Oversight and accountability
News about public finance control, institutional oversight, audits, inspections, and transparency.
The State Agency for Metrological and Technical Supervision launches a campaign for safe children's toys.
In May 2025, the State Agency for Metrological and Technical Supervision (DAMTN) conducted inspections of children's toys in commercial establishments across the country. The inspectors found that more than half of the inspected products do not meet the safety and labeling requirements.
Regulatory authorities are checking fuel prices for potential violations
The Commission for Protection of Competition and the Commission for Consumer Protection are taking joint actions to establish possible abuses in the pricing of fuels by "Lukoil Neftochim Burgas" AD and "Lukoil Bulgaria" EOOD. A thorough inspection is forthcoming to determine whether the economic interests of consumers have been harmed.
The Commission for Consumer Protection warns traders of strict sanctions for violations of consumer rights.
The Commission for Consumer Protection (CCP) warns all traders that violations of consumer rights, including misleading and applying unfair trade practices, will be sanctioned with the full rigor of the law. The CCP reports established cases of systematic charging of fees for packaging that was not requested, as well as misleading customers to pay higher prices.
The European Commission evaluates the effectiveness of the directives on public procurement and concessions
The European Commission published the results of a public consultation conducted to assess the implementation of the European directives in the field of public procurement and concessions. The consultation found that the directives have not achieved full flexibility and simplification of the system, but have contributed to a reduction in corruption and an increase in transparency. However, the rules for market access for non-EU companies and the promotion of environmental, social, and innovative solutions are still not sufficiently effective.
State inspectors check the safety of swimming pools before the summer season.
Inspectors from the State Agency for Metrological and Technical Supervision (SAMTS) will conduct inspections in June for the proper and safe operation of the elements of swimming pools, adjacent to accommodation facilities. The aim is to ensure the safety of users and to take measures in case of established violations.
The Ministry of e-Government facilitates the access of foreign workers to the Bulgarian labor market.
The Minister of Electronic Governance Valentin Mundrov announced that the new Platform for production and issuance of residence and work permits will simplify and accelerate the processes of hiring foreign employees in Bulgaria. The system will digitize the document flow and make the procedures faster, more transparent and secure.
DAMTN completed inspections of heating plants nationwide for the first quarter of 2025.
DAMTN completed inspections of heating plants nationwide for the first quarter of 2025, inspecting 595 sites and over 1100 measuring devices. Violations were found in four companies, and administrative penalties have been imposed.
EU Official Journal Publication Office Stops Publishing Notices in SDK Version 1.8
From May 1, 2025, the EU OJ will stop publishing notices created in SDK version 1.8. Contracting authorities must switch to the new templates approved by the PPA to ensure the publication of their notices after April 30, 2025.