Written question - Discriminatory treatment of EU citizens with permanent residence in Bulgaria due to separate registration under LN and EGN systems - E-002344/2025
Question for written answer E-002344/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Tomáš Zdechovský (PPE)
Under Directive 2004/38/EC[1] (Articles 6, 7 and 24) and Article 21 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, all EU citizens have the right to equal treatment in any Member State. However, in Bulgaria, non-Bulgarian EU citizens are assigned a different personal identifier (ličen nomer – LN), which is not part of the national population register and is not recognised by public authorities. Meanwhile, Bulgarian nationals and even non-EU nationals receive an EGN (edinen graždanski nomer), which is fully recognised in all official systems.
This creates long-term obstacles for EU citizens with LN identifiers, such as difficulties registering children at their actual residence, accessing public services or managing inheritance. Despite repeated complaints, Bulgarian authorities refer to conflicting laws and deny responsibility, leaving EU citizens dependent on informal or extra-legal solutions.
Submitted: 11.6.2025
Last updated: 19 June 2025
