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Bulgaria completes Digital Services Act implementation
Nearly two years after the Digital Services Act (“DSA”) became applicable across the EU and amidst discussions on the “Digital Omnibus” simplification package announced by the European Commission, Bulgaria has finally aligned its national framework with DSA provisions. On 6 November 2025, the Bulgarian parliament adopted amendments to the Electronic Communications Act (“ECA”), confirming the designation of the Communications Regulation Commission (“CRC”) as the Digital Services Coordinator, vesting it with supervisory powers and the authority to certify out-of-court dispute settlement bodies and award trusted flagger and vetted researcher status, while also introducing comprehensive enforcement architecture.
Bulgaria’s FDI screening regime in effect
An important regulatory development concerning foreign direct investments (“FDI”) in Bulgaria is now in place. As of 22 July 2025, the Bulgarian FDI regime became fully applicable. With the publication and entry into effect of the final implementing act - the amendments to the Regulations on the Application of the Investments Promotion Act - the transitional exemption for filings under the Investments Promotion Act (“IPA”) no longer applies. All transactions that fall within the scope of the FDI regime and that commenced after the entry into force of the IPA in February 2024 but were not completed before 22 July 2025 must now be notified and obtain authorisation before being implemented. While the current
Bulgaria’s progress in FDI screening implementation: A new piece in the regulatory puzzle
Bulgaria aims to finalise the full implementation of its foreign direct investment (“FDI”) screening regime in early 2025. On 29 January 2025, the Council of Ministers approved the Rules on the Organisation and Operation of the Interinstitutional Council for Foreign Direct Investment Screening (“Rules of Procedure”) – one of the key legislative acts supporting the implementation of the Bulgarian FDI regime, which officially took effect in 2024 (see our publication here). There is currently a transitional period during which FDI notifications are not required, as the necessary implementing regulations have yet to be enacted. The adoption of the Rules of Procedure is one of the remaining steps in the process.
Get ready for the new foreign direct investment screening regime in Bulgaria
A foreign direct investment screening mechanism entered into force in Bulgaria on 12 March 2024. The mechanism applies Regulation (EU) 2019/452, establishing a framework for the screening of foreign direct investment (“FDI“) into the Union. This is a significant development in the regulatory landscape governing foreign investments in Bulgaria, although some uncertainty remains as to its impact. Due to certain lack of clarity in the final text of the legislation, each investment should be carefully analysed on a case-by-case basis, especially during the transition period. Investments requiring an FDI approval According to the bill amending the Investment Promotion Act (“IPA”), an investment in Bulgaria is
Heads up: Overview of the proposed amendments to Bulgaria's Electronic Communications Act
A draft law amending the Electronic Communications Act was published for public consultation on 15 December 2023. As the Digital Services Act will start to apply for all providers of intermediary services from 17 February 2024, the Proposal aims to provide the national implementing measures – to designate the competent authority to be responsible for the supervision of those providers (the so-called Digital Services Coordinator) and to establish specific procedures for the exercise of its powers. What’s more - the Proposal is used as an instrument to introduce additional measures facilitating the construction of network infrastructure. The Proposal may have escaped the attention of many stakeholders, not only because