The Permanent Representation of the Republic of Bulgaria to the European Union in Brussels is the largest Bulgarian diplomatic mission abroad. It differs significantly from the Bulgarian embassies. It employs over 80 diplomats, administrative and technical staff, drawn not only from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, but also from all the other Bulgarian ministries. This is due to the highly important and specific tasks the Permanent Representation is charged with. It is a key liaison unit between the main EU institutions and the Bulgarian state administration at large. Its good performance is instrumental in keeping the Bulgarian side duly informed about the developments in the European Union and in representing in a well-coordinated and convincing manner the Bulgarian positions and interests in the hundreds specialized EU bodies. The effective operation of the Permanent Representation in Brussels is a guarantee for upholding vital Bulgarian national interests related to the EU policies of cooperation in a variety of areas, the adoption of the new acquis communautaire, and the utilization of European funds. The Bulgarian contribution to forging a closer unity of the European nations as well as the extent, to which Bulgaria will benefit from its EU membership, is closely related to the activities of the Permanent Representation.

The Permanent representation is situated in a multi-storey building in the very heart of Brussels’ “European Quarter”, in the immediate vicinity of the headquarters of the main European institutions. The Mission of Bulgaria to the EC was set up following the establishment of official relations between Bulgaria and the European Communities in August 1988. In 1990 Bulgaria concluded a Partnership and Cooperation Agreement with the EC. Three years later, on 8 March 1993, the Europe Agreement establishing an association between Bulgaria and the European Communities was signed. For the first time it contained a provision regarding Bulgaria’s prospects for membership of the EC. In 1995 Bulgaria submitted its membership application. A decision to launch accession negotiations with Bulgaria was made in late 1999 at the Helsinki European Council. The Accession Treaty was signed on 25 April 2005 in Luxembourg and was ratified by the Bulgarian Parliament on 11 May 2005. The accession of Bulgaria to the EU took place on the 1st January 2007.
 
The Permanent Representative of Bulgaria to the EU is HE Ambassador Boyko Kotzev.