Employers in Bulgaria cannot require employees to get vaccinated, in so far as the state itself does not oblige individuals to get vaccinated. At present, vaccination against COVID-19 in Bulgaria is a voluntary act that everyone can take or not take in accordance with their general health status, beliefs, etc.
Read moreBefore selling their real estate to another natural or legal person, it is important that each owner checks whether the state or municipality has the right of first offer. The legal basis for this stems from Article 199, paragraph 1 of the Bulgarian Territory Development Act.
Read moreAs the industry of commercial drone operation develops, there are two questions that loom larger than all others: Will my privacy be respected? How is my personal data going to be processed? The European Data Protection Supervisor has published a number of opinions on the privacy issues that commercial civilian unmanned aircraft systems (“UAS”) raise.
Read moreAs a result of the accelerated climate ambitions at EU level, there is a high risk of carbon leakage in non-EU states where less stringent environmental and climate policies prevail. The Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) foresees for EU importers to buy carbon certificates corresponding to the carbon price, which would have been paid, had the goods been produced under the EU carbon pricing rules.
Read moreOn 15 July 2021, the Court of Justice of the European Union delivered a Judgment in Case C-535/19, stating that citizens of the European Union should be included in the public health insurance system of the Member State in which they are residing legally, but the host State has the right to set certain conditions for the inclusion of economically inactive citizens in the same system.
Read moreOn 03.06.2021, in its preliminary ruling’s judgment in case C-442/2021, the Court of Justice of the European Union ruled on the right to deduct VAT due in insolvency proceedings in certain cases.
Read moreThe Republic of Bulgaria and the Kingdom of the Netherlands have concluded a new Double Tax Treaty for the avoidance of double taxation with respect to taxes on income and the prevention of tax evasion and circumvention. The Treaty reflects the innovations in the Bulgarian tax legislation and the modern principles of international taxation, reflected in the OECD Model and will enter into force on 31 July 2021.
Read moreAgricultural land in Bulgaria is constitutionally defined as a chief national asset. As such, it benefits from the special protection of the State and the society. However, it can be argued that the existing legislative safeguards go beyond their purpose and end up creating undue constraints on the acquisition of agricultural land in Bulgaria. Such undue constraints are contained in the provision of Article 3v of the Agricultural Land Ownership and Use Act.
Read moreIn March 2019, with a view to encouraging efficiency in the securitisation market the European Central Bank decided that the loan-level data reporting requirements of the Eurosystem collateral framework and the disclosure requirements and registration process for securitisation repositories under Regulation (EU) No 2017/2402 must achieve greater proximity.
Read moreThe Directive aims to encourage employees to step forward and report breaches in EU legislation within their organisations. It is primarily focused on the protection of whistleblowers but it also contains provisions aiming to prevent individuals from disrupting businesses by constantly submitting ungrounded signals.
Read moreIs the concept of “fixed establishment” to be interpreted as meaning that the existence of human and technical resources is always necessary and therefore that the service provider’s own staff must be present at the establishment, or can that property, even without human resources, be regarded as a “fixed establishment”?
Read moreThe Amending and Supplementing Act of the Bulgarian Concessions Act promulgated on 26 February 2021 introduced a number of legislative amendments, related to Bulgaria’s obligation to transpose Directive 2014/23/EU into its national law. The amendments follow a letter of formal notice sent to Bulgaria by the European Commission, implying that the Bulgarian transposition of the Directive is not in full compliance with its text.
Read moreOrdinance No 7, adopted on 27 May 2021 of the Financial Supervision Commission regulates the procedure for acquisition, recognition and revocation of the legal capacity of brokers of financial instruments and investment advisers, as well as the additional requirements to the activity they carry out.
Read moreFrom 1 July 2021, the MOSS scheme will cover all services provided by taxable persons from third countries in the territory of the EU to non-taxable persons (Non-Union scheme). A new scheme for the distance sale of goods imported from third countries or territories is introduced in the form of shipments with an own value not exceeding the BGN equivalent of 150 euro.
Read moreAs drones become more and more common in the European and Bulgarian skies, incidents are bound to occur and it is crucial for every business utilizing unmanned aircraft systems (‘UAS’) to be well aware and prepared for the settling of insurance and liability claims arising from such circumstances.
Read moreOn 04 June 2021, the European Commission adopted two long-awaited new sets of SCCs that controllers and processors may use in their data-related business operations.
Read moreEU Member States were supposed to transpose Directive (EU) 2019/790 into their respective national legislations by 7 June 2021. However, to date, only 4 Member States have complied with this obligation. What is the reason behind this and should we in this case, contrary to the saying, blame the game and not the players?
Read moreOn 20 May 2021, the Court of Justice of the European Union (“CJEU”) published its preliminary ruling upon a reference made by the Supreme Administrative Court of the Republic of Bulgaria (“SAC”) regarding the joint and several liability and the default interests for VAT payment delays.
Read moreOn 14.05.2021, the Bulgarian National Bank introduced a few important amendments to the Bulgarian banking legislation.
