Foreign law firms complain against Bulgaria to the European Commission

Five foreign laws firms made complaints to the European commission that Bulgaria breached the EU legislation. What they demanded is the European commission to insist on the harmonization of the Bulgarian legislation with the EU acquis.

The grounds for the complaint is the decision of the Commission for the Protection of Competition (CPC) to impose a 150 000 BGN fine on four international law firms for unfair commercial practices. CPC was ceased to investigate the case by major Bulgarian law firms.

The Supreme Bar Council demanded that the international companies cease their work during the investigation, claims the complaint. On the other hand, the Sofia Bar Association refused to register a group practice of European lawyers and a branch office of a European law firm. In the end, the CPC concluded that the firms don`t have the legal right to work in Bulgaria.

To cite the complainants, the CPC decision "undermine their right to establishment in Bulgaria, as EU Member State, and their consumers` rights to information and choice". The law firms claim that before turning to the European Commission they tried to settle the matter in Bulgaria through approaching several institutions - the Government, the National Assembly, the Minister of Justice, the Supreme Bar Council and CPC.