site.btaSpecially Branded "Euromobile" to Promote Euro Changeover around Bulgaria

A specially branded "Euromobile" will travel around Bulgaria 100 days before the introduction of the euro in order to inform residents of large and small, remote settlements about the single European currency. This is part of the Communication Strategy for Information and Publicity of Bulgaria's Accession to the Euro Area, adopted by the Coordination Council for Preparation of Bulgaria for Euro Area Membership and published by the Ministry of Finance.

The visit of the Euromobile will be promoted by public figures.

Due to concerns that traders will round up prices to the detriment of consumers during the changeover from the lev to the euro, an 'Honest Trader' campaign will be organized by the Ministry of Economy and Industry, together with the Commission for Consumer Protection and representatives of NGOs. Those traders who comply with the rules for accurate conversion of prices of their products/services from BGN to EUR, and for understandable and correct price indication during the dual pricing period, will receive an "Honest Trader" sticker. Traders who deliberately violate the rules will be sanctioned and their names will also be put on a black list which will be published on the website of the Commission through other information channels.

According to the Communication Strategy, the design of the euro coins with the Bulgarian symbol will be chosen by a national vote. A competition will be announced for the images of the one and two euro coins, as well as the 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 euro cents.

Furthermore, all households will receive letters with information about the introduction of the euro, the security features of euro banknotes and coins, and the possible ways of exchanging currency. The letters will be accompanied by calculator cards, which will enable every citizen to understand how the conversion from euro to lev will be carried out.

Starter sets of euro coins, one side of which will have Bulgarian symbols, will be offered for sale to citizens. In this way, people will be able to get to know the appearance of Bulgarian euro coins before the introduction of the new currency. Pensioners will receive the sets together with the cash payment of their pension.