Bulgaria Country Report

Bulgaria is a European country that shares borders with Romania, Serbia, North Macedonia, Greece, and Turkiye, as well as the Black Sea in the east. Bulgaria has been undergoing significant changes in recent years, most notably in its pursuit of economic and political integration with the West through accession to organizations such as the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the European Union (EU). While the country has experienced several changes in government in recent years, the focus has remained on an agenda of economic expansion, although levels of social and economic welfare are generally lower than in Western European countries. Organized criminality is prominent in Bulgaria, although foreign travelers are rarely affected by it. The country faces low terrorist and conflict risks. Transport infrastructure is generally adequate, although conditions are variable in rural areas.

Bulgaria faces a low security risk. The majority of travels and operations in the country are conducted safely. Criminal activity is a concern and personal theft is common. Bulgaria maintains good relations with its neighbors and does not face any internal or external conflict threat. The country is used for transit by radical Islamist militants, and as such Bulgaria is exposed to periodic counter-terror operations.

There are no safety concerns over air travel.

Roads and railway lines between major urban centers are well-maintained, although minor roads in remote rural areas may be poorly serviced.

The Port of Varna is considered efficient.

The utilities are good, but expensive during winter. Central heating is used during winter.

There are increasing concerns over the threat from cyber-attacks, particularly during the Russia-Ukraine war.

Bulgaria regularly experiences floods caused by heavy rainfall, snow melt, and ice jams. Periodic instances of high temperatures can lead to temporary health-related concerns as well as service and travel disruptions. Minor earthquakes are common but rarely cause significant damage or transport disruption.

Insect-borne diseases are present, including Tick-borne Encephalitis. Healthcare services are adequate in major urban centers, but quality varies significantly in more rural areas. Access to mental health services is limited. Tap water is considered safe for drinking unless otherwise specified.

Bulgaria is a unitary multi-party parliamentary republic. The Prime Minister is the head of government, and the President is the head of state. The Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers form the government and exercise executive power. The unicameral parliament, or National Assembly, exercises legislative power. Presidential elections occur once every five years, while parliamentary elections occur at least once every four years. However, snap parliamentary elections are regularly called in response to political developments. The judiciary is nominally independent of the executive and the legislature but is widely regarded as corrupt and vulnerable to external pressures. Even though the media sector remains largely independent, pluralistic outlets have been pressured to provide government-friendly coverage. Journalists have also been threatened in the course of their work. Additionally, ethnic minorities increasingly face discrimination.

Coalitions featuring a cross-section of political parties are typically required to form the government. Despite regular government collapses and failure to form governments following elections, state institutions are competent and effective and provide reliable services across most of the country.