One of the reasons why prices rose in Croatia when the euro was introduced is that they were administratively kept down there. There, inflation becomes higher from the moment they receive the positive report from the ECB. This was said by Stoyan Panchev, an economist on Nova TV.
He is one of the economists who are of the opinion that the introduction of the euro from the beginning of 2026 is early, "because we are not ready".
The financier Levon Hampartzumyan, who was also a guest in the studio and is a supporter of the introduction of the euro from the beginning of 2026, pointed out that what keeps prices in balance is competition and control.
"We are waiting for tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers to become cheaper because of the season", he said.
"Every attempt at state administration of prices has ended deplorably", Hampartzumyan pointed out.
According to Stoyan Panchev, the Bulgarian administration could not cope with the measures. "The Bulgarian administration and the Bulgarian economy are as they are, they will be like that in a year", Hampartzumyan opposed.
Stoyan Panchev, on the other hand, expressed doubt about the NSI data. According to Hampartzumyan, "we do not know, unfortunately, who are really poor and who should be helped, because there was a lot in the shadow economy".
Panchev pointed out that upon entering the eurozone we would have experienced some difficulties. However, there were no countries that became poorer after the introduction of the euro.
"Nothing is risky", said Hampartzumyan. But the BNB and the Finance Ministry knew their job, but pointed out that we have other internal problems to solve. He also added that in Slovakia the euro did not prevent Fico from coming to power.