site.btaSix Towns Host Euro information Meetings

An Information event within the National Information Campaign for the Introduction of the Euro in Bulgaria was held in Vratsa on Tuesday. Euro information meetings also took place in Slivnitsa, Sozopol, Vetovo, Hisarya and Sevlievo.

In Vratsa, e-Governance Minister Valentin Mundrov said that the progress of administrations in introducing the euro is about 98%. He emphasized that the Ministry maintains a public electronic platform with up-to-date data, which monitors the progress of the administrations. "Our goal is for all electronic services and information resources to be adapted by the end of 2025," he noted and congratulated Vratsa Municipality for the fact that its administration is fully adapted to work with the euro.

Vratsa Mayor Kalin Kamenov stressed that the topic of introducing the euro in Bulgaria is being talked about a lot, often by people who do not have enough information. "We are here together to dissuade even the biggest skeptics of the euro," he pointed out, stressing that no country has suffered from the adoption of the common currency, which is an incentive for a better life.

Mayors are the ones who will answer the most questions about the introduction of the euro in Bulgaria, said Daniela Ushatova, Expert at the National Association of Municipalities in the Republic of Bulgaria (NAMRB). She pointed out that in the first months of 2026, mayors, deputy mayors, and employees in local administrations will be the ones who will answer the most questions on the topic on a daily basis. All institutions must therefore ensure that local authorities are convinced and understand the currency change well, so that they can be adequate to both the questions of an elderly woman at the market and the questions of a manager of a private company, Ushatova emphasized.

Deputy Economy and Industry Minister Nevena Lazarova said the goal is to ensure a smooth, transparent transition to the euro. She pointed out that this is a strategic step with long-term economic benefits, enhancing security for businesses while facilitating trade, travel and economic activity. Lazarova emphasized that the first positive effects are already being reported, namely, an improved credit rating for Bulgaria and increased trust in the country on international markets.

Bulgaria's entry into the eurozone will unlock growth and access to innovation, Deputy Innovation and Growth Minister Martin Danovski said. He noted that the country will shift to growth driven by innovation and technology, rather than low-wage labor, making Bulgaria's eurozone membership particularly important. From January 1, 2026, the country will focus on investment-led growth instead of relying on consumption.

In Sozopol, representatives of the Consumer Protection Commission (CPC) and the National Revenue Agency (NRA) explained basic principles and technical details of the process of switching from leva to euro.  The representatives of the institutions emphasized that prices in retail outlets must be indicated both in leva and euro, using the official fixed exchange rate. It was pointed out that all available bank accounts and electronic funds will be automatically converted into euro at the fixed rate, without the need for any action on the part of consumers.

Representatives of the CPC and the NRA also held an information meeting in Hisarya, during which the topics covered included the currency conversion rules, the requirements for traders under the Introduction of the Euro in the Republic of Bulgaria Act, consumer rights, reporting violations, as well as the currency in which tax returns will be submitted after the introduction of the euro.

In Vetovo, representatives of the CPC answered questions from residents about the adoption of the euro in Bulgaria. The meeting was attended by Pavel Krastev and Nevena Dimitrova from the territorial department of the CPC in Ruse, as well as Stoyanka Varbanova, Head of the Customer Services Department at the NRA office in Ruse. Varbanova stressed that after October 8, the revenue agency will fine traders for missing one of indicating the total value in leva and euro or the fixed exchange rate. Separately, NRA inspectors will also fine for unjustified increases in the prices of goods and services, she noted.

The aim of the campaign is to provide citizens with clear, detailed and reliable information on the main stages and deadlines of the euro introduction process. The event is a joint effort between the responsible institutions, including the Ministry of Finance, the Bulgarian National Bank, the Ministry of Economy and Industry, the Commission for Consumer Protection (CCP), the National Revenue Agency, the Financial Supervision Commission, the National Social Security Institute, and others.

Bulgaria is set to adopt the euro as of January 1, 2026, becoming the 21st member of the euro area.