation of Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 June 2024 establishing harmonised rules on artificial intelligence (the so-called Artificial Intelligence Act) on the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria.
»NEW DEADLINES FOR RE-REGISTRATION OF NON-PROFIT LEGAL ENTITIES
On 27 August 2025, a Draft Act on Supplement of the Non-Profit Legal Entities Act (the Draft) was published on the Public Consultations Portal. The Draft provides for the introduction of new deadlines for re-registration of non-profit legal entities (NPLEs).
»AMENDMENTS TO THE ADMINISTRATIVE VIOLATIONS AND SANCTIONS ACT
In issue No. 61 of 29.07.2025, the State Gazette promulgated a Law on Amendment and Supplement to the Criminal Code, which introduced some important amendments to the Administrative Violations and Sanctions Act (AVSA).The range of crimes in the commission of which it will be possible to impose property sanctions on legal entities that have enriched themselves or would be enriched by them is expanded.
»FREE ACCESS TO INFORMATION ABOUT OTHER PEOPLE'S PROPERTIES WOULD BE RESTRICTED
On 07.08.2025, a Draft Decree amending and supplementing the Regulation on Entries (the Draft) was published on the Public Consultations Portal. It provides for a narrowing of the circle of persons entitled to access uncertified copies and transcripts of registered acts.
»NEW REGISTER OF PERSONS DEPRIVED OF MANAGEMENT RIGHTS
On 11.08.2025, a draft Bill amending and supplementing the Commercial Register and Register of Non-Profit Legal Persons Act (the Bill) was published on the website of the National Assembly, which provides for the introduction of a new Register of Persons Deprived of the Right to Be Managers or Members of a Board of Directors, a Supervisory Board or a Management Board (the Register). The main objective of the proposed Bill is to transpose into Bulgarian legislation the requirements of Directive (EU) 2019/1151.
»AMENDMENTS TO THE FOREIGNERS IN THE REPUBLIC OF BULGARIA ACT – FACILITATIONS AND NEW OPPORTUNITIES
In issue No. 52 of 27.06.2025, the State Gazette promulgated a Law on Amendment and Supplement to the Foreigners in the Republic of Bulgaria Act. The amendments introduce a number of significant changes that affect both employers hiring foreigners and the foreign nationals themselves who wish to reside and work in Bulgaria. This review presents the key changes with a focus on new opportunities and procedural relief, as well as a summary of the restrictions in place.
»NEW MARKETS IN CRYPTO-ASSETS ACT
In State Gazette, issue No. 54/04.07.2025, is promulgated the Markets in Crypto-Assets Act (the Act). The Act implements the requirements of Regulation (EU) 2023/1114 on markets in crypto-assets, Regulation (EU) 2023/1113 on information accompanying transfers of funds and certain crypto-assets and Regulation (EU) 2022/2554 on digital operational resilience for the financial sector. The purpose of the Regulations, and respectively of the Act, is to create a legal framework for the crypto-asset market and to introduce supervisory rules for the issuance, offering and activities with crypto-assets.
»THE RANGE OF HEALTH-INSURED FOREIGNERS IN BULGARIA IS EXPANDING
In State Gazette, issue No. 52/27.06.2025, a Law on Amendment and Supplement to the Foreigners in the Republic of Bulgaria Act was promulgated, which also introduced amendments to the Health Insurance Act (HIA). As a result of the changes, the circle of health-insured foreigners in Bulgaria has significantly expanded.
»FAST AND EFFECTIVE ENFORCEMENT ORDER PROCEEDINGS
As of July 1, 2025, amendments to the Code of Civil Procedure (CCP) entered into force, which introduced a significant reform in the enforcement order proceedings. The amendments provide for speed and efficiency in the issuance of an enforcement order and a writ of execution.
»NEW CREDIT SERVICERS AND CREDIT PURCHASERS ACT
In State Gazette, issue 50/20.06.2025, is promulgated the Credit Servicers and Credit Purchasers Act (the Act). The Act introduces in Bulgarian legislation the requirements of Directive (EU) 2021/2167 on credit servicers and credit purchasers and provides for measures for application of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/2083 laying down implementing technical standards for the application of Directive 2021/2167 with regard to the templates to be used by credit institutions for the provision to purchasers of information on their credit exposures in the banking book. The purpose of the Directive, and thus of the Act, is to encourage the development of the secondary market for non-performing credit agreements in order to prevent the accumulation of a large number of non-performing credit agreements granted by credit institutions and to establish protective mechanisms for borrowers' rights.
