site.btaEuro Introduction Meetings Held in Ruse, Nova Zagora, Georgi Damyanovo, Chirpan, Troyan

Euro Information meetings were held on Wednesday in Ruse, Nova Zagora, Georgi Damyanovo, Chirpan and Troyan as part of the national information campaign on Bulgaria’s introduction of the euro.

Experts explained the main stages and timeline for the introduction of the euro, the rules for dual price display, and issues related to tax and social security declarations, bank accounts and interest rates.

In Ruse, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport and Communications Grozdan Karadjov emphasized that Bulgaria is starting to speak the language of the euro alongside its partners from the European Union. "This is a language in which numbers now mean a completely different level of security and completely predictable prices. Businesses can now plan quite sustainably and investors can have confidence in this currency," Karadjov said.

Education and Science Minister Krasimir Valchev stated that the euro will be the positive factor that will contribute to more prosperity in Bulgaria. "We started at 28% of the average European income in 2000. Now we are at 66%. This is the so-called convergence. In order for it to continue, we need to do many more things", he pointed out.

In Nova Zagora and Georgi Damyanovo, representatives of the Consumer Protection Commission (CPC) and the National Revenue Agency explained currency conversion rules and sanctions for traders.

At the meetings in Chirpan and Troyan, experts emphasized that social services and local authorities will play a key role during the euro changeover. They also reported that vending machines will only take euro coins from January onwards.