The Internal Market Information System (IMI) is an electronic tool, developed jointly by the European Commission and national administrations of the EU Member States.
IMI is a secure, multilingual online tool that facilitates the exchange of information between public authorities involved in the practical implementation of EU legislation.
IMI is accessible in all official EU languages and ensure faster, better structured and more reliable exchange of information between the competent authorities of all EU Member States.
IMI is intended for the exchange of information between the administrations of EU Member States in relation with the implementation of the European legislation in a number of areas of the EU Single Market, the main ones of which are:
- Activities in the field of services under Directive 2006/123/EC on services in the internal market. IMI is used to verify information about service providers wishing to provide services in another Member State;
- Recognition of professional qualifications under Directive 2005/36/EC, as amended by Directive 2013/55/EU. IMI is used to verify the validity of qualifications of professionals wishing to practice in another Member State and to issue a European Professional Card;
- Posting of workers under Directive 96/71/EC and Directive 2014/67/EU. IMI is used to request information concerning the employment conditions of posted workers;
- Patients’ rights under Directive 2011/24/EU. IMI is used to verify the right of health professionals to practice their profession.
The specific legislative areas and rules for the use of IMI are laid down in Regulation (EU) No 1024/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 2012 on administrative cooperation through the Internal Market Information System and repealing Decision 2008/49/EC of the Commission.
More than 8 200 national authorities from all EU countries are registered in IMI, which facilitates and significantly improves cross border administrative cooperation between Member States for the benefit of citizens and businesses.
More information for the IMI can be found on the website of the European Commission.
National IMI Coordinator for Bulgaria
The State eGovernment Agency performs the functions of National Coordinator for IMI in accordance with Decision № 132 of the Council of Ministers of March 8, 2019 to amend Decision of the Council of Ministers № 290 of May 12, 2011 to designate a national coordinator and delegated coordinator in the field of services on the internal market for IMI and adopting the List of competent authorities in the Republic of Bulgaria, which are subject to registration in the system in the field of services.
Contact information for the national coordinators of each EU Member State is available here.
Delegated IMI Coordinator for Services
The Ministry of Economy and Industry performs the functions of coordinator in the field of services in respect of activities within the scope of Directive 2006/123/EC, and in accordance with Decision № 132 of the Council of Ministers, is responsible for the registration and updating of data in IMI of officials, designated by the competent authorities, included in the List of competent authorities to be registered in the system in the field of services.
IMI is used in the services sector for:
- verification of information on companies or persons wishing to provide services in another Member State;
- to send alerts on the services provided or the activities of service providers that might cause damages to the health, the safety or the environment;
- to send notifications to the European Commission and the Member States of any new legislation, regulations and administrative provisions introducing requirements in the field of services.
For further information on the functioning of IMI in the services sector:
Ministry of Economy and Industry, “European Affairs and EU Legislation for Goods and Services” Directorate
“Right of Establishment and Services” Department, tel. + 359 2 940 75 47