The Consumer Protection Commission (CPC) will conduct an inspection to determine whether the planned increase in parking prices in the blue and green zones in Sofia is economically justified.
We recall that the new prices are part of the changes adopted yesterday in the Regulation on the organization of traffic on the territory of the Sofia Municipality, which were proposed by Mayor Vasil Terziev and the PP-DB and "Save Sofia" groups in the Sofia Municipal Council (SOC).
The position of the CPC on the topic expresses the opinion that in this case the requirement under the Law on the Introduction of the Euro in the Republic of Bulgaria (ZVERB) for economic justification for raising prices of goods and services should be applied.
The commission notes that the current price of 2 leva per hour for parking in a blue zone is increasing to 2€ or 4 leva per hour, and for a green zone - from 1 leva to 1€ or 2 leva per hour.
"According to Art. 15, para. 4 of the ZVERB, during the period of dual indication of prices in leva and euro - from 08.08.2025 to 08.08.2026, traders who offer goods and services to consumers form their prices in good faith and transparently, and any price increase should be justified by objective economic factors", explains the CPC.
Therefore, after yesterday's decision of the SOS, the Consumer Protection Commission has taken action on its own, but has also taken action to establish the reasons and factors that led to the increase in prices in paid parking zones in Sofia. The Commission will request from the Center for Urban Mobility (CUM) and the Mayor of Sofia Vasil Terziev all applicable documents and evidence of the existence of objective economic factors for the price increase.
Here is the position of the Consumer Protection Commission:
In connection with the changes providing for an increase in the price for parking in the blue and green zones in the city of Sofia, the Consumer Protection Commission expresses the opinion that in this particular case the provisions of the Law on the Introduction of the Euro in the Republic of Bulgaria (ZVERB) are applicable. The planned changes in prices in the parking zones are expressed in an increase in the current price from 2 leva per hour in the blue zone to 2€/4 leva per hour, respectively, the price in the green zone - from 1 leva per hour increases to 1€/2 leva per hour.
According to Art. 15, para. 4 of the ZVERB, during the period of dual indication of prices in leva and euro - from 08.08.2025 to 08.08.2026, traders who offer goods and services to consumers form their prices in good faith and transparently, and any increase in prices should be justified by objective economic factors.
In this regard, the CZP immediately took action and took the appropriate actions to establish the reasons and factors that led to the increase in parking prices in Sofia. For this purpose, it will request all applicable documents and evidence from the Center for Urban Mobility and the Mayor of Sofia Municipality regarding the existence of objective economic factors for their increase.
The CPC draws attention to the fact that the Euro Adoption Act provides for serious sanctions in the event of a violation, namely - a company with a turnover in the previous financial year exceeding BGN 50,000,000 is subject to a property sanction of up to 0.5% of this turnover.
The Commission has also launched a phased review of other similar actions on the territory and in other cities in the country, in order to ensure a higher level of compliance with consumer rights and protection of their economic interests.
We call on traders to comply with legal requirements and be responsible towards consumers!