Law of Bulgaria
Encyclopedia
Bulgarian law is a largely civil
, as opposed to a common
, law system, based on epitome
s in the French and German systems. It still contains elements of Soviet legal thinking
, atlhough these are now increasingly on the wane. This makes the approach to criminal law
inquisitorial as opposed to adversarial, and is generally characterised by an insistence on formality and rationalisation, as opposed to practicality and informality.
Law enforcement in Bulgaria
is a somewhat separate matter which causes significant concerns to Bulgarian society and external observers. The system of criminal law enforcement is accused of being slow and of failing to live up to elevated ideals of fairness. Civil litigation is also unduly difficult and time-consuming with long periods for most types of trial and low effectiveness of awards and enforcement making it virtually pointless for a large proportion of civil litigants, similar to the inillustrious example of the Italian system. These issues have been in the forefront of recent doubts in Bulgaria's fulfilment of pre-accession obligations towards the European Union
and may result in long-awaited reforms, partly through the adoption of the acquis communautaire.
Commercial law
is of an increasingly excellent drafting quality and the market in Bulgarian legal services which, while slower to emerge than those elsewhere in Central
and Eastern Europe
, is now increasingly competitive.
In recent years there has been a growth of NGO activity and decentralisation of state power in law. Entities such as the Bulgarian Center for Not-For-Profit Law
supported by USAID have grown in recent years.
Civil law (legal system)
Civil law is a legal system inspired by Roman law and whose primary feature is that laws are codified into collections, as compared to common law systems that gives great precedential weight to common law on the principle that it is unfair to treat similar facts differently on different...
, as opposed to a common
Common law
Common law is law developed by judges through decisions of courts and similar tribunals rather than through legislative statutes or executive branch action...
, law system, based on epitome
Epitome
An epitome is a summary or miniature form; an instance that represents a larger reality, also used as a synonym for embodiment....
s in the French and German systems. It still contains elements of Soviet legal thinking
Soviet law
The Law of the Soviet Union—also known as Socialist Law—was the law developed in the Soviet Union following the October Revolution of 1917...
, atlhough these are now increasingly on the wane. This makes the approach to criminal law
Criminal law
Criminal law, is the body of law that relates to crime. It might be defined as the body of rules that defines conduct that is not allowed because it is held to threaten, harm or endanger the safety and welfare of people, and that sets out the punishment to be imposed on people who do not obey...
inquisitorial as opposed to adversarial, and is generally characterised by an insistence on formality and rationalisation, as opposed to practicality and informality.
Law enforcement in Bulgaria
Law enforcement in Bulgaria
Bulgarian law enforcement organisations are mainly subordinate to the Ministry of Interior. The National Police Service is responsible for combating general crime and supporting the operations of other law enforcement agencies, the National Investigative Service and the Central Office for Combating...
is a somewhat separate matter which causes significant concerns to Bulgarian society and external observers. The system of criminal law enforcement is accused of being slow and of failing to live up to elevated ideals of fairness. Civil litigation is also unduly difficult and time-consuming with long periods for most types of trial and low effectiveness of awards and enforcement making it virtually pointless for a large proportion of civil litigants, similar to the inillustrious example of the Italian system. These issues have been in the forefront of recent doubts in Bulgaria's fulfilment of pre-accession obligations towards the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
and may result in long-awaited reforms, partly through the adoption of the acquis communautaire.
Commercial law
Commercial law
Commercial law is the body of law that governs business and commercial transactions...
is of an increasingly excellent drafting quality and the market in Bulgarian legal services which, while slower to emerge than those elsewhere in Central
Central Europe
Central Europe or alternatively Middle Europe is a region of the European continent lying between the variously defined areas of Eastern and Western Europe...
and Eastern Europe
Eastern Europe
Eastern Europe is the eastern part of Europe. The term has widely disparate geopolitical, geographical, cultural and socioeconomic readings, which makes it highly context-dependent and even volatile, and there are "almost as many definitions of Eastern Europe as there are scholars of the region"...
, is now increasingly competitive.
In recent years there has been a growth of NGO activity and decentralisation of state power in law. Entities such as the Bulgarian Center for Not-For-Profit Law
Bulgarian Center for Not-For-Profit Law
The Bulgarian Center for Not-For-Profit Law , founded in 2001, is a legal entity based in Sofia, Bulgaria with public benefit purposes to provide legal support for the development of civil society in Bulgaria. BCNL is under the guidance of the International Center for Not-for-Profit Law under an...
supported by USAID have grown in recent years.