News Item

Bulgarian civil society and business associations partner to defend civic space

Bulgarian civil society organisations invited FRA to contribute to a conference on ‘Business and Civil Society: Partners for a Better Civic Space’. The conference was held in Sofia on 21 November.

It sought to highlight concerns around a draft law on the registration of foreign agents, that was tabled in the Bulgarian Parliament on 11 November. 

The draft law foresees that legal entities as well as people receiving funding from abroad have to label themselves in their public communications as ‘foreign agents’. In addition, anyone labelled as ‘foreign agent’ would be prohibited from conducting activities in places such as kindergartens, schools, universities, and ministries. They would also be banned from any participation in political activity, lobbying, and pre-election campaigns as well as participation in activities that influence Bulgarian domestic or international politics. 

Bulgarians employers associations co-organised the conference over concerns on how this draft law might impact Bulgarian economy and foreign investments.