site.btaPM Radev, Retail Chains Execs Discuss Food Prices

Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev held a meeting with executives of retail chains here on Tuesday, the Government Information Service said. The meeting was part of the Cabinet's holistic approach to designing and implementing measures to curb price rises, ensure greater transparency in pricing, combat unfair trade practices, and protect Bulgarian producers and food quality. Deputy Prime Minister and Economy, Investments and Industry Minister Alexander Poulev, Agriculture and Food Minister Plamen Abrovski and MPs attended the event.

Opening the meeting, Radev said: "Bulgarian citizens deserve quality food and transparent, justified pricing processes. The institutions are working on this. I am convinced that retail chains are aware of their role and are ready to assume social responsibility to citizens during this difficult period of declining purchasing power for various reasons. The Bulgarian State has plenty of prerogatives regarding retailers, but I am convinced that these would be exercised only as a last resort."

The PM explained that the legislative drafts moved by the parliamentary majority is based on best European practices, and particularly German legislation. "We want nothing more than what has been done in Germany, but also nothing less," Radev said. He added that just as there is no price cap in Germany, this measure will not be proposed in Bulgaria, either. The idea is to bring transparency to the entire pricing chain and to counter unfair trade practices. Radev also highlighted the importance of supporting local production, strong competition, and accountability to consumers.

Emerging from the meeting, Modern Trade Association Executive Director Nikolay Valkanov told reporters: "We held a constructive dialogue and reached the conclusion that measures must indeed be taken to support consumers." He added that further discussions on specific measures are upcoming. Valkanov said there is agreement on an in-depth expert discussion on the subject regarding the two bills intended to restrain food prices, so that they can best attain their objectives without harming competition, the investment environment, and the business climate in this country.

Abrovski told reporters that "the first such meeting went very well".

Earlier in the day, the National Council for Tripartite Cooperation discussed draft amendments to the Protection of Competition Act and the Consumer Protection Act, proposed in response to high prices of goods and services. The employers' organizations stated that they were withholding their support, while trade unions backed the proposals in principle but insisted on streamlined wording, clear definitions, and effective safeguards for competition and consumer protection.