The representatives of the people Iskra Mihaylova and Daniel Prodanov submitted a bill to amend and supplement the Law on Non-Profit Legal Entities, which introduces clear and explicit rules regarding the names of non-governmental organizations, the party headquarters announced.
The main goal of the bill is to overcome an established legislative gap, which has so far allowed non-profit legal entities to use terms characteristic of state bodies and institutions in their names, without having public law status or legally defined powers. The petitioners emphasize that although the current law formally prohibits misleading names, there is no specific regulation of which words and word combinations create an institutional suggestion and prerequisites for deception.
The reasons state that this regulatory gap has led to a persistent practice of private entities using names that resemble structures established by law or bodies with public functions. This blurs the line between public authority and civil initiative and creates ambiguity regarding the nature, powers and source of legitimacy of the relevant organizations.
The proposed amendments explicitly prohibit the use of words and designations in the name of a non-profit legal entity that designate or imply affiliation with a state body, local government body or institution established by law, as well as those that create the impression of exercising public authority. A categorical ban on the use of the words "state", "state" and "stately", except in cases where this explicitly arises from a law, is also introduced. The draft law also places clear restrictions on the use of the words "national", "national" and "nationally" in combination with designations such as "agency", "institute", "commission", "service", "inspection", "organ", "administration" and “center“.
According to the petitioners, such word combinations are traditionally inherent to state bodies established by law, and their use by private entities creates a real risk of confusion for both citizens and institutions and international partners.
The explanatory memorandum also emphasizes that in a state governed by the rule of law, public authority derives from the Constitution and the law, and not from a self-designation or terminological suggestion. The proposed changes aim to restore a clear distinction between public law institutions and private law legal entities, thus strengthening the principle of legal certainty and institutional clarity. The legislative initiative also has a preventive nature, limiting the possibility for non-profit legal entities to benefit from public trust arising from institutional-sounding names when participating in public debates, funding procedures or interacting with state and international structures. The changes also introduce clearer and objective criteria for the Registry Agency when registering legal entities, which reduces the risk of contradictory practice and subjective judgment when assessing whether a given name is permissible. The bill does not expand the powers of the administration, but creates predictable rules for implementing the law.
The petitioners from “Vazrazhdane“ explicitly emphasize that the proposed amendments do not limit the freedom of association guaranteed by the Constitution of the Republic of Bulgaria, nor do they affect the goals, activities or right of expression of non-profit legal entities. The regulation refers only to the public name as an element of the legal identification of the relevant entity. The bill applies equally to all non-profit legal entities, regardless of their subject matter, ideological orientation or sources of financing, and does not introduce selective regimes or exceptions outside the cases expressly provided for by law. A three-month period is foreseen from the entry into force of the law for already registered non-profit legal entities to bring their names into line with the new requirements. This ensures a reasonable transition period and predictability for the affected entities, without creating an additional administrative or financial burden for the state.