site.btaMedia Review: August 8

HEADLINES

Not a single topic dominates the front pages of print media on Friday. 24 Chasa’s front page story is about mosquitos and how people attract them. The top story on the frontpage of Trud highlights that five regions in the country are home to mostly pensioners. Telegraph leads with a story on tax evaders who embezzled BGN 22 million. The top story on the frontpage of Duma is about the euro changeover in Bulgaria.

The morning programmes of the Bulgarian National Television (BNT), bTV, and Nova TV hosted discussion studios or had reports on the water shortage in the country.

The Bulgarian National Radio (BNR) has interviews with health economist Arkadi Sharkov, epidemiologist Todor Kantardzhiev, and Chief Commissioner Alexander Dzhartov, head of the Fire Safety and Population Protection Directorate General.

WATER SHORTAGE

Strict water restrictions were introduced yesterday in the Pleven region. In the regional capital and surrounding villages, people will have to live without water for several hours during the day and almost the entire night according to a schedule. The Pleven Water Supply and Sewerage Company blames the water crisis on the long summer drought and the outdated water supply network, but this does little to reassure consumers. Some of those most affected live in the village of Bukovlak in the Pleven region.

The daytime schedule is from 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., and at night—between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m., says a report by bTV. Pleven residents are insisting that the water utility and the municipality urgently find a solution to the water supply problems. They are protesting in front of the municipality. Locals say that until 2021, the situation was bearable, with the restrictions starting much later - in September or October. Now, they say, things are getting out of control - the city is dirty, and there is no water at all on the upper floors of apartment buildings. People want quick and adequate measures. They say they are tired of promises.

BNT hosted a discussion with former environment ministers Borislav Sandov and Emil Dimitrov. They noted that the issue is not from this year and has not been addressed on time. Another problem is that crisis management should also offer short-term solutions and not only long-term ones.

“Climate change will exacerbate crises if urgent measures are not taken, experts warn” is the headline of a report of Nova TV. The case of Pleven is just the tip of the iceberg of a long-neglected crisis which, according to experts, is a combination of poor management, outdated infrastructure and the increasingly visible effects of climate change. While the authorities point fingers at past administrations, experts warn that without the construction of new dams and a drastic reduction in leaks, more and more areas will face the fate of Pleven.

ECONOMY

A report by BNR quotes lawyer Alexander Benov saying that the law provides for serious penalties for traders who do not set their prices correctly in the context of the euro adoption in Bulgaria. Benov notes that the lack of a standard for displaying prices in leva and euros, and the fact that the law does not explicitly specify an approach, confuses customers. This is especially true given that each store has a different practice, and there are also cases where the price in euros is displayed on red labels, a color that consumers are accustomed to associating with promotions. The law stipulates that prices must be displayed side by side, in the same font and in a way that does not mislead consumers.

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Duma writes on its frontpage that starting today (August 8, 2025) prices of products and services should be provided in both euro and leva. The Introduction of the Euro in the Republic of Bulgaria Act, which requires mandatory dual pricing, comes into force. According to the provisions, labels must show prices in both currencies using exactly the same font, size, and type of characters. The law does not specify which price should be the leading one, in leva or in euros, which means that retailers are free to choose the order. At gas stations, customers will see dual fuel price lists, but the display on the fuel pump itself will show the amount in only one currency. There is a delay until October 31, 2025, for cash registers due to technical challenges facing about 500,000 fiscal devices in the country. The taxi industry has also been given an advantage. The requirement for taxi drivers to include both currencies on receipts comes into force on October 31, but price lists must show prices in leva and euros starting August 8. Books, textbooks, and teaching aids will have to introduce dual pricing from January 1, 2026. This exception has been made due to the technical characteristics of the production of these products. According to the official fixed exchange rate of BGN 1.95583 per EUR 1, all prices must be calculated accurately and rounded to two decimal places. The provisions will remain in force until August 8, 2026, exactly one year after their introduction. During the first two months, until October 8, 2025, the control authorities will only issue warnings without imposing fines for violations of dual labeling.

HEALTHCARE

In an interview for BNR health economist Arkadi Sharkov says that speculation that drug prices could rise uncontrollably in any form must be dispelled. Speculation can hardly exist in pharmacies unless someone deliberately abuses the system. Revaluation will occur up to the legally established ceilings. Currently, the European Parliament is considering the act on critical medicines and pharmaceutical legislation, which will inevitably have an impact on Bulgaria, the expert explained. Bulgaria has some of the lowest drug prices in the EU, Sharkov noted. "Outside the EU, the regulations are different. Turkiye also has a strong pharmaceutical industry, which covers a significant part of the market," he explained, referring to the lower prices of certain medicines there compared to those in Bulgaria.

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Epidemiologist Todor Kantardzhiev told BNR in an interview that the epidemic situation in Bulgaria this year was favourable. “I can say that the intense heat we experienced last month resulted in a slight increase in the number of infections. In fact, the most dangerous aspect of heat waves is the proliferation of enteroviruses - viruses that are found in the digestive tract and do not cause diarrhea, as some people think, but cause inflammation, which usually lasts two to three days, usually 24 hours in adults - muscle pain, fever, joint pain, weakness, and the next day or the day after, you have nothing. In children, it lasts about three days. It is possible that some subtypes of enterovirus can even cause an infection associated with a rash, usually in children.”

WILDFIRES

Chief Commissioner Alexander Dzhartov, head of the Fire Safety and Population Protection Directorate General told BNR in an interview that people should be cautious in the following seven days as there is a high risk of wildfires in the high temperatures. "The situation is extremely alarming. The forecast for the next seven days is for extreme risk in the southwestern region. We must be extremely cautious with all activities we carry out, not only in our homes but also in nature, and refrain from using open flames," urged Chief Commissioner Dzhartov. There were 3,500 fires in Bulgaria in July - 20% more compared to the summer of 2024. Weather forecasters predict a pretty long dry spell with high temperatures.