Bulgaria's Government approved on 15 February amendments that would allow foreign nationals from the European Union, the European Economic Area and Switzerland to become practicing notaries in the country.
The amendments stem from a European Court of Justice ruling that the introduction of nationality requirement for the carrying out of notary activity violates the requirements of Art. 49 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. The ruling shall be obligatory for all EU institutions and member-states.
The amendments will make Bulgaria's legislation compliant with the Court of the European Union ruling from 24 May 2011. The court was asked to rule in a case brought by the European Commission against seven member states – Belgium, France, Luxembourg, Austria, Germany, Greece and Portugal – for not applying a directive on recognition of professional qualifications to notaries.
Although Bulgaria was not part of the infringement case brought by the Commission, it also has to abide by the court's decision.