Bulgarian Helsinki Committee questions Bulgaria’s readiness for Pact implementation

The Bulgarian Helsinki Committee published an article outlining that Bulgaria needs an adequate legislative framework for implementation of the Pact requirements. It found that substantial amendments are required to reform and define the competence, responsibilities and mechanism for screening, border and asylum related procedures. 

The organisation expressed that the Ministry of the Interior and the State Agency for Refugees (SAR) will have significant responsibilities for Pact implementation and despite the fact that the National Implementation Plan envisaged the adoption of an entirely new Law on Asylum and Refugees by 31 December 2025, however this did not materialise and the draft proposal submitted by SAR remained blocked at the stage of the interinstitutional coordination process. The draft received important objections and criticism from relevant national authorities and civil society organisations. The Bulgarian Helsinki Committee has already published its opinion son the draft law in February and March 2026.

Relatedly, it also mentioned that actions were expected from the Ministry of Justice with regards the organisation of legal assistance as well as from the Agency for Social Assistance, under the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy, which should have prepared with trained social workers to ensure effective access to specialised services for applicants with special needs.