Breaking or getting around EU sanctions will be a crime under Bulgaria's Criminal Code. MPs on parliament's legal affairs committee approved the changes at second reading.

Penalties include prison terms, fines and loss of certain rights.

The code gets a new chapter, "Crimes against the restrictive measures of the European Union". It covers the freezing of money and economic resources, and bans on certain people entering an EU country, including travel bans.

Breaking bans on making or continuing deals in any form will also be a crime. This includes public procurement contracts and concessions.

The chapter also covers bans on financial services: funding, financial aid, investment, investment services and taking deposits. Non-financial services such as legal advice, trust management, accounting and audit services are added to these.

People who get around the sanctions are also liable, for example by moving money or economic resources from sanctioned people or companies to others to avoid the restrictions.

The bill comes from the Council of Ministers, which sent it to parliament on 11 September. At first reading in the full chamber it got 183 votes for and 10 against.