site.btaOver 86% of Levа Withdrawn, BGN 4.4 Bln Still Held by Citizens

As of February 23, more than 86% of levа have been withdrawn, with about BGN 4.4 billion still remaining among citizens, Vladimir Ivanov, head of the Coordination Centre for the Introduction of the Euro said here Monday. He was speaking during a news briefing at the Council of Ministers.

According to him, the euro changeover is proceeding smoothly and Bulgaria has succeeded in this process. He said that the competent institutions will continue to work with the same diligence to prevent violations and provide adequate information to citizens.

Between the beginning of the year and February 23, more than 140,000 operations for exchanging leva into euro have been carried out at branches of Bulgarian Posts, with a total value of BGN 220 million. There are still pending requests at branches, but the process is continuing with manageable workload, he added.

Ivanov noted that between February 13 and 18, the Ministry of Interior registered 13 new cases of attempts to circulate counterfeit currency, including prop euro banknotes. Five pre-trial proceedings have been initiated, seven case files have been registered and one investigation into a committed offence is under way, he added. A total of 117 banknotes were seized, including 92 with a denomination of EUR 500, 15 with a denomination of EUR 100, four with a denomination of EUR 50 and two with a denomination of EUR 20.

Attempts to circulate counterfeit banknotes totaled 143 between the beginning of the year and February 18, he said.

The Consumer Protection Commission carried out 279 inspections and established 34 violations in the period February 13 - 22. The Commission opened 18 administrative penal proceedings, issued 12 penal decrees and concluded eight agreements, he also reported.

He said priority inspections were conducted in the services sector, including restaurants, bakeries, snack bars, hair and beauty salons, and car washes. The Consumer Protection Commission also inspected online traders, where 34 penal decrees were issued, Ivanov added.

The National Revenue Agency carried out more than 9,570 inspections between October 10, 2025 and February 22, 2026, establishing 547 violations of the Law on the Introduction of the Euro.

Ivanov added that between February 16 and 22 the Bulgarian Food Safety Agency conducted 575 inspections of establishments producing foods from the small consumer basket and issued 32 prescriptions, one act for an administrative violation and one order to suspend operations.