Bulgarian Competition Commission reports surge in public procurement complaints

The Bulgarian Commission for Protection of Competition (CPC) has received 1,046 complaints regarding public procurement laws as of October 10, 2026, resulting in 905 active proceedings. Based on current trends, the Commission expects approximately 1,350 complaints and 1,170 proceedings by the end of the year.

CPC Chairman Rosen Karadimov stated that over four-fifths of these proceedings involve procurement processes managed by municipalities. The Commission is prioritizing contracts involving European funding to prevent delays in critical infrastructure projects, such as water supply and urban improvement.

A key focus for the CPC is combating tender manipulation and investigating potential abuses of the right to appeal. The Commission is monitoring entities that file numerous complaints across diverse sectors to determine if they are intentionally delaying procedures. If evidence of wrongdoing is found, the CPC may refer cases to economic police or the prosecutor's office.