Draft law amending the Ombudsman’s mandate is out for public consultation

The Ministry of the Interior submitted a draft Law on Amendments and Supplements to the Ombudsman Law for public consultation on 14 May 2026. The draft proposes to establish the Ombudsman as the independent monitoring mechanism under the Screening Regulation, as provided under measure 9.1.2. of the National Implementation Pact of the EU Pact on Asylum and Migration. 

The proposed amendments will provide for the regulatory framework to establish an effective and independent monitoring mechanism, with a preventive role for reducing the likelihood of human rights violations during screening at external borders. 

The independent monitoring mechanism aims to ensure that the specific needs of children, persons with disabilities or victims of trafficking will be identified and considered upon entry in the Bulgarian territory, in line with requirements under the Screening Regulation.  

The draft will further need adoption by the Council of Ministers.