Bulgaria
Bulgaria ratified the Revised European Social Charter on 07/06/2000. Bulgaria has accepted 70 of the 98 Charter paragraphs, as well as the system of collective complaints.
Declaration enabling national NGOs to submit collective complaints: not made yet.
The Charter in domestic law
Automatic incorporation based on the Constitution, Article 5(4): “Any international instruments which have been ratified by the constitutionally established procedure, promulgated, and come into force with respect to the Republic of Bulgaria, shall be considered part of the domestic legislation of the country. They shall supersede any domestic legislation stipulating otherwise.”
Country factsheets
The country factsheets include detailed information on the findings of the European Committee of Social Rights when monitoring the application of the Charter at national level, as well as examples of progress in the implementation of the rights protected by the Charter.
Latest Ad hoc report by Bulgaria
See previous reports in respect of Bulgaria
Latest conclusions of the European Committee of Social Rights (ECSR)
- Conclusions of the European Committee of Social Rights 2022 concerning Bulgaria (Thematic group Labour rights)
- Conclusions of the European Committee of Social Rights 2021 concerning Bulgaria (Thematic group Health, social security and social protection) (Findings adopted)
- Conclusions of the European Committee of Social Rights 2020 concerning Bulgaria (Thematic group Employment, training and equal opportunities) (Findings adopted)
- Conclusions of the European Committee of Social Rights 2019 concerning Bulgaria (Thematic group Children, families and migrants)
See previous all conclusions in respect of Bulgaria (HUDOC)
Latest findings of the European Committee of Social Rights
Findings 2019 of the European Committee of Social Rights on the follow-up to decisions on the merits in collective complaints in respect of Bulgaria.
Table of accepted and non-accepted provisions by Bulgaria
Grey = Accepted provisions
| 1.1 | 1.2 | 1.3 | 1.4 | 2.1 | 2.2 | 2.3 | 2.4 | 2.5 | 2.6 | 2.7 | 3.1 |
| 3.2 | 3.3 | 3.4 | 4.1 | 4.2 | 4.3 | 4.4 | 4.5 | 5 | 6.1 | 6.2 | 6.3 |
| 6.4 | 7.1 | 7.2 | 7.3 | 7.4 | 7.5 | 7.6 | 7.7 | 7.8 | 7.9 | 7.10 | 8.1 |
| 8.2 | 8.3 | 8.4 | 8.5 | 9 | 10.1 | 10.2 | 10.3a | 10.4 | 10.5 | 11.1 | 11.2 |
| 11.3 | 12.1 | 12.2 | 12.3 | 12.4 | 13.1 | 13.2 | 13.3 | 13.4 | 14.1 | 14.2 | 15.1 |
| 15.2 | 15.3 | 16 | 17.1 | 17.2 | 18.1 | 18.2 | 18.3 | 18.4 | 19.1 | 19.2 | 19.3 |
| 19.4 | 19.5 | 19.6 | 19.7 | 19.8 | 19.9 | 19.10 | 19.11 | 19.12 | 20 | 21 | 22 |
| 23 | 24 | 25 | 26.1 | 26.2 | 27.1 | 27.2 | 27.3 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31.1 |
| 31.2 | 31.3 | ||||||||||
Meetings and reports on non-accepted provisions
- 1st Report on non-accepted provisions of the European Social Charter by Bulgaria, 2005
- 2nd Report on non-accepted provisions of the European Social Charter by Bulgaria, 2012
- 3rd Report on non-accepted provisions of the European Social Charter by Bulgaria, 2016
- 4th Report on non-accepted provisions of the European Social Charter by Bulgaria, 2020
Collective complaints procedure
Bulgaria accepted the system of collective complaints. Declaration enabling national NGOs to submit collective complaints: not made yet.
