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.”
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 | ||||||||||
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 national report by Bulgaria
- National Report submitted by Bulgaria, 29 December 2025
- Annex to the national report
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)
Meetings and reports on non-accepted provisions
- ECSR reports
- 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
- Rapports nationaux
- National report on non-accepted provisions, presented by Bulgaria - 2025
Collective complaints procedure
Bulgaria accepted the system of collective complaints. Declaration enabling national NGOs to submit collective complaints: not made yet.
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.
The complaint registered on 28 March 2008 relates to Article 13§1 (the right to social and medical assistance) alone or in conjunction with Article E (non discrimination) of the Revised European Social Charter. It is alleged that Bulgarian legislation as from 01/01/2008 will no longer ensure the right to adequate social assistance to unemployed persons without adequate resources. This will notably affect Roma and women.
- Case Document no. 1, Complaint registered at the Secretariat on 28 March
- Case Document no. 2, Written submissions from the Government on the merits
- Case Document no. 3, Response of the ERRC to the submission by the Government on the merits
- Case Document no. 4, Letter from the European Roma Rights Centre concerning new legislation in Bulgaria
The European Committee of Social Rights declared the complaint admissible on 2 June 2008.
The European Committee of Social Rights concluded that there was a violation of Article 13§1 of the European Social Charter (revised), and transmitted its report containing its decision on the merits of the complaint to the Parties and to the Committee of Ministers on 31 March 2009.
The Committee of Ministers adopted adopted Resolution CM/ResChS(2010) 2 on 31 March 2010.
Decision on admissibility of the Complaint 48/2008
Decision on the merits of the Complaint 47/2008
Resolution ResChS(2010)2 of the Committee of Ministers on 31 March 2010
Findings of the European Committee of Social Rights on the follow-up of the Complaint
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