CNBC: Not All Bulgarians Convinced Joining the Eurozone Is a Good Idea
Bulgaria is preparing to adopt the euro, but not everyone in the country is on board
A significant portion of Bulgarians' savings is already held in euros, signaling the country's readiness for the currency switch, even before its official adoption. According to Petar Chobanov, Deputy Governor of the Bulgarian National Bank (BNB), 25% of household deposits and 32% of business deposits are currently in euros. This reflects a pragmatic approach by Bulgarians, despite the ongoing anti-euro campaigns led by certain political groups, including "Revival" and others.
Chobanov emphasized that the strong presence of the euro in local savings is not surprising, considering Bulgaria's close economic ties with the eurozone and the broader EU. He noted that for many individuals and businesses, holding euros is more convenient, especially for those traveling abroad or dealing with eurozone partners. Keeping funds in euros eliminates the need for currency conversions, thus saving on both exchange fees and potential losses due to fluctuating exchange rates.
If traders attempt to unjustifiably raise prices during the transition to the euro, the National Revenue Agency (NRA) will detect it through discrepancies in VAT declarations
In recent weeks, Bulgaria has seen a noticeable uptick in demand for euro banknotes
The adoption of the euro in Bulgaria is not expected to cause fast loans to become more expensive
Although converting leva into euros may appear straightforward - just divide by the fixed rate of 1.95583 - reality brings far more complexity
The Bulgarian National Bank will stay the course with its conservative and stability-oriented monetary policy even after the country enters the eurozone
The demand for euros in Bulgaria has surged by about 50%
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