What role does corruption play — and what does that mean for buyers and investors?

Corruption is a real topic of public debate in Bulgaria: in Transparency International's Corruption Perceptions Index the country scores 40 out of 100 points (rank 84, CPI 2025); the special EU monitoring procedure dating from accession was closed in 2023. In daily life — shopping, dealing with public offices, seeing a doctor — you notice practically nothing of it. The topic becomes relevant with larger investments, permits and subsidies: there, personal networks, reliable local contacts and knowledge of local customs count. Svetlana brings exactly this network in Burgas Province. Sunny Beach calls for a differentiated view: buying a residential property is unproblematic; for commercial investments there, extra care is advisable — and there are zones on the southern coast with a distinctly better investment climate, which Svetlana is happy to point out.