Bulgaria delayed the transposition of the EU Directive of Whistleblower protection in the national legislation and missed the deadline – of 17 December 2021. The Law on protection of persons reporting or publicly disclosing information on breaches (the “Whistleblowing Law”) was adopted on 27 January 2023. This adoption was preceded by back-and-forth steps of all political parties in the national Parliament.

The law was promulgated in the State Gazette, Issue No. 11 of February 2, 2023, and enters into force on May 4, 2023, for all obligated persons, with the exception of the provisions establishing obligations for private sector employers who have between 50 and 249 workers or employees, which will apply from 17 December 2023.

In October 2022 two similar projects have been submitted – one from the Council of Ministers and the second one from the Democratic Bulgaria party. In November 2022 the projects found support in the legal parliamentary committees. However, on December 14 four parties GERB, DPS, BSP, and Vazrazhdane finally voted “against”.

GERB and BSP argued during the debate about the imperfection of the texts. Vazrazhdane simply declared the lawas ‘a law for the administration of noses (slanderers)’.

On January 12 2023, GERB submitted its own text. It was almost identical to the rejected draft of the Council of Ministers a month earlier. The key difference to previous proposals is the body designated to receive and process external reports. The new project defines this will be the Commission for Personal Data Protection. This project was put on the fast track and was finally adopted on January 27, 2023.

The media coverage of the project was most visible on 20 January 2023 when the law was voted in the Judicial Commission of the Parliament and on 27 January 2023 when the Parliament voted on the law.

Media published short news pieces about the process of adoption of the law. Most of the news pieces attracted a very low readership and motivated no comments at all. The only comment in one of the publications was irrelevant to the topic.

The monitoring covers the period March 2023 – June 2023. The general impression is that the coverage is moderate, and goes into five main segments:

1. THE RESPONSIBLE BODY COMMISSION OF PERSONAL DATA PROTECTION – 9

2. GENERAL AND SPECIALIZED MEDIA – 13

3.  LAW OFFICES – 9

4. WORKSHOPS AND PUBLIC DEBATES ANNOUNCED – 10

5. ANNOUNCED ESTABLISHED CHANNELS – 29

60 publications are registered for the analyzed period.

ANALYSES IN DETAILS

Start date 3 March 2023 – End date 24 June 2023

1. THE RESPONSIBLE BODY – COMMISSION OF PERSONAL DATA PROTECTION

After adoption of the Bulgarian Law of Whistleblower Protection on 27 January 2023, the responsible body – Commission of Personal Data Protection, published a detailed information, incl. a Road Map about all due procedures and due dates occurred after the adoption of the law.

https://www.cpdp.bg/?p=news_view&aid=1959

https://www.cpdp.bg/index.php?p=rubric&aid=67

https://www.cpdp.bg/index.php?p=rubric&aid=69

https://www.cpdp.bg/index.php?p=pages&aid=70

https://www.cpdp.bg/index.php?p=rubric&aid=71

https://www.cpdp.bg/userfiles/file/ZZLPSPOIN/Road%20Map_Bg.pdf

https://accountingnews.bg/%D0%BE%D1%82-4-%D0%BC%D0%B0%D0%B9-2023%D0%B3-%D0%B2%D0%BB%D0%B5%D0%B7%D0%B5-%D0%B2-%D1%81%D0%B8%D0%BB%D0%B0-%D0%B7%D0%B0%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%BD-%D0%B7%D0%B0-%D0%B7%D0%B0%D1%89%D0%B8%D1%82%D0%B0-%D0%BD%D0%B0-%D0%BB%D0%B8%D1%86%D0%B0%D1%82%D0%B0-%D0%BF%D0%BE%D0%B4%D0%B0%D0%B2%D0%B0%D1%89%D0%B8-%D1%81%D0%B8%D0%B3%D0%BD%D0%B0%D0%BB%D0%B8-%D0%B8%D0%BB%D0%B8-%D0%BF%D1%83%D0%B1%D0%BB%D0%B8%D1%87%D0%BD%D0%BE-%D0%BE%D0%BF%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%B5%D1%81%D1%82%D1%8F%D0%B2%D0%B0%D1%89%D0%B8-%D0%B8-1209.html