»NATURAL PERSONS BANKRUPTCY ACT
At the end of June, the National Assembly adopted at second reading the Natural Persons Bankruptcy Act (the Act). The Act allows citizens who do not practice commercial activity or freelancing to carry out proceedings to satisfy their creditors and repay all debts that they cannot repay.
»CHANGES FOR SOME TYPES OF LEAVE
On 12.05.2025, a Draft Decree of the Council of Ministers (the Decree) for amendment and supplement of the Ordinance on working time, rest and leave, which provides for changes, was published on the Public Consultations Portal.
»NEW ACT ON ACCESSIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR PRODUCTS AND SERVICES
In issue 31/11.04.2025 of State Gazette was promulgated the Act on Accessibility Requirements for Products and Services (the Act). The Act implements into the Bulgarian legislation Directive (EU) 2019/882 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17.04.2019 on the accessibility requirements for products and services, also known as the European Accessibility Act. The purpose of the Directive is to secure accessible products and services for persons with disabilities, thereby facilitating their full and effective participation in society by eliminating barriers to the free movement of goods and services in the internal market arising from divergent accessibility requirements.
»MOTHERS WITHOUT RIGHT TO COMPENSATION IF THEY ARE WORKING UNDER A SECOND EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT
On 25.03.2025 in issue 25 of the State Gazette the Public Social Insurance Budget Act was promulgated, through which the Social Insurance Code (SIC) was amended. Part of the amendments provide that maternity compensations are not paid if the mother is engaged in a second employment contract with the same or another employer and is insured for common disease and maternity on that basis.
»FAILURE OF AN OBLIGATION TO INFORM EMPLOYEES
On 11 February 2025, the Supreme Court of Cassation (SCC), by decision No. 82 in Case No. 931 for 2024, upheld an employee's claim to receive a more favourable retirement compensation guaranteed by a collective labour agreement (CLA) to which the employee was not a party due to the employer's failure to inform the employee of the existence of a CLA within the company.
»CHANGES IN THE FIRST REPORTING PERIOD FOR NON-FINANCIAL REPORTING
The requirements of Directive 2022/2464 in relation to the amendment of Directive 2013/34/EU (Accounting Directive) on sustainability reporting by companies were introduced with amendments in the Accountancy Act (AA), promulgated in SG No. 72, effective as of 06.07.2024. On 17.01.2025 an Amendment Bill to the above AA Amendment Bill was submitted to Parliament providing for one-year postponement of the first reporting period, for which companies must include a sustainability report in their annual activity report.
»UPCOMING CHANGES TO THE CYBERSECURITY ACT
In December 2024, a draft bill amending and supplementing the Cybersecurity Act was introduced to the Parliament. The Bill aims to implement the new requirements of Directive (EU) 2022/2555 (commonly referred to as NIS 2) in terms of enhancing the protection of critical infrastructure against cyber threats and to introduce stricter requirements for more sectors and organizations within the European Union.
»WORK PERMITS PLATFORM
In October 2024, the Work Permits Platform (the Platform) was launched. It is predicted that thanks to the Platform, the time taken to complete the procedure shall be significantly reduced. The platform shall greatly facilitate both the administrative authorities and the whole process of long-term and short-term recruitment of employees from counties outside of the European Union.
»CROSS-BORDER CONVERSIONS UNDER THE COMMERCIAL ACT
State Gazette, issue No 82/ 27.09.2024, introduces amendments and supplements to the Commercial Act, part of which transpose Directive 2019/2121 for supplement of Directive 2017/1132 as regards cross-border conversions, mergers, and divisions into Bulgarian legislation. The current regulation of the Commercial Act (CA) provided for conversion of companies with the participation of companies from EU/ЕЕА Member States only by merger or by acquisition. The new amendments add to these possibilities new forms of conversion through division by incorporation, separation with incorporation and separation by incorporation of a sole company.
