The Council of Ministers may adopt temporary countermeasures in the event of a significant increase in the prices of essential goods and services. This was decided by Parliament with the adoption at second reading of the Bill on the Adoption of the Euro in Bulgaria, submitted by the Council of Ministers. The provisions stipulate that prices will be “accompanied by an indication of the corresponding currency, symbol, or abbreviation, displayed in a font of the same size, type, and colour, allowing for easy recognition.”
During the period of dual price display, traders offering goods and services to consumers must set their prices in good faith and with transparency, MPs further decided. When prices change, they must, upon request, provide the control authorities with documents demonstrating the existence of objective economic factors, the provisions state.
MPs also voted for the measures against potential unfair price increases by traders in connection with Bulgaria’s eurozone membership to apply until 8 August 2026, rather than until the end of next year as provided in the first-reading text.
Parliament also decided that traders who set prices unfairly during the period of dual display in lev and euro risk property sanctions ranging from BGN 5,000 to BGN 1 million. In addition, MPs ruled that large retail chains must publish on their websites the final sale prices of all goods and services in the main consumer basket on a daily basis. The fines for failing to comply with the requirement to publish the price list will not apply until one month after the law enters into force.
MPs approved a proposal by Martin Dimitrov from “We Continue the Change–Democratic Bulgaria,” allowing small traders to also submit their prices to the Consumer Protection Commission. This editorial amendment, enabling traders to voluntarily provide price information, was adopted in the chamber with 146 votes “in favour,” 44 “against,” and 16 “abstentions.”
Furthermore, the plenary adopted another proposal by the MP — namely, the obligation for the Consumer Protection Commission to publish the individual retail prices of products. The proposal was passed as an editorial amendment with 164 votes “in favour,” 42 “against,” and 0 “abstentions.” According to Dimitrov, this will guarantee conditions for “turbo competition” under the bill. “The positive aspect of this bill is the so-called turbo competition. Competition is the only guarantee for stopping price increases,” Dimitrov said when presenting the editorial amendments.
MPs also decided that taxi operators must comply with the obligation for dual price display from 31 October 2025.
Dual display of the sale prices of books, textbooks, educational materials, and other printed works — including educational booklets and sets, children’s illustrated books for drawing or colouring, and printed or handwritten sheet music — will begin on 1 January 2026, MPs further decided.
