Podcast in English
Audio Player
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

Competition watchdog scratches affordable products initiative

Photo: BGNES

The Commission on Protection of Competition has cancelled the Ministry of Economy’s initiative “Available to you” which aimed to lower the prices of around 50 products from the small consumer basket at chain stores.

The initiative was supposed to have been launched on 1 November. According to the regulator, the initiative will result in restricting price competition among traders and is a violation of the constitutional principles of free economic initiative. The Commission is recommending “providing individual food packages and a warm lunch” as a way of coping with the increase in prices.

“The initiative is good, it is European and does not distort competition in any way, but it is very much delayed – by one year,” Assoc. Prof. Ognyan Boyukliev from the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences’ Economic Research Institute commented for the BNR. “It is a good thing there will be no price caps. Price caps were put in place in Hungary that have already been done away with because they led to shortages,” Assoc. Prof. Ognyan Boyukliev said.

The Ministry of Economy said that they would not give up the initiative aimed at achieving better prices for consumers. "We have created a basis for competition between the various participants in the initiative for these 50 essential products," Minister of Economy Bogdan Bogdanov said in a televised interview. According to him, talks on the topic between the ministry and the Commission for the Protection of Competition are forthcoming.




Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

“Yes, Bulgaria” elects: One or two co-chairpersons

The political formation “Yes, Bulgaria” which is part of the opposition coalition “Democratic Bulgaria” is calling a national conference to elect a new leader or two leaders to replace former chairman Hristo Ivanov who resigned over poor results at..

published on 4/27/25 8:10 AM
Antonio Costa

European Council President Antonio Costa visits Bulgaria

European Council President Antonio Costa will be paying a three-day visit to Bulgaria 27-29 April. His schedule includes meetings with President Rumen Radev and with Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov. He is also expected to visit production and..

published on 4/27/25 7:35 AM

Cloudy and rainy Sunday with thunder in some parts

During the night there will be rain in many parts. In Eastern Bulgaria and in the Northwest the rain will be temporarily intensive, and there will be thunder. Minimum temperatures 7° C. - 12° C., for Sofia around 8° C. On Sunday the weather..

published on 4/26/25 6:05 PM