Competition Law at Bulgaria
Competition Law in Bulgaria
Bulgaria’s competition law is primarily governed by the Protection of Competition Act (PCA), which aligns with European Union competition rules because Bulgaria is an EU member state. The law is enforced by the Commission for Protection of Competition (CPC) — Bulgaria’s national competition authority.
Key Elements of Bulgarian Competition Law:
Prohibition of Anti-Competitive Agreements
Agreements between undertakings that have the object or effect of preventing, restricting, or distorting competition are prohibited. This includes:
Price fixing
Market allocation
Production or sales limits
Bid rigging
The PCA prohibits both horizontal and vertical restrictive agreements, in line with Articles 101 and 102 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU).
Abuse of Dominant Position
It is prohibited for any enterprise holding a dominant position on the market to abuse that position, such as:
Imposing unfair purchase or selling prices
Limiting production, markets, or technical development
Applying dissimilar conditions to equivalent transactions, placing some trading partners at a competitive disadvantage
Merger Control
Bulgaria requires prior notification and approval of mergers and acquisitions that meet certain turnover or market share thresholds. The CPC reviews transactions to ensure they do not significantly impede effective competition.
Enforcement and Sanctions
The CPC has investigative powers including dawn raids, gathering evidence, and imposing interim measures.
Fines for infringements can be significant — up to 10% of the undertaking’s total worldwide turnover.
CPC decisions can be appealed before the Supreme Administrative Court of Bulgaria.
Leniency Program
The CPC offers a leniency program encouraging undertakings involved in cartels to come forward in exchange for reduced fines or immunity.
Alignment with EU Law
As an EU member, Bulgaria’s competition law is consistent with EU competition regulations and the CPC cooperates with the European Commission and other EU competition authorities.
Summary:
| Aspect | Bulgaria Competition Law Highlights |
|---|---|
| Governing Law | Protection of Competition Act (PCA) |
| Authority | Commission for Protection of Competition (CPC) |
| Anti-Competitive Agreements | Prohibited (price fixing, market sharing, etc.) |
| Abuse of Dominance | Prohibited (unfair pricing, discrimination, etc.) |
| Merger Control | Mandatory notification & review for large deals |
| Penalties | Fines up to 10% of global turnover |
| Cooperation with EU | Fully aligned with EU competition rules |
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