It is reported that Croatia mandates functional and accounting separation for operators with significant market power (SMP) in the telecom market.

It is reported that the Croatian Regulatory Authority for Network Industries (HAKOM), the executive authority for the supervision and administration of services in the telecommunications sector, is independent from the government in the decision-making process.

Art. 85 of the Utilities Directive (2014/25/EU) contains provisions allowing contracting public entities to reject foreign goods not covered by any EU international commitments from its tender procedures. In these cases, a tender submitted for the award of a supply contract may be rejected where the proportion of the products originating in third countries exceeds 50% of the total value of the products constituting the tender (Art. 85.2). Additionally, in cases of equivalent offers, the provisions provide for a preference for European tenders and tenders covered by EU's international obligations. In practice, this possibility has rarely been used.
In Croatia, the Directive has been transposed with the Public Procurement Act NN 120-16.

It is reported that the extensive use of state-owned companies limits the impact of ongoing procurement reforms to promote competition for public funds and increases the risk of conflicts of interest. Moreover, despite major progress in increasing transparency, corruption remains a significant concern, considering that, for instance, some stakeholders report the existence of discriminatory technical specifications in public procurement tenders.

Croatian law prohibits any discrimination between investments on the basis of nationality. Foreign investment rules follow a reciprocity principle.

Art. 17 of the Patent Act establishes that foreign companies must act through a representative in order to register a patent with the Croatian Intellectual Property Office. In addition, a translation of the patent shall be provided in Croatian at least two months after filing.

Croatia is a party to the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT).

Bulgaria has not adopted national legislation based on or influenced by the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) Model Law on Electronic Signatures.

The EU Directive on Audiovisual Media Services (AVMS) covers traditional broadcasting services as well as audiovisual media services provided on-demand, including via the Internet. Art. 13.1 provides for Member States to secure a minimum 30% share of European works in the catalogues as well as "ensuring prominence" of those works. "Prominence" involves promoting European works by facilitating access to such works using any appropriate means to ensure their prominence. The Directive has been implemented by Member States in different ways, ranging from very extensive and detailed measures to a mere reference to the general obligation to promote European works.
In Bulgaria, the EU Directive was transposed into domestic law through the amendment of the Radio and Television Act of December 2020 (SG No. 109 of 2020). According to Art. 19 of the Act, providers of on-demand audiovisual media services must ensure that at least 30% of their catalogues consist of European works, which must be given prominence. The share of European works is calculated on an annual average basis, based on the number of titles in the service's catalogue.

Under Art. 3 of the Terms and Conditions for Domain Name Registration and Support in the ".bg" Zone and the Sub-Zones, only Bulgarian and EU natural and legal persons can register a ".bg" domain, as well as foreigners with a right for permanent residence on these territories. Entities that do not meet these conditions must act through a representative that does.

The Consumer Rights Directive 2011/83/EU provides an updated framework aimed at encouraging online sales. The Directive has been implemented by the Consumer Protection Act of 25 July 2014. This includes comprehensive obligations to inform consumers about distance sales, a right to withdraw and rules on the recognition of digital signatures.

Bulgaria has not signed the United Nations (UN) Convention on the Use of Electronic Communications in International Contracts.

Bulgaria has not adopted national legislation based on or influenced by the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) Model Law on Electronic Commerce.