{"id":"BGR-006","notes":"Coded Sep 25 2026 from Civic Space Watch. Escalation 5 per the scale's 'legislation adopted' indicator.","country":"Bulgaria","sources":[{"url":"https://civicspacewatch.eu/alert/bulgaria-change-in-law-limits-residence-permits-for-non-eu-citizens-engaged-in-civil-society-work/","citation":"https://civicspacewatch.eu/alert/bulgaria-change-in-law-limits-residence-permits-for-non-eu-citizens-engaged-in-civil-society-work/"},{"url":"https://www.parliament.bg/bg/bills/ID/166119","citation":"https://www.parliament.bg/bg/bills/ID/166119"}],"summary":"On 18 June 2025 parliament amended the Foreigners in the Republic of Bulgaria Act, removing non-profit activity as grounds for non-EU citizens to obtain long-term residence, while keeping it for religious activity, self-employment or work. The government cited low numbers (486 applications since 2002), but a GERB MP said the aim was to stop foreigners using non-profits as a route to residence — echoing the narrative that CSOs are abused for illegal stay, without evidence.","tactics":[{"code":"TC-18","role":"primary","label":"Legislative Operationalization","needs_review":false},{"code":"TC-24","role":"secondary","label":"Administrative CSO Burdening","needs_review":false}],"version":1,"channels":["Amendment to the Foreigners Act"],"entities":[{"id":1185,"name":"National Assembly majority (GERB MPs)","role":"actor","entity_type":"Parliament"},{"id":1186,"name":"Non-EU citizens working in or leading civil society organisations","role":"target","entity_type":"Individual; Sector"}],"date_text":"18/06/2025","created_at":"2026-09-25T12:58:53.946367+00:00","escalation":5,"harm_track":"Track 1 — Legal/Administrative","narratives":[],"report_ids":[],"signal_ids":[],"updated_at":"2026-09-25T12:58:53.946367+00:00","occurred_on":"2025-06-18","campaign_ids":[],"enabler_type":"","response_ids":[],"trigger_type":"TR-06: Legislative Milestone","campaign_phase":"","civic_response":"","date_precision":"day","enabler_status":"","campaigns_served":[],"consequence_category":"Legal/Administrative","institutional_consequence":"Legislation adopted; Discriminatory restriction on association"}