The competent authorities to recognize an EIO for a hearing, issued by a competent authority of another Member State, are:
1. in the pre-trial proceedings - a prosecutor from the respective district or military-district prosecutor's office, in whose region the respective investigative action or other procedural actions are requested, or the transfer of the evidence already available, or a prosecutor from the Sofia City Prosecutor’s Office;
2. in the court proceedings - the respective district or military court, in whose region the performance of the respective judicial investigative action or the transfer of the evidence, which are already available, or the Sofia City Court.
When the EIO has been sent to a body, which is not competent to recognize it, it shall send it ex officio to the respective competent authority and shall immediately notify the issuing body thereof in a manner allowing written certification of the authenticity of the receipt and of its content.
The competent authorities to recognize an MLA request for a hearing – in cases where the EU MLA Convention 2000 applies, are the respective local District/Regional Courts and District/Regional Prosecution offices – with regards of the stage of criminal proceedings.
The competent authorities to recognize an MLA request for a hearing – in cases where the CoE European Convention on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters applies, are as follows:
-in the pre-trial proceedings - the Supreme Prosecutor's Office of the Republic of Bulgaria;
-in the trial proceedings - the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Bulgaria.