КЗЛД утвърди образци на Регистър на сигналите и Формуляр за подаване на сигнал по ЗЗЛПСПОИН

https://iandgbrokers.com/whistleblowers

• MEDIA PUBLISHED NEWS PIECES AND OVERVIEW ABOUT THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE LAW

https://www.investor.bg/a/517-pazar-na-truda/370752-golemite-rabotodateli-s-novi-zadalzheniya-po-zakona-za-zashtita-na-litsata-podavashti-signali-za-narusheniya

https://utroruse.com/article/949712/

https://www.24chasa.bg/biznes/article/14338063

https://www.moreto.net/novini.php?n=477452

https://www.tbmagazine.net/statia/novi-zadlzheniya-za-rabotodatelite-vv-vrzka-s-novoprietiya-whistleblowing-zakon-za-zaschita

Нов Закон за защита на лицата, подаващи сигнали или оповестяващи информация за нарушения

https://bta.bg/bg/BTA-plus/451046-zakonat-koyto-dava-zashtita-na-litsa-podavashti-signali-za-narusheniya-vliza-

https://novini247.com/novini/darjavata-razbira-pritesneniyata-na-horata-podavashti-signali-no-razbira-i_6324214.html

https://bnr.bg/horizont/post/101613068

https://bnr.bg/post/101839744/nadejda-iordanova

Most of the news pieces attracted low readership and limited comments.

In two of the few publications, which attracted more comments, they were mostly negative. Most of the comments expressed disagreement with the fact that anonymous signals are not accepted.

Some of the comments associate the new law with old communist security services, which used information given by agents and collaborators. Another comment calls the law “non sence” –

https://fakti.bg/mnenia/780628-kakvi-sa-novite-pravila-za-licata-podavashti-signali-za-narushenia-vencislav-karadjov-predsedatel-na-kzld-pred-fakti

https://www.mediapool.bg/ot-dnes-deistva-spetszashtita-za-horata-podavashti-na-mediite-signali-za-zloupotrebi-news347391.html

Only one story covers a case of whistleblowing in which three whistleblowers were fired –

https://www.svobodnaevropa.bg/a/32377067.html

• LAW OFFICES

The law kept attracting larger attention among specialized audiences rather than among the general public. Many prominent law offices published explanatory articles or educational pieces.

https://dh-law.bg/10-vyprosa-nov-zakon-za-zashtita-na-licata-podavashti-signal/

ВЛИЗА В СИЛА ЗАКОНЪТ ЗА ЗАЩИТА НА ЛИЦАТА, ПОДАВАЩИ СИГНАЛИ ИЛИ ПУБЛИЧНО ОПОВЕСТЯВАЩИ ИНФОРМАЦИЯ ЗА НАРУШЕНИЯ

https://www2.deloitte.com/bg/bg/pages/legal/articles/legal-article-2023.html

Новата нормативна уредба относно защита на лицата, подаващи сигнали

Процедура по подаване и разглеждане на сигнали за нарушения по вътрешни канали съгласно Закона за защита на лицата, подаващи сигнали или публично оповестяващи информация за нарушения (ЗЗЛПСПОИН)

НОВ ЗАКОН ЗА ЗАЩИТА НА ЛИЦАТА, ПОДАВАЩИ СИГНАЛИ ИЛИ ПУБЛИЧНО ОПОВЕСТЯВАЩИ ИНФОРМАЦИЯ ЗА НАРУШЕНИЯ

https://www.adp.bg/files/MEMO_The%20New%20Bulgarian%20Whistleblowing%20Legislation_.pdf

https://duncheva.bg/2023/05/07/%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B7%D1%8F%D1%81%D0%BD%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B8%D1%8F-%D0%BF%D0%BE-%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%B8%D0%BD%D1%86%D0%B8%D0%BF%D0%BD%D0%B8-%D0%B2%D1%8A%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%BE%D1%81%D0%B8-%D0%BF%D0%BE-%D0%BF%D1%80/

http://www.bili-bg.org/11/1100/news_item.html

• A LOT OF WORKSHOPS AND PUBLIC DEBATES WERE ANNOUNCED:

https://temidaeducation.bg/%D0%BE%D0%B1%D1%83%D1%87%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B5/%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B2-%D0%B7%D0%B0%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%BD-%D0%B7%D0%B0-%D0%B7%D0%B0%D1%89%D0%B8%D1%82%D0%B0-%D0%BD%D0%B0-%D0%BB%D0%B8%D1%86%D0%B0%D1%82%D0%B0-%D0%BF%D0%BE%D0%B4%D0%B0%D0%B2%D0%B0%D1%89%D0%B8/

https://www.pedagozi.bg/obuchenia/seminari-za-direktori/szdavane-na-kanal-za-vtreshno-podavane-na-signali-po-zakona-za