The complaint European Roma Rights Centre (ERRC) v. Bulgaria, No. 151/2017 was registered on 22 May 2017. It relates to Articles 11§§1 and 2 (right to protection of health), 13§§1 and 2 (right to social and medical assistance) taken on their own or in the light of the non-discrimination principle contained in the preamble to the European Social Charter (“the 1961 Charter”). The complainant organisation alleges that Bulgaria has not taken sufficient action to end racially segregated maternity wards, inferior and abusive treatment of Romani women in maternity care, and the disparate impact of lack of health insurance on Romani women.
Case-document no. 1, Complaint registered on 22 May 2017
Case-document no. 2, Submissions by the Government on the merits
Case-document no. 3, Response from the ERRC to the Government's submissions on the merits
Case-document no. 4, Further response from the Government on the merits
The European Committee of Social Rights declared the complaint admissible on 16 October 2017.
Decision on admissibility of Complaint 151/2017
Decision on the merits of Complaint 151/2017
Resolution CM/ResChS(2019)8 of the Committee of Ministers on 11 December 2019
Previous national reports by Bulgaria
- 21st National Report on the implementation of the European Social Charter submitted by Bulgaria, 21 December 2022
Comments submitted by the group of NGOs - 20th National Report on the implementation of the European Social Charter submitted by Bulgaria, 05 January 2022
- 19th National Report on the implementation of the European Social Charter submitted by the government of Bulgaria (Reference Period: 01/01/2017 -31/12/2020)
Appendix to the 19th National Report on the implementation of the European Social Charter submitted by the government of Bulgaria (Reference Period: 01/01/2016 -31/12/2019) - 18th National Report on the implementation of the European Social Charter submitted by Bulgaria (Reference Period: 01/01/2015 -31/12/2018). Conclusions published in 2020
- 17th National Report on the implementation of the European Social Charter submitted by the government of Bulgaria (Reference Period: 01/01/2014 -31/12/2017). Conclusions published in 2019
- 16th National Report on the implementation of the European Social Charter submitted by the government of Bulgaria (Reference Period: 01/01/2013 - 31/12/2016). Conclusions published in 2018
- 15th National Report on the implementation of the European Social Charter submitted by the government of Bulgaria (Reference Period: 01/01/2012 - 31/12/2015). Conclusions published in 2017
- 14th National Report on the implementation of the European Social Charter submitted by the government of Bulgaria (Reference Period: 01/01/2011 - 31/12/2014). Conclusions published in 2016
- 13th National Report on the implementation of the European Social Charter submitted by the government of Bulgaria (Reference Period: 01/01/2010 - 31/12/2013). Conclusions published in 2015
- 12th National Report on the implementation of the European Social Charter submitted by the government of Bulgaria (Reference Period: 01/01/2009 - 31/12/2012). Conclusions published in 2014
- 11th National Report on the implementation of the European Social Charter submitted by the government of Bulgaria (Reference Period: 01/01/2008 - 31/12/2011). Conclusions published in 2013
- 10th National Report on the implementation of the European Social Charter submitted by the government of Bulgaria (Reference Period: 01/01/2007 - 31/12/2010). Conclusions published in 2012
10th report. Reply on Article 1§2 - 9th National Report on the implementation of the European Social Charter submitted by the government of Bulgaria (Reference Period: 01/01/2005- 31/12/2009). Conclusions published in 2011
- 8th National Report on the implementation of the European Social Charter submitted by the government of Bulgaria (Reference Period: 01/01/2005 - 31/12/2008). Conclusions published in 2010
- 7th National Report on the implementation of the European Social Charter submitted by the government of Bulgaria (Reference Period: 01/01/2005 - 31/12/2007). Conclusions published in 2009
- 6th National Report on the implementation of the European Social Charter submitted by the government of Bulgaria (Reference Period: 01/01/2005 - 31/12/2006). Conclusions published in 2008
- 5th National Report on the implementation of the European Social Charter submitted by the government of Bulgaria (Reference Period: 01/01/2005 - 31/12/2006). Conclusions published in 2007
- 4th National Report on the implementation of the European Social Charter submitted by the government of Bulgaria (Reference Period: 01/01/2003 - 31/12/2004). Conclusions published in 2006
4th report, replies to questions