site.btaEuro Introduction Campaign Reaches Tvarditsa, Radnevo, Ihtiman and Sandanski

Information meetings, part of the National Information Campaign on the Introduction of the Euro in Bulgaria, were held on Thursday in Ihtiman, Tvarditsa, Radnevo and Sandanski. Experts explained the main stages and timeline for adopting the euro, the rules for dual price display, and issues related to tax and social security declarations, bank accounts and interest rates.

At the meeting in Tvurditsa, experts warned of scammers posing as bank employees. Maria Antova, regional coordinator of the CITUB Regional Council - Sliven, said that there have already been cases in small settlements in the Kotel area where individuals impersonated bank staff and tried to collect money from elderly people under the pretext of "exchanging levs for euros". Citizens were urged not to give money or personal data to strangers. Chief Inspector Maria Ivanova from the Consumer Protection Commission (CPC) stressed that the institution is present to inform and protect consumers.

In Radnevo, participants asked what factors determine unjustified price increases. Vasil Donev, chief inspector at CPC-Stara Zagora, explained that the law against profiteering has been invalid since 1991. “There is no such concept. Market processes in Bulgaria follow the laws of supply and demand. If someone raises prices without justification, their competitors won’t, and consumers will go to them,” he said. Donev added that since June 3, joint inspections by the CPC, the Commission on Protection of Competition, and the National Revenue Agency have been ongoing, with three major retail outlets in Stara Zagora to be checked on Friday.

 In Ihtiman, experts discussed the euro introduction timeline, dual price display, conversion of bank accounts and contracts, and taxation issues. CPC expert Ignat Arsenov said the transition would be smooth, with the conversion to follow the official fixed rate of EUR 1 = BGN 1.95583. The dual price display period runs from August 8, 2025, to August 8, 2026, and some citizens have filed complaints about confusion with prices in both currencies. Arsenov urged people not to carry large sums of cash and not to trust anyone offering to "exchange" money easily. "Do not hand money to strangers or exchange it outside banks or exchange offices, only inside official premises," he said.

In Sandanski, experts presented the main steps and deadlines for adopting the euro. Citizens’ questions focused on how prices should be displayed by traders and for how long they will be able to use levs. The experts explained that the Bulgarian National Bank (BNB) is obliged to accept levs indefinitely, while during the first six months after the euro’s introduction, all banks in Bulgaria will exchange levs for euros without fees. They encouraged citizens to stay informed and report irregularities to ensure a smooth and transparent transition to the new currency.