https://expertevents.bg/seminar/trudov-dogovor-whistleblowers/

Закон за защита на лицата, подаващи сигнали или публично оповестяващи информация за нарушения (Whistleblowing режим)

https://bia-bg.com/event/view/31450

https://www.ngobg.info/bg/calendar/125140-%D1%85%D0%B8%D0%B1%D1%80%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BD-%D1%81%D0%B5%D0%BC%D0%B8%D0%BD%D0%B0%D1%80-%D0%B7%D0%B0%D0%B4%D1%8A%D0%BB%D0%B6%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B8%D1%8F-%D0%B7%D0%B0-%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B1%D0%BE%D1%82%D0%BE%D0%B4%D0%B0%D1%82%D0%B5%D0%BB%D0%B8%D1%82%D0%B5-%D0%BF%D0%BE-%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%B8%D1%8F-%D0%B7%D0%B0%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%BD-%D0%B7%D0%B0.html

ЗАДЪЛЖЕНИЯ ЗА РАБОТОДАТЕЛИТЕ ПО НОВИЯ ЗАКОН ЗА ЗАЩИТА НА ЛИЦАТА, ПОДАВАЩИ СИГНАЛИ ИЛИ ПУБЛИЧНО ОПОВЕСТЯВАЩИ ИНФОРМАЦИЯ ЗА НАРУШЕНИЯ

Начало

https://allevents.in/sofia/%D0%9D%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%B8%D1%82%D0%B5-%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B2%D0%B0-%D0%B8-%D0%B7%D0%B0%D0%B4%D1%8A%D0%BB%D0%B6%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B8%D1%8F-%D0%97%D0%B0%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%BD-%D0%B7%D0%B0-%D0%B7%D0%B0%D1%89%D0%B8%D1%82%D0%B0-%D0%BD%D0%B0-%D0%BB%D0%B8%D1%86%D0%B0%D1%82%D0%B0-%D0%BF%D0%BE%D0%B4%D0%B0%D0%B2%D0%B0%D1%89%D0%B8-%D1%81%D0%B8%D0%B3%D0%BD%D0%B0%D0%BB%D0%B8/200024804932554

Онлайн курс „GDPR регламент и длъжностни лица по защита на личните данни“

• ESTABLISHED CHANNELS:

The good news is that many BG institutions established channels. Some of the first which established channels include but are not limited to:

• STATE INSTITUTIONS:

https://m.president.bg/bg/cat259/zashtita-na-podavashtite-signali-po-zzlpspoin

https://nra.bg/wps/portal/nra/kontakti/connection.nap/Kanal-za-vutreshno-podavane-na-signali

https://www.minfin.bg/upload/54828/Pravila.pdf

https://www.cem.bg/infobg/396

Вътрешен канал за подаване на сигнали по Закона за защита на лицата, подаващи сигнали или публично оповестяващи информация за нарушения

https://rzi-sfo.bg/%D0%B7%D0%B0%D1%89%D0%B8%D1%82%D0%B0-%D0%BD%D0%B0-%D0%BB%D0%B8%D1%86%D0%B0%D1%82%D0%B0-%D0%BF%D0%BE%D0%B4%D0%B0%D0%B2%D0%B0%D1%89%D0%B8-%D1%81%D0%B8%D0%B3%D0%BD%D0%B0%D0%BB%D0%B8-%D0%B7%D0%B0-%D0%BD/

https://silistra-adms.justice.bg/bg/19695

http://www.navbul.com/bg/zzlpspoin/

https://www.rzipz.net/page.php?199

• SCHOOLS:

https://su-nikola-voivodov.org/uploads/%D0%92%D1%8A%D1%82%D1%80%D0%B5%D1%88%D0%BD%D0%B8%20%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%BB%D0%B0%20%D0%B7%D0%B0%20%D0%BF%D0%BE%D0%B4%D0%B0%D0%B2%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B5%20%D0%BD%D0%B0%20%D1%81%D0%B8%D0%B3%D0%BD%D0%B0%D0%BB%D0%B8.pdf

https://104ou.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/%D0%9F%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%BB%D0%B0-%D0%B7%D0%B0-%D0%B2%D1%8A%D1%82%D1%80%D0%B5%D1%88%D0%BD%D0%BE-%D0%BF%D0%BE%D0%B4%D0%B0%D0%B2%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B5-%D0%BD%D0%B0-%D1%81%D0%B8%D0%B3%D0%BD%D0%B0%D0%BB%D0%B8.pdf

