site.btaRevenue Agency: Low Rate of Sanctions Indicates Smooth Introduction of Euro in Bulgaria

The low rate of sanctions during checks of how the euro is being introduced in Bulgaria at commercial outlets, indicates a smooth transition, according to National Revenue Agency Executive Director Hristo Markov. "The percentage of sanctions imposed during checks related to the introduction of the euro in our country gives us reason to assume that things are going well and there are no mass violations," Markov said during the first briefing of the Coordination Centre for the Euro Mechanism.

Bulgaria adopted the euro as the official currency on January 1, 2026.

The percentage of violations is a dynamic figure, so depending on the mass checks currently being carried out, it could rise to 10% or even 11%, he said. According to Markov, in some countries this percentage has reached as high as 40%, citing Croatia as an example. The low percentage of penalties is an indication that traders are acting in good conscience, the NRA's executive director further explained.

The inspectors are looking for unjustified price hikes and miscalculated price conversions, among other violations of the rules in the transition to the euro.

During the euro-related inspections, violations were found in about 7% of all establishments, said Vladimir Ivanov, chairman of the Coordination Centre and head of the State Commission on Commodity Exchanges and Markets, at the beginning of the briefing.