site.btaParliament Approves Digitalization Measures in Administrative Proceedings

Parliament adopted amendments to the Administrative Procedure Code (APC) at second reading on Thursday, introducing expanded use of electronic communication and document exchange between courts, administrative bodies, and participants in administrative proceedings, including private individuals, legal entities, lawyers, notaries, and institutions.

The amendments will enter into force three days after their promulgation in the State Gazette, with certain exceptions. Provisions related to digitalization of administrative proceedings will take effect on July 1, 2026.

Justice Minister Georgi Georgiev said the purpose of the amendments is to further digitalize administrative proceedings and the interaction between legal professionals and public institutions. The changes introduce mandatory electronic communication between state and judicial institutions. "Electronic service of documents will also help address delays in the justice system," he said. 

While electronic notifications will remain optional for private individuals, they will become the default mode of communication with the court for all other participants in proceedings. The move aims to eliminate delays caused by procedural tricks in document delivery, the Minister noted.

From next year, electronic case files will become mandatory in the administration, allowing time to build the necessary technical infrastructure. Another provision enables participation in court hearings via video conference.

The amendments also extend the deadline for appealing a silent refusal by the administration from one to two months. Silent consent is introduced in cases where an administrative authority fails to act within the time limit set by a court after a silent refusal has been overturned.

A silent refusal may be appealed to a higher administrative body within two months after the expiry of the deadline for a response. If the parties concerned were not notified about the initiation of proceedings, the appeal period is six months.

The amendments require all administrative bodies, judicial authorities, the Ombudsman, public service providers, and lawyers involved in proceedings to provide an electronic address for communication and document service via the secure electronic delivery system and the integrated e-justice internet portal.

Requests for individual administrative acts may be submitted electronically at any time of day or night. Administrative authorities must open an electronic case file upon receiving such a request or initiating proceedings on their own.

Electronic service of documents by administrative bodies will be deemed completed when the recipient downloads the file via the secure system. If not retrieved within seven days, the document will be considered served on the following day.

For security or other important reasons, the court may order a party, witness, expert, or interpreter to participate in a public hearing via video conference. Upon request and in cases of objective impossibility to appear in person, participants may also take part in specific procedural actions remotely.