Regulations and bureaucracy complicate street market operations in Lithuania and Bulgaria.
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In Lithuania, residents selling goods or providing services at mass events, fairs, and holidays must have a business license or be registered as an individual activity. Those with a business license must keep purchase documentation for goods sold, and all income must be accounted for. If a company rents a stall, sellers must be employed and operate legally, although the State Labour Inspectorate does not check for illegal employment at fairs. VMI representatives confirmed that all sales during fairs must be accounted for, but a simplified procedure applies compared to regular stores. For outdoor sales, receipts are not required for every buyer unless requested; otherwise, a single daily receipt summarizing total sales is needed. Stricter rules apply to alcohol sales, requiring a cash register and municipal licenses, and sellers must possess purchase or delivery documents for alcoholic beverages. In Spain and Bulgaria, the number of traditional Christmas market vendors is decreasing due to bureaucratic restrictions. A Bulgarian organizer noted that administrative hurdles, such as lengthy permit processes, force vendors and artists to operate outside formal structures. In Sofia, a major Christmas market was canceled due to difficulties in obtaining permits. Furthermore, organizers face issues with waste management, often paying external cleaning companies twice. In Lithuania, vendors at Christmas markets must not only account for sales and legally employ staff but also pay rental fees; for example, in Kaunas, fees ranged from 1,600 to 3,000 euros depending on the type of goods and services offered.
