Bulgarian office Dinova Rusev & Partners announces that as of 22 July 2025, foreign investors planning to make foreign direct investments (FDI) in Bulgaria must obtain prior written permission before implementing their projects.
The change follows amendments to the Investment Promotion Act, aligning Bulgarian law with Regulation (EU) 2019/452 on FDI screening. The rule applies to:
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Non-EU investors,
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EU-based entities controlled by non-EU persons, and
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Investments meeting specific thresholds in sensitive sectors such as critical infrastructure, technology, media, and energy.
Applications must be submitted to the newly established Screening Council before any qualifying transaction is executed. The Council may approve, conditionally approve, or block investments based on national security and public order considerations.
For the full legal alert, visit the link.