Constantin Toma, PRO TV, 13 January 2026
Table of contents
Summary
The document is a report from the Romanian television station PRO TV, dated January 13, 2026, on Bulgaria’s adoption of the euro two weeks into the new currency.
Key points of the report:
- Public opinion divided: Bulgarians are split into two camps: some are “euphoric” with hope for the country’s development, while others “live in fear” and complain about price increases, unwilling to part with the national currency, the lev.
- Adoption details: Bulgaria switched to the euro on January 1, 2026. The lev is scheduled to become a thing of the past in the middle of the year (August 8, 2026, is mentioned for dual pricing). The National Bank reported that half of the lev in circulation was withdrawn in the first 10 days of January.
- Price increases and inflation: While some citizens complain about excessive price hikes (e.g., bread rising 33% in 48 hours, parking fees in Sofia increasing from 2 levs to 2 euros per hour), authorities and the Director of the Ruse Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Milen Dobrev, attribute the slight increases mainly to inflation and other factors like the rise in the minimum wage and the cost of resources, rather than the euro transition itself.
- Dual pricing and confusion: Retailers are required to display prices in both leva and euros until August 8, 2026, which some citizens find confusing due to the inconsistent ordering of the currencies.
- Investment trends: Fearing high prices, many Bulgarians had withdrawn their savings and invested them in real estate and gold, which Milen Dobrev describes as an international trend, further supporting the idea that the euro introduction is not the sole cause of price increases.
- Misconceptions and skepticism: The report notes that people are realizing common fears were untrue, such as the belief that Bulgarian euros would not be accepted abroad. However, some skeptics remain, including a citizen who urged Romania not to surrender its national currency, the leu.
- Romania’s status: Romania is mentioned as one of the six European Union countries that have not yet switched to the euro and has not set an official date for adoption after several postponements.
Intro
On 13 January 2026, a team from the Romanian television station PRO TV travelled to Ruse to report on Bulgaria’s transition to the euro during the first month of the year. Journalist Constantin Toma visited the city’s central market and a grocery store in its industrial area. He also spoke with Milen Dobrev, the director of the Ruse Chamber of Commerce and Industry. In her opening remarks, presenter Andreea Esca summarised the material, emphasising that Bulgarians are divided on the issue of joining the eurozone, but are flexible enough to invest their savings in real estate and gold during the pre-accession period.
Video
Report
Andreea Esca, producer:
Some are euphoric, others live in fear. Two weeks after starting to pay in euros, Bulgarians are divided into two camps. While for some the change of currency has given them hope for the country’s development, the other part of the population complains about price increases and does not want to part with the lev.
The authorities say that it is not the European currency that is to blame for some price increases, but inflation. Many of Bulgaria’s neighbors south of the Danube have taken their savings out of the bank and invested them in real estate and gold.
Constantin Toma, reporter:
Bulgarians are gradually but surely learning the euro lesson. Bulgaria’s neighbors south of the Danube are withdrawing euros from ATMs and emptying their wallets of leva. The final test will come in the middle of the year, when the Bulgarian lev will become a thing of the past.
Announcer:
Bulgaria, the country with the lowest per capita income in the European Union, switched to the euro on January 1, 2026, after months of preparation. The National Bank announced that in the first 10 days of January, half of the national currency in circulation, the lev, had already been withdrawn.
In markets in large cities, where cash registers or POS terminals are not used, many merchants have been forced to remember the basics of mathematics. It is not always easy, especially when change has to be given in euros, even though the product was paid for in leva.
Saleswoman:
The transition from the lev to the euro is not a problem. It is not expensive. It is cheap. It is normal for beans to cost 5 leva/kg in Bulgaria. It is cheap.
Constantin Toma:
Bulgarian retailers have adapted to the switch to the euro. Until 8 August 2026, they are required to display prices in both leva and euros on their shelves.
Bulgarian citizen 1:
From the customer’s point of view, prices are not too high.
Announcer:
The tax authorities are conducting numerous checks in all shops and are imposing heavy fines on retailers who raise prices excessively. Some complain that bread has risen in price by 33% in just 48 hours.
Bulgarian citizen 2:
In France and Spain, this bread costs €1, here it costs €3. (Translator’s note: 650 g loaf of bread in Ruse costs just over €1).
Announcer:
Some people find the dual pricing confusing.
Bulgarian female citizen:
It’s a bit confusing because sometimes the first price is in euros, and sometimes the first price is in Bulgarian levs.
Announcer:
Price increases have also been noted for services. In Sofia, parking fees have increased from 2 levs per hour to 2 euros. And the fees for issuing agricultural documents have tripled. The authorities say that the slight price increases are not mainly caused by the transition to the euro, but by inflation.
Milen Dobrev:
On 1 January 2026, Bulgaria increased the minimum wage. The cost of resources has increased.
Announcer:
Fearing high prices with the arrival of the euro, some have invested in real estate and gold.
Milen Dobrev:
Many people consider real estate investments to be a safe haven for their money. This is an international trend, linked to the price of gold and real estate. It is another reason to believe that the introduction of the euro is not the real cause of price increases.
Announcer:
People are beginning to realize that it is not true, for example, that Bulgarian euros will not be accepted abroad. Or that they see the reflection of the devil when they hold a 50-euro note up to a mirror. And yet, there are still some skeptics.
Bulgarian citizen 3:
Romania, don’t do it. Don’t surrender the leu. Keep your national currency!
Bulgarian citizen 4:
Switching to the euro is not a good thing.
Announcer:
Only six countries in the European Union have not yet switched to the euro. Romania is one of them. And, after several successive postponements, our country has not set an official date for adoption.
Read more on Bulgaria’s eurozone accession
Photo: PRO TV’s political reporter Constantin Toma in Ruse (source: YouTube)
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