https://cdgpyrviuni.com/zakon-za-zasthita-na-liczata-podavasthi-signali-ili-publichno-opovestyavasthi-informacziya-za-narusheniya/

https://egiv-plovdiv.bg/bg/%D0%B2%D1%8A%D1%82%D1%80%D0%B5%D1%88%D0%BD%D0%BE-%D0%BF%D0%BE%D0%B4%D0%B0%D0%B2%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B5-%D0%BD%D0%B0-%D1%81%D0%B8%D0%B3%D0%BD%D0%B0%D0%BB%D0%B8-%D1%81%D1%8A%D0%B3%D0%BB%D0%B0%D1%81%D0%BD/

https://npg.bg/%D0%B7%D0%B0%D1%89%D0%B8%D1%82%D0%B0-%D0%BD%D0%B0-%D0%BB%D0%B8%D1%86%D0%B0-%D0%BF%D0%BE%D0%B4%D0%B0%D0%B2%D0%B0%D1%89%D0%B8-%D1%81%D0%B8%D0%B3%D0%BD%D0%B0%D0%BB%D0%B8-%D0%B8%D0%BB%D0%B8-%D0%BF%D1%83/

• MUNICIPALITIES:

https://www.burgas.bg/bg/zashtita-na-podavashtite-signali-po-zakon-za-zashtita-na-litsata-podavashti-signali-ili-publichno-opovestyavashti-informatsiya-za-narusheniya/

https://pernik.bg/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/%D0%9F%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%BB%D0%B0-%D0%B7%D0%B0-%D0%B2%D1%8A%D1%82%D1%80%D0%B5%D1%88%D0%BD%D0%BE-%D0%BF%D0%BE%D0%B4%D0%B0%D0%B2%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B5-%D0%BD%D0%B0-%D1%81%D0%B8%D0%B3%D0%BD%D0%B0%D0%BB%D0%B8_%D0%97%D0%97%D0%9B%D0%9F%D0%A1%D0%9F%D0%9E%D0%98%D0%9D_%D1%84%D0%B8%D0%BD%D0%B0%D0%BB-.pdf

https://ou-byala.com/vid2/577.pdf

• PRIVATE COMPANIES:

https://www.sdi.bg/zashtita-na-litsata-podavashti-signali/

https://www.sofiyskavoda.bg/za-nas/podavane-na-signali-za-narusheniya

https://mr-bricolage.bg/information-whistleblowing-2023

https://www.billa.bg/podavane-na-signali-za-narusheniya

http://www.vik-ruse.com/podavane-na-signali-po-vatreshen-kanal

https://www.fantastico.bg/ppri

https://ermzapad.bg/documents/4461/%D0%95%D0%BB%D0%B5%D0%BA%D1%82%D1%80%D0%BE%D1%85%D0%BE%D0%BB%D0%B4_%D0%9E%D0%B1%D1%89%D0%B0_%D0%B8%D0%BD%D1%84%D0%BE%D1%80%D0%BC%D0%B0%D1%86%D0%B8%D1%8F_%D0%B7%D0%B0_%D0%BF%D0%BE%D0%B4%D0%B0%D0%B2%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B5_%D0%BD%D0%B0_%D1%81%D0%B8%D0%B3%D0%BD%D0%B0%D0%BB%D0%B8.pdf

https://vipsecurity.bg/signals/

https://techmart.bg/%D0%A1%D0%B8%D0%B3%D0%BD%D0%B0%D0%BB%D0%B8

https://www.svetamarina.com/bg/podavane-na-signali-saglasno-zzlpspoin

https://content.services.dmtech.com/rootpage-dm-shop-bg-bg/resource/blob/1827680/0894e115310b586953b2db1300008512/pravila-za-podavane-na-narushenia-data.pdf

One of the leading legal service and information providers and publishers established a platform, which uses an software which may facilitate the organizations to implement the new legislation:

https://www.signals.bg/

• BULGARIA ON THE EU SCENE:

During the plenary meeting of the European Data Protection Board (EDPB), held on 26 April 2023 in Brussels, the Chairman of CPDP – Ventsislav Karadjov presented his candidacy to the Board`s plenary.

In accordance with Regulation (EU) 2016/679, the Board elects one Chair and two Deputy Chairs amongst its members, by simple majority for a term of office of 5 years, which is renewable only once. In addition to Mr. Karadjov’s candidacy, the heads of the Finnish and Dutch DPAs are also participating in the race. The election of the new Chair took place during the plenary session of the EDPB on 25^th of May 2023. Mr. Karadjov was not elected.