First Bulgarian Institution Cast for Damages Under EU Legislation

Unprecedentedly, a Bulgarian institution was cast for damages due to violation of EU laws.

A Lebanese businessman, living in the Bulgarian city of Plovdiv, was charged was charged with brand infringement in 2007. Meanwhile, his niece, also living in Bulgaria, was seriously injured in an accident and had to undergo surgery abroad.

The businessman accompanied his niece until they reached the border, where it turned out he was not allowed to leave the country by the Prosecutor's Office. The Lebanese citizen appealed and the ban was lifted, since brand infringement is not considered a serious premeditated crime, which is a necessary condition for a prohibition to leave the country.

However, the businessman was not allowed leave the Bulgarian borders for three more months, which led him crave a compensation.

According to the Bulgarian legislation, no compensation could be given to citizens who have been unjustly prohibited to leave the country. However, a EU law states that every EU citizen has the right to travel freely across the Union. The Lebanese citizen has the same right, because he has lived in Bulgaria since 2003.

Thus, Plovdiv's Prosecutor's Office was forced to pay BGN 1000 in compensation to the businessman.

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