»QUICK LIQUIDATION OF COMPANIES
For the voluntary liquidation of companies up to now the law provided only one procedure, which does not differentiate between the liquidation of an operating enterprise or of a company, which never carried on business or ceased business activities but is not deleted from the Commercial Register. Up to now the liquidation procedure was lengthy, taking minimum an year, requiring various stages of notification to the Commercial Register and the receipt by the trader of certificates from the National Revenue Agency (NRA) and the National Social-Security Institute (NSSI). The new quick liquidation procedure can be used by a company meeting the 6 conditions.
»PROCEDURE AND DATA FOR REGISTRATION IN THE NEW EMPLOYMENT REGISTER
With the latest amendments to the Labour Code (LC) dated 26 September 2023, it was foreseen that the employees’ Labour Book be replaced with a Single Electronic Labour Record and create an Employment Register in which the data on employment relationships would be registered. On 2 August 2024 an Ordinance on registration in the Employment Register was promulgated. The Ordinance aims to regulate the terms, and the procedure for the submission and registration of the data in the Register, as well as the conditions and the procedure for access to the registered data.
»UNIFIED INFORMATION SYSTEM ON SPATIAL DEVELOPMENT
The latest legislative proposals on the National Assembly’s website include a bill of amendments to the Spatial Developing Act (SDA). The Bill provides for the implementation of a Unified Information System on Spatial Development, Investment Design and Construction Permitting. The System shall be maintained by the Minister of Regional Development and Public Works.
»AMENDED UNDERTAKINGS INDICATORS IN THE ACCOUNTING ACT
Two significant categories of public relations are affected by the amendments and supplement to the Accounting Act by a Draft Law published on the website of the National Assembly on 4 July 2024. The first relates to transposition Directive (EU) 2022/2464 in connection with the amendment of Directive 2013/34/EU (the Accounting Directive) regarding sustainability reporting. The second major group of amendments relates to the financial size indicators for micro-, small, medium-sized and large undertakings.
»REGISTRATION OF VARIABLE CAPITAL COMPANIES IS POSTPONED
A new type of company aiming to facilitate the registration and operation of startup companies – Variable Capital Company (VCC) - was introduced in the Bulgarian law system. The deadline for ensuring the technical possibility to register the VCC was further extended to 31 March 2025.
»ANOTHER CHANGES IN THE ACT ON THE PROTECTION OF PERSONS REPORTING OR PUBLICLY DISCLOSING INFORMATION ON BREACHES
On 21 June 2024, a Bill on amendment and supplement to the Act on Protection of Persons, Reporting Information or Publicly Disclosing Information on Breaches (the Act) was submitted for adoption to the National Assembly. The amendments are intended to correct terminological and technical errors in the Act and to reflect the findings of the European Commission.
»AMENDMENTS ON THE REMOTE WORK
On 29.03.2024, State Gazette issue No 27 introduced amendments and supplements to the Labour Code, which provide greater flexibility and security in case of remote work, allocate the responsibility of the employer and the employee in terms of healthy and safe working conditions, introduce requirements in the reporting of work and the control of the working time.
»AMENDMENTS TO THE ACCOUNTANCY ACT – SUSTAINABILITY REPORT
At the beginning of March a Draft Law of Amendments and Supplements to the Accountancy Act was published on the Internet website of the Ministry of Finance and on the Portal for Public Consultations for public consultation. The Draft Law obliges the enterprises to include clearly distinguishable section in their annual activity reports concerning sustainability matters (Sustainability Report).
»THE SUPREME COURT OF CASSATION DECIDES THAT PROVIDING LOANS BY OCCUPATION IS NOT A CRIME
On 15 March 2024 the General Assembly of the Criminal Chamber of the Supreme Court of Cassation (SCC) issued an Interpretative Decision on Interpretative Case No 1/2020, according to which provision of loans/ credits by occupation with funds not raised by public solicitation of deposits or other repayable funds does not constitute banking activity and its performance without permission does not constitute the crime of usury under Art. 252 (1) of the Criminal Code.
»AMENDMENTS TO THE INVESTMENT PROMOTION ACT
With State Gazette No 20 of 8 March 2024 Law of amending and supplement of the Investment Promotion Act was promulgated, which introduces a national screening mechanism for foreign direct investment related to security or public order, in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2019/452 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 March 2019 establishing a framework for screening foreign direct investment in the Union.
