The main law in the field of culture in Bulgaria is the Law on Prevention and Development of Culture. Another crucial law at the national level is the Constitution of the Republic of Bulgaria, where the foundation of artists’ freedoms is guaranteed.
There are three laws governing the specialised legislation in the country:
• Law on the State Budget of the Republic of Bulgaria;
• Public Finance Act;
• State Aid Act and Rules for Implementation of the State Aid Act.
In addition, there are eleven specific laws and acts in the field of culture covering the arts, cultural and creative industries, cultural heritage and cultural tourism:
• Law on Protection and Development of Culture;
• Film Industry Act;
• Law on Radio and Television;
• Copyright and Neighbouring Rights Act;
• Cultural Heritage Act;
• National Chitalishte Act;
• Law on Public Libraries;
• Law on Patronage;
• “13th Century Bulgaria” Fund Act;
• Law on the Administrative Regulation of the Production and Trade of Optical Discs, Matrixes and Other Media Containing Copyright Objects and Related Rights;
• Compulsory Deposit of Copies of Printed and Other Works Act
Table 2: International legal instruments implemented by Bulgaria in the cultural field
| Title of the act | Year of adoption |
|---|---|
| UNESCO | |
| UNESCO World Heritage Convention (1972) | 1974 |
| Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict (1954) | 1956 |
| Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property (1970) | |
| Universal Copyright Convention (1952) | 1974 |
| Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (2003) | 2006 |
| UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions (2005) | 2007 |
| Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage (2001) | 2010 |
| COUNCIL OF EUROPE | |
| European Cultural Convention (1954) | 1991 |
| Convention for the Protection of the Architectural Heritage of Europe (Granada, 1985) | 1991 |
| Convention for the Protection of the Archaeological Heritage of Europe (1992) | 1995 |
| Europe Convention on Cinematographic Co-Production (1992) | 2006 |
| OTHER | |
| The Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) | 2007 |
| Communication from the Commission on State aid for films and other audiovisual works ( 2013) | 2013 |
| Directive 2014/60/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 May 2014 on the return of cultural objects unlawfully removed from the territory of a Member State and amending Regulation (EU) No 1024/2012 | 2014 |
| Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMSD) (2018) | 2018 |
| Council Regulation (EC) No 116/2009 of 18 December 2008 on the export of cultural goods | 2009 |
| Directive 97/36/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 June 1997 | 2007 |
| Directive 2007/65/EC of the European parliament and the council of 11 December 2007 | 2007 |
| Council Directive 89/552/EEC of 3 October 1989 on the coordination of certain provisions laid down by Law, Regulation or Administrative Action in Member States concerning the pursuit of television broadcasting activities | 2007 |
| Communication from the Commission – Guidelines on State aid to airports and airlines | 2014 |
| Directive 2001/29/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 May 2001 on the harmonisation of certain aspects of copyright and related rights in the information society | 2007 |
| Commission Directive 2002/77/EC of 16 September 2002 on competition in the markets for electronic communications networks and services | 2007 |
| Directive 2003/33/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 May 2003 on the approximation of the laws, regulations and administrative provisions of the Member States relating to the advertising and sponsorship of tobacco products | 2007 |
| Directive 2005/29/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 May 2005 concerning unfair business-to-consumer commercial practices in the internal market and amending Council Directive 84/450/EEC, Directives 97/7/EC, 98/27/EC and 2002/65/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council and Regulation (EC) No 2006/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council (‘Unfair Commercial Practices Directive’) | 2007 |
| Communication from the Commission to the Council, the European Parliament and the European Economic and Social Committee – Enhancing the enforcement of intellectual property rights in the internal market | 2009 |
| Directive 2010/13/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 10 March 2010 on the coordination of certain provisions laid down by law, regulation or administrative action in Member States concerning the provision of audiovisual media services (Audiovisual Media Services Directive) | 2010 |
| Judgment of the EU Commercial Court (Case C-314/14) |
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