Council of Europe anti‑corruption body GRECO finds Bulgaria has fully implemented only 7 of 28 integrity recommendations, with whistleblower protections notably underdeveloped.
The Council of Europe’s Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) has released its Second Compliance Report under the Fifth Evaluation Round, assessing reforms in central government and law enforcement. Bulgaria has fully implemented only 7 of 28 anti‑corruption recommendations. The report highlights weak internal reporting systems and limited whistleblower protections in practice.
Key Highlights/Findings:
- Only 7 of 28 recommendations fully implemented; remaining 21 are partly implemented or not implemented.
- Insufficient internal reporting structures, with whistleblower mechanisms still lacking effectiveness.
- Ethics oversight remains weak, with insufficient institutional frameworks to support safe disclosure.
- Lack of independent oversight, leaving whistleblowers vulnerable to reprisals.
- Formal protections are in place, but GRECO notes that in practice, internal systems are “largely formalistic” rather than functional.
Expert Commentary:
From the report:
“GRECO remains concerned about the implementation of an effective system of internal reporting and protection for whistleblowers within the administration. The current framework risks rendering such protections ineffective in practice.”
(GRECO, Fifth Evaluation Round – Second Compliance Report on Bulgaria, 2025)
The GRECO Fifth Evaluation Round focuses on preventing corruption and promoting integrity in central governments (top executive functions) and law enforcement agencies. Bulgaria adopted a whistleblower protection law in 2023, which GRECO recognises as a positive development. However, the report concludes that the relevant recommendation remains only partly implemented, particularly due to gaps in training, application within law enforcement, and broader integrity frameworks still under development.
Relevant Links & Further Reading:
- GRECO 2nd Compliance Report – Bulgaria (2025), click here
- Press Release: Bulgaria: Council of Europe anti-corruption body assesses implementation of its recommendations to prevent corruption in central government and law enforcement agencies, click here
- For the Act on the Protection of Persons who Report Breaches, click here.