Protection of consumer rights in the context of the digital economy and the green transition, as well as the measures taken by the government to fight inflation, were discussed during a meeting at the Ministry of Economy and Industry by Minister Bogdan Bogdanov and EU Commissioner Didier Reynders, in charge of Justice and Consumer Protection. Minister Bogdanov assured the Commissioner that the priority is to create a predictable and stable environment for consumers and businesses in Bulgaria. The meeting was also attended by the Deputy Ministers of Economy and Industry Ivaylo Shotev and Nikolay Pavlov.
Minister Bogdanov and Didier Reynders also talked about improving consumer awareness. During the meeting, emphasis was also placed on the country’s preparations for the introduction of the euro. ‘We need to have an active mechanism so that there is no speculation with the prices when revaluation takes place,’ Bogdanov stressed.
They also discussed key legislative initiatives of the European Commission in the area of consumer rights protection. The progress in Bulgaria’s work on their transposition at national level was reported. The new legislation aims to empower consumers in the context of the environmental and digital transition and to give more legal certainty and stability to businesses. Minister Bogdanov and EU Justice Commissioner Didier Reynders discussed consumer protection policies.
‘It is a priority for us that Bulgarian consumers have access to basic food products from the small consumer basket at the lowest possible prices on a competitive basis,’ Minister Bogdanov said. He pointed to the ‘Affordable for you’ initiative as a positive example of ensuring competition on the market and improving the awareness of Bulgarian consumers. The Minister briefed Commissioner Didier Reynders on the results of the campaign to achieve permanently low prices for basic necessities.
Bogdanov announced that work is underway to address the challenges related to the different levels of digitalization in different regions of Bulgaria. Digitalization was also identified as a key prerequisite for ensuring the competitiveness of Bulgarian business and for ensuring its access to foreign markets.
The Minister of Economy and Commissioner Reynders opened the ‘Consumer Dialogue’ under the motto ‘Consumer Protection in the Green Transition and in the Digital Era – Opportunities and Challenges’. The event is organised by the European Commission in cooperation with the Ministry of Economy and Industry. ‘Consumer Dialogues in EU Member States are initiatives that provide an opportunity to discuss how close cooperation and partnerships at European and national level can lead to faster and more sustainable results. The purpose of these events is to listen to national law enforcement authorities as well as other stakeholders.