Read moreA new Ordinance for determining the requirements for accessibility and universal design of the elements of accessible environment in urbanized territories, buildings and facilities entered into force on 13 March 2021.
Read moreOn 27.05.2021 the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Bulgaria adopted Decision No 8 on Interpretative case No 9/2020. The case was admitted for consideration with an Admissibility Order of 20.10.2020.
Read moreRecently, foreign citizens looking to open an account with a Bulgarian bank have been facing various challenges related to KYC procedures. This is because financial institutions must follow strict rules for verifying their customers, which often lead to termination of business relationships and unwillingness to invest in Bulgaria. In this regard, in March 2021 the European Banking Authority ('EBA') announced three regulatory instruments to address de-risking practices.
Read moreU-space is no longer just a far-off plan as on the 13th of May 2021 the new Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) on a regulatory framework for the U-space would enter into force (‘U-space Regulation’).
Read moreDrones have been regulated practically since their inception yet their increasing popularity, as well as posed dangers, have significantly sped up the process of lawmaking. In 2018, a new Basic European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) Regulation entered into force moving all regulatory power regarding UAS, regardless of size and type, to the hands of the EU.
Read moreA legal perspective
The popularity of loot boxes has led regulators in many countries around the world to pay special attention to them and investigate whether they are a form of gambling that is not only carried out without a license but is also offered to minors.
Read moreIn February 2021, the Bulgarian National Assembly adopted legislative amendments to the Recovery and Resolution of Credit Institutions and Investment Intermediaries Act. Among its key takeaways, is the possibility to make instant payments in Bulgarian leva (BGN).
Read moreThe Supreme Administrative Court ruled in a new Interpretative Decision, concerning the liability of third parties (managers, procurators, members of the management body, commercial representative and commercial agent) for obligations of legal entities under Art. 19, para. 1-2 of the Tax and Social Security Procedure Code.
Read moreA Draft Amending and Supplementing Act of the Commerce Act has been launched for public discussion. It is in fulfilment of Bulgaria‘s commitments following its accession to the Exchange Rate Mechanism II (ERM II) and in view of its aspirations for future euro area membership. The Act reflects on a number of weaknesses in the implementation of legislation related to insolvency proceedings. We we have outlined its key takeaways.
Read moreThe numerous advantages of green roofs are considered rather sparingly by the current Bulgarian legislation. Yet, this should in no way stop investors in large Bulgarian cities from envisaging the construction of green roofs for their buildings. This article reviews the existing Bulgarian legislation in this field.
Read moreControlled Foreign Company (“CFC’’) rules aim to combat tax evasion situations where a company resident in a high-tax country owns a foreign subsidiary resident in a low-tax country in order to derive tax benefit from the lower corporate tax rate.
Read moreIn order to help victims of the pandemic, the Council Directive (EU) 2020/2020 of 7 December 2020 allows Member States to apply a reduced VAT rate to the supply of COVID-19 in vitro diagnostic medical devices and services. Member States are required to communicate to the Commission the text of the main provisions of national law which they adopt in the field covered by the Directive within two months of their adoption.
Read moreThe latest amendments to the Foreigners in the Republic of Bulgaria Act introduce the long-awaited “start-up visa”, addressing entrepreneurs and high-risk investors.
Read moreThe Supreme Court of Cassation recently ruled on the issue of exercising the right to vote in a Shareholders General Meeting of a joint-stock company in cases of co-ownership of shares.
Read moreThere are two options for submitting the ATR - on the spot, in the territorial directorate of the National Revenue Agency ("NRA"), or online. The competent territorial directorate of the NRA for the acceptance of the ATR is the one at the permanent address of the resident (Art. 54 PITA).
Read moreThe Protection Against Discrimination Act provides for a set of obligations for employers related to the creation of a non-discriminatory environment for exercising the right to work. It also introduces an obligation for employers to actively intervene if there is discrimination among their staff.
Read moreThe confirmation it received by the European Parliament, makes it possible for the Recovery and Resilience Facility to enter into force in the second half of February. Member States are required to present national recovery and resilience plans that provide for specific reforms and public investment projects by 30 April.
Read moreOn December 15, 2020, the EU Commission published its Proposal for a Digital Services Act. The Commission has underlined that the proposed new rules are proportionate, foster innovation, growth and competitiveness, and facilitate the scaling up of smaller platforms, SMEs and start-ups.
Read moreThe fact that Bulgaria is not an individual party to the Convention means that creditors would not be able to take advantage of treaty protections when the debtor is a Bulgarian air operator, complicating the process of developing a financing agreement and increasing costs.
Read moreOn January 21, 2021, the OECD released a revisited version of its Guidance published in April 2020 to provide more certainty to taxpayers.
Read moreAfter the initial shock of the pandemic and when governments and citizens realised that the virus will be around longer than anticipated, the "new normal" forced public authorities and businesses to digitalise their services and make them easily accessible online.
Read moreThe dispute brought by the Australian tax authority cornered around the conditions of the intra-group arrangements for the sale of copper concentrate in the years 2007-2009.
Read moreOn 18 December 2020, OECD published a guidance on the transfer pricing implications of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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