Mediation in EU countries

Bulgaria

Rather than going to court, why not try to settle your dispute through mediation? This is an alternative dispute resolution (ADR) measure, where a mediator assists the parties involved in a dispute to reach an agreement. The government and legal practitioners in Bulgaria are aware of the advantages of mediation.

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Bulgaria

Who to contact

The Ministry of Justice of Bulgaria has established a register of mediators as part of the central register of non-profit corporate bodies offering useful public services.

The website of the Ministry of Justice provides access to:

In which area is recourse to mediation admissible and/or most common?

Mediation is admissible in many areas of law. However, these areas are not regulated or limited by legislation. Up until now, most registered mediators have specialised in commercial and business mediation.

Are there specific rules to follow?

Mediation is entirely voluntary. Although it provides an alternative means of settling a dispute without going to court, it is not a prerequisite for initiating court proceedings.

There is no specific code of conduct for mediators. However, provisions on ethical standards are contained in the Mediation Act and in Regulation No 2 of 15 March 2007, which sets out the conditions and procedure for approving organisations that train mediators.

Information and training

Organisations offering training to mediators come from the private sector.

Training seminar topics include legal proceedings and ethical rules of conduct for mediators, as well as the procedure set out in the Mediation Act and Regulation No 2 of 15 March 2007.

What is the cost of mediation?

Mediation is not free of charge; payment is determined by agreement between the mediator and the parties involved.

Is it possible to enforce an agreement resulting from mediation?

According to Directive 2008/52/EC (encouraging and facilitating mediation as an alternative form of resolution of cross-border disputes in the EU), it must be possible to request that the content of a written agreement resulting from mediation be made enforceable.

The provisions of Directive 2008/52/EC on the enforceability of agreements resulting from mediation have been transposed in the Mediation Act.

Member States will communicate this to the courts and other authorities competent to receive such requests.

Last update: 19/05/2023

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