Bulgaria moves to integrate mediation into legal proceedings
Parliament has adopted amendments to the Civil Procedure Code that introduce mandatory informational meetings on mediation for certain civil and commercial disputes.
The changes, part of Bulgaria's Recovery and Resilience Plan, require courts to order parties to attend these sessions in person for cases such as property claims, divorces, parental rights, and labor disputes. Justice Minister Georgi Georgiev noted that the move could help ease the workload of the courts.
Lev Ins pursues Supreme Court appeal in lawsuit against Mediapool
Despite losing in both lower courts, insurance company Lev Ins has filed a cassation appeal to uphold its 1 million levs defamation claim against news outlet Mediapool. The case stems from a 2023 article reporting remarks by then-interim Finance Minister Rositsa Velkova about Bulgaria's issues with the international Green Card insurance system.
The Supreme Court will now assess whether the appeal is admissible. The lawsuit was flagged in the European Commission's 2023 Rule of Law Report as a potential SLAPP case (strategic lawsuit against public participation).
Bulgarians went abroad more in May
May, known as one of the most popular months for holidays, saw a significant increase in travel by Bulgarians, particularly abroad. According to the latest data from the National Statistical Institute, outbound trips reached 878.6 thousand, marking an 8.7% increase compared to the same month in 2024.
As usual, Turkey remained the top destination with 241.9 thousand visits, followed by Greece with 191.4 thousand and Romania with 80.3 thousand. These neighboring countries continue to attract Bulgarian travelers with their proximity, affordability, and familiar appeal. Moreover, leisure and holiday purposes dominated travel motives, accounting for 41.3% of all trips in May - the largest share among all categories.
Bulgaria moves to integrate mediation into legal proceedings
Parliament has adopted amendments to the Civil Procedure Code that introduce mandatory informational meetings on mediation for certain civil and commercial disputes.
