News

3 October 2025

Ombudsman Velislava Delcheva and a team of experts from the Institution organized a reception meeting for citizens in Veliko Tarnovo, which took place in the municipality's conference room.

Before that, the Ombudsman was welcomed by the Mayor of the city, Daniel Panov. In the mayor's office, the two discussed issues of concern to the local community, mainly related to the right to a clean and healthy environment. They also expressed their willingness to cooperate in resolving specific issues in the interest of the people.

During the reception day, Ombudsman Velislava Delcheva and Director of the Territorial Division of the National Social Security Institute Petya Yordanova conducted an information campaign regarding the upcoming introduction of the new euro currency on 1 January next year, aimed primarily at the elderly people, under the title "Pensions in euros".

"I have advised my mother that between 1 January and 1 February 2026, when the two currencies will be exchanged, she should use a bank card to avoid having to return euros and cents, which I admit even confuses me. But thanks to the Ministry of Finance and the Bulgarian National Bank, we have brochures with clear explanations," the Ombudsman told the gathered citizens. She gave an example and showed a table in one of the leaflets, visualizing how many euro cents should be returned for a 1 lev bill, and added: If you are to be given 8 leva in change, merchants should actually give you 4 euros and 9 cents.

Delcheva also warned against re-signing contracts because of the euro, because there is no need to update or change any contract, whether with an operator or a private individual, as the amount is automatically converted into euros.

"On 7 January, pensions will be paid in euros. The amount you are currently receiving, as per the July regulations, has already been announced in euros. Anyone who is interested can visit the reception desk or request a notice from the National Social Security Institute (NOI) by mail to find out how much they will receive in euros," said Regional Director Petya Yordanova.  

She drew attention to the fact that the 1 and 2 euro coins are very similar in size and appearance to the 1 and 2 leva coins, so she warned people to be careful.

She also advised that the exchange of savings take place in January at a bank or post office branch. 

Later, at a briefing, the Ombudsman informed journalists about the nature of the problems brought to her attention by the residents of Veliko Tarnovo, the first of which concerned the Kronospan wood processing plant, raised by both citizens and representatives of the organization "You Decide for Veliko Tarnovo."

"The Ombudsman Institution has been aware of this issue since 2022," Delcheva said, adding that previous Ombudsman had also worked on the problem.

She pointed out that there was currently an opportunity to amend the company's integrated permit and, in this regard, she had undertaken to monitor the procedure in order to reduce air pollution emissions.

"I committed to making a recommendation that, when the complex permit is being considered, a public discussion be organized with the citizens of Veliko Tarnovo. This is not required by law, but it would greatly reassure citizens when they receive additional information about what exactly is happening," emphasized the Ombudsman.

The other commitment made by the national public defender in relation to Kronospan is to request the Ministry of Environment and Water, the Ministry of Health, and the Regional Health Inspectorate to publish information on the EIA and current statistical data.

Velislava Delcheva also reported that she had been approached by mothers of children with rare diseases who insisted that they be entered in the National Register of Rare Diseases, for which she had undertaken to hold talks with the Minister of Health.

Among other complaints received at the reception desk are reports of real estate issues, objections regarding ownership, consumer cases, problems related to a poultry farm in the town of Debelets, a limestone quarry in the village of Balvan, etc.

Later, the Ombudsman, together with the Minister of Justice and the Mayor of Veliko Tarnovo, participated in the opening of a new Legal Aid Bureau center in the city, where people from vulnerable groups will be able to receive free legal protection.

Tomorrow, Velislava Delcheva will participate in a conference dedicated to the 20th anniversary of the adoption of the Legal Aid Act in Bulgaria and the Protection Against Domestic Violence Act.

At the same time, another team from the Institution, led by Deputy Ombudsman Maria Filipova, together with the Deputy Director of the National Social Security Institute (NSSI) Ivaylo Zdravkov, advised citizens in Gorna Oryahovitsa on social, health, insurance rights, and consumer issues.

The focus there was on the information campaign for the introduction of the euro on 1 January next year, during which people were reassured that the state had organized everything so that the conversion would be automatic and their accounts would remain the same.