The Coordination Center for the Euro Mechanism reported at a briefing on the actions of the various regulatory institutions that monitor the introduction of the single European currency, Nova TV reported.
"In the last week, there have been no signals of problems with the exchange of leva in commercial banks. Everything is starting to go quite synchronized and in good order. No one should wait until the last moment to exchange, we can avoid additional difficulties with people who have more leva in circulation. Leva in circulation withdrawn from circulation is over 58% of the monetary aggregate. Last week, the percentage was 48 - the trend continues to be progressive", announced the chairman of the center, Vladimir Ivanov, who also heads the State Commission on Commodity Exchanges and Markets.
He reminded that simultaneous payments with leva and euro will end on February 1. "All banknotes and coins can be exchanged without restriction until June 30, 2026, and in the BNB - indefinitely. No one will be denied the right to get rid of their leva balance", Ivanov summarized.
- "Bulgarian Posts'' - by January 16, 2026, 20,900 operations worth nearly 34 million leva were carried out. The government has allocated 25 million euros in revolving credit to ensure the exchange.
- CPC - by January 18, 164 inspections have been carried out. 34 administrative and criminal cases have been opened, 5 administrative fines and 26 agreements have been issued.
- NAP - by January 18, 2,774 inspections have been carried out of 626 grocery stores, 561 hairdressing and beauty salons, 5 hotels, 159 parking lots and 226 gyms. 25 violations have been found, 107 administrative fines have been opened, and 26 administrative fines have been issued.
- The "Customs" Agency, the State Commission for Commodity Exchanges and Markets, the NRA and the BFSA have carried out joint inspections. The Bulgarian Food Safety Authority has inspected 22 sites and issued 1 order to suspend operations.
Vladimir Ivanov pointed out that there is stability in international prices. “Nothing new on the international market. Absolute stabilization of cocoa and coffee prices and there is a stable market balance“, he assured.
The consumer basket has increased by 1.50 euros, and its value is currently 53 euros. “The most expensive month is traditionally January, but the market is balanced and calm. There are no external parasitic influences, but there is a normal clash between supply and demand. The process of introducing the euro is going at a very good pace and is in very good condition“, reassured Ivanov.
He pointed out that there is only one problem with the introduction of the euro - in a Sofia village near Mramor, where there is an increase in prices. Vladimir Ivanov threatened that the control bodies and regulators will react to such arbitrariness.
For his part, the Chief Treasurer of the Bulgarian National Bank Stefan Tsvetkov added that there are no registered cases of scratched euro banknotes at the BNB cash desk.
A week ago, the center reported that nearly 50% of the levs in circulation were withdrawn from the BNB. It first presented the results of its activities on January 6. At that time, Chairman Vladimir Ivanov announced that violations were found at about 7% of all sites inspected in connection with the introduction of the single European currency in our country.