The government of Bulgaria fully committed itself to compliance with EU directives in the field of social policy and employment by March 31, 2001. Bulgaria is the only country in accession without gender equality machinery, or governmental commissions with the objective of implementing specific policies. The lack of such machinery has impeded the implementation of EU standards for gender equality in the field of employment and social security.
At the 1993 meeting of the Copenhagen European Council, the Member States designed the criteria for membership in the EU. These criteria, which are often referred to as the Copenhagen Criteria, require the "stability of institutions guaranteeing democracy, the rule of law, human rights and respect for and protection of minorities." The EU has used the Copenhagen Criteria to guide its evaluation of the progress of accession countries toward meeting EU standards. A 2002 report from the Equal Opportunities for Women and Men in the European Accession Programme found that Bulgaria did not comply with EU directives in three areas: part-time work, the burden of proof in cases of sex discrimination, and the gender pay gap. The same report stated that "despite positive changes in the standards on gender equality generated by the process of EU accession, significant areas of concern related to ensuring de facto equality for women and men in the accession countries remain."
The adoption of the new anti-discrimination law on 16 September 2003, however, brings Bulgaria's laws in line with EU Directives 2000/43, 2000/78 and 2002/73. Prior anti-discrimination laws were ineffective and codified in several different codes; this new law consolidates the law and provides for an anti-discrimination Commission to oversee enforcement.
For more information, please see Monitoring the EU Accession Process, Equal Opportunities for Women and Men (2002) by the Open Society Institute (PDF, 67 pages).