site.btaParliament to Discuss Bulgarian National Bank Bill on Second Reading

On Thursday, Parliament will debate, on second reading, the Bulgarian National Bank (BNB) bill introduced by the Council of Ministers. This is the first item on the National Assembly’s agenda.

The bill, adopted on first reading on January 19, is aimed to ensure the legal integration of the country's central bank into the Eurosystem as Bulgaria joins the euro area. It is envisaged that it will enter into force on the date specified in a Decision of the Council of the European Union on Bulgaria’s euro adoption.

The proposed law will define the status of the euro as legal tender, establish the design of the national side of the euro coins, and regulate the release, withdrawal, replacement, exchange, and reproduction of euro banknotes and euro coins. It will also remedy the legal inconsistencies identified in the convergence reports of the European Central Bank and the European Commission.

Parliament’s agenda on Thursday also includes the first reading of amendments to the Plant Protection Act, the Veterinary Practices Act and the Animal Feed Act.