There is a real possibility that parking prices in the blue and green zones in Sofia will not be increased from January 1. This became clear from the words of the Chairman of the Consumer Protection Commission, Alexander Kolyachev. The Consumer Protection Commission is examining the economic justification for the jump from 2 leva to 2 euros and assumes that if a violation is established and a court procedure is initiated, the new tariffs may not come into force on time, BNT specified.
The Consumer Protection Commission (CPC) has taken the case under its own jurisdiction.
„We took the case under its own jurisdiction the very next day after the media publications and the hundreds of complaints from citizens and immediately requested all relevant documents related to the determination of this price – expenses, planned, additional expenses and so on, to see and establish whether there is an economic justification for this price increase“ he pointed out.
Kolyachev specified that he expects to receive all the cost and economic evidence that justifies the price increase by the end of Monday.
Asked whether the price increase from 2 leva to 2 euros can be defined as speculation according to the Euro Introduction Act, the chairman of the CPC Alexander Kolyachev stated that he could not give a definitive answer at this stage.
“For us, this represents a 100% increase in the price at the current moment and therefore we believe that we must request all relevant documents,“ he explained.
Kolyachev emphasized that an analysis can only be made after the commission receives and reviews the requested cost and economic justifications.
According to the Law on the Introduction of the Euro, any price increase must result from factors beyond the trader's control — such as an increase in costs, wages, taxes or delivery prices.
When asked whether the commission can block the new prices, Kolyachev replied:
„I cannot be categorical at this point, but we have certainly taken measures in this direction.“
He reminded that the opinion of the Consumer Protection Commission is that the price increase must be justified and for objective reasons.
From the words of the Chairman of the Consumer Protection Commission Alexander Kolyachev, it became clear that it is entirely possible that the price for parking in the „blue zone“ not to be increased from January 1, if a court procedure is initiated to challenge the decision of the Sofia Municipal Council.
„We are entering an administrative spiral,“ he said.
According to him, the first step is to establish whether there is a violation.
„First we need to establish whether there is or is not a violation,“ the chairman of the CPC specified.
If the commission concludes that the increase in price from 2 leva to 2 euros constitutes a violation, the next step is court proceedings.
„If we establish that there is a violation... I assume that then court proceedings will follow,“ said Kolyachev.
Asked whether in that case the new price might not come into effect from January 1, while the case is ongoing, he replied:
“It is possible“, he said.
Kolyachev stressed that at the moment it is not clear when and how exactly a possible court decision would be implemented, but confirmed that such a development is entirely possible.