site.btaEleven Chambers of Commerce Oppose Market-Distorting Legislative Changes

Representatives of 11 bilateral chambers of commerce in Bulgaria issued a joint statement on Wednesday opposing attempts to push through legislative measures that run counter to the principles of a market economy. The statement insists on ending the practice of lobbying for amendments and additions to existing legislation or proposals for new laws that are not based on legal grounds and lack economic analysis and vision for the development and preservation of the competitiveness of the Bulgarian economy.

The position was signed by the heads of the American Chamber of Commerce in Bulgaria, Bulgarian-Swiss Chamber of Commerce, German-Bulgarian Chamber of Industry and Commerce, CCI France Bulgarie [French-Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry], Confindustria Bulgaria, Camera di Commercio Italiana in Bulgaria [Italian Chamber of Commerce in Bulgaria], British Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce, Bulgarian-Turkish Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Bulgarian-Romanian Chamber of Commerce, Association Dutch Chamber of Commerce in Bulgaria, and the Bulgarian-Spanish Chamber of Commerce. It reads: "We are witnessing a series of amendments and additions to laws or new bills that make drastic attempts to violate regulated constitutional rights and obligations and to destroy working principles and processes in the market economy of the Republic of Bulgaria."

The reason for this position is the draft law on measures to control the prices of basic goods and services, which was adopted on January 14, 2026, at first reading by the National Assembly without the necessary public debate. The chambers stated: "We believe that this particular bill should be withdrawn and repealed, and, in line with our appeal here, that no other similar bills should be initiated or proposed."

They emphasized their support over the years to Bulgarian governments for the country's full integration into the European Union, declaring that this support will continue in the future. "But we cannot fail to react when legislation is repeatedly proposed that, in addition to the above-mentioned misunderstandings, contains contradictions with the principles of the market economy, introducing elements of drastic administrative and financial burdens on business and giving rise to populism at a critical stage of the introduction of the euro in Bulgaria. We regret to note that we are witnessing an expected but belated and sluggish communication campaign by the state on the subject," the statement reads.

The 11 chambers believe that Bulgaria's adoption of the euro should not be a reason for reintroducing elements of a planned economy, including price controls, through legal provisions that are economically inefficient and incompatible with EU law.