site.btaBulgaria Meets Eurozone Criteria, Says Assen Vassilev

Bulgaria meets the requirements for joining the Eurozone, said Assen Vassilev, co-chair of Continue the Change party, during a meeting with party members in Pazardzhik. The news that came out today [Tuesday] is that the Bulgarian National Bank and Finance Minister Temenuzhka Petkova officially announced that the accrued basis deficit from last year will be under three percent. “We have the inflation data for March, and we are still within the criteria. For us not to adopt the euro in January next year, someone would have to actively stop it from happening,” commented Vassilev, who is also a former finance minister. 

“Regarding the effects of adopting the euro, anything that can be put on a truck won’t change its price. Inflation will occur in the service sector - if you’re paying BGN 25 for a haircut, they won’t charge you EUR 12.50, they’ll round it up to EUR 15,” Vassilev explained. This can be expected across all services, and the State cannot fully control it, he further clarified. 

According to him, another effect confirmed by the Croatians is a rise in property prices. 

Most likely, starting July 1st, there will be dual pricing displayed for all goods, including receipts and taxes, noted the co-chair Continue the Change.