site.btaProtection of Vulnerable Groups Key to Eurozone Transition, Says PM Zhelyazkov

Protection of vulnerable groups is very important, and in the coming months the Government will try to reach every individual with the necessary information tools, Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov said during Friday's Question Time in Parliament. He was responding to a question by Atanas Atanasov MP of BSP - United Left about the mechanisms implemented to stop unfair commercial practices following Bulgaria’s expected entry into the eurozone on January 1, 2026.

Abuses are part of the reality in every society and such cases will occur, but they will be limited, the Prime Minister underscored.

Zhelyazkov noted that the issue concerns everyone, and explained that even before Wednesday's release of the convergence reports by the European Commission and the European Central Bank, the Council of Ministers had undertaken preparatory actions. Following the release of the reports, two decisions were made, one to create a monitoring mechanism and another, to establish an agreement with all service providers and retailers. “We are also involving trade unions,” the Prime Minister added.

Zhelyazkov stated that there is good cooperation between the control mechanisms in the National Revenue Agency (NRA), the Consumer Protection Commission (CPC), and the Commission for Protection of Competition. Regarding the NRA and the CPC, their powers are clearly defined in legislation, and the regulatory role of the Commission for Protection of Competition is to monitor the market and intervene in cases of unfair commercial practices, Zhelyazkov explained.

He stated that as of June 3, the NRA has been present in major retail outlets, monitoring the pricing process. Any deviation in pricing factors and unjustified markups will be treated as speculation. “We have the support of large retail operators. The impact we expect is in smaller towns and villages where we don’t have the corrective mechanisms of the major retail chains,” the Prime Minister noted.

Zhelyazkov also responded to a question on whether a unit within the Council of Ministers has been designated to coordinate all related processes. He explained that such a control mechanism has indeed been established and will carry out both monitoring and decision-making functions. The body includes responsible ministers and heads of agencies relevant to the issue, he clarified.