site.btaEuro Information Meetings Held in Sliven, Gorna Malina, Isperih, Strelcha

Information meetings, part of the National Information Campaign for the introduction of the euro in Bulgaria in January 2026, were held in Sliven (Southeastern Bulgaria), Gorna Malina (Western Bulgaria), Isperih (Northeastern Bulgaria), and Strelcha (Central Bulgaria) on Friday. 

Experts talked about the main euro changeover stages and deadlines, dual-currency tagging rules, and addressed questions concerning tax returns and social security statements, bank accounts and interest rates. 

In Sliven, Deputy Economy and Industry Minister Doncho Barbalov advised citizens to use cashless payments in January 2026, when both the lev and the euro will circulate simultaneously. He said that preparations for supplying merchants with euro cash will begin in December, when the Bulgarian National Bank will start distributing euros to commercial banks. Some banks have already asked their clients to specify their euro cash needs to ensure timely delivery, with no fees expected to be charged.

In Gorna Malina, Zhaneta Sadrazanova of the Commission for Consumer Protection (CCP) said that the euro changeover will not disadvantage consumers. "Bank accounts will be automatically converted. Interest will continue to be applied according to existing contracts with financial institutions," she added. Sadrazanova noted that most questions to the CCP concern price labelling, recalling that traders must display prices in both BGN and EUR, using the same font, size, and colour to avoid misleading customers. Valya Krumova, head of the Sofia office of the National Revenue Agency (NRA), added that people are particularly interested in how to file tax returns after the euro’s introduction.

In Strelcha, residents asked how CCP will prevent fraudulent practices. Senior CCP inspector Gergana Merjanova said that the Commission informs the NRA, monitors compliance with dual-currency tagging rules, and investigates reported violations. She recalled that displaying prices in both BGN and EUR will remain mandatory until August 8, 2026. Petko Petkov, head of the NRA office in Pazardzhik, said banks and post offices will exchange BGN for EUR free of charge for six months, while the Bulgarian National Bank will offer exchanges indefinitely. For sums between BGN 5,000 and BGN 10,000, exchanges will be available upon request, regardless of whether the customer has an account with the bank.

In Isperih, residents asked how to verify whether prices were correctly converted. Valentina Tsoneva, inspector at the CCP’s Ruse office, said the Commission will make sure that rounding during currency conversion does not negatively affect consumers. She added that dual-currency tagging is mandatory not only in retail but also for banks and other financial institutions when publishing tariffs for fees and loan charges. Asked about  possible price increases following the euro changeover, CCP expert Kremena Nikolova noted that prices may only rise after the euro’s introduction if justified by objective economic factors.

A meeting was also planned to take place in Kameno but it was postponed due to the state of emergency in Burgas region.