Regulation (EU) 2023/2411 on Geographical Indications for Craft and Industrial Products: Legal Framework and Implications for Regional Development in Bulgaria

The article examines the new framework for geographical indications (GIs) for craft and industrial products established by Regulation (EU) 2023/2411, focusing on its structural impact on regional development. Moving beyond a purely descriptive approach, the study evaluates the Regulation’s influence through an interdisciplinary methodology incorporating doctrinal asnslysis, spatial analysis of craft potential, typological profiling of socio-economic resilience, and a dynamic risk assessment of implementation scenarios. In the research are presented of the official amendments to the Bulgarian Trademarks and Geographical Indications Act (TGIA), adopted on March 6, 2026, which establish the national administrative conditions for applying the European framework. By utilizing data from EUIPO and National Statistical Institute (2024–2025), the study introduces an original typology of territorial capacity, segmenting Bulgarian regions with existing and potential geographical indications based on their socioeconomic resilience and readiness for European protection. The research fills a gap in the literature by analyzing how the transition to unified European protection, supported by the latest national legislative updates, transforms territorial capital into a driver for regional competitiveness and institutional governance.