The Supreme Administrative Court in Bulgaria has partially struck down a government decree that introduced the so-called weekend road vignette, ruling that the euro-denominated price was calculated incorrectly.
In a decision published this week, the court annulled only the provision setting the vignette’s price at €5.12, while leaving the rest of the decree intact.
The judges found that the euro price resulted from unlawful rounding during the conversion from Bulgarian leva, a process governed by the country’s Euro Introduction Act.
Under the decree, the weekend vignette was priced at 10 Bulgarian leva, with authorities converting this amount into euros ahead of Bulgaria’s planned adoption of the single currency.
According to the court, the correct conversion using the fixed exchange rate of 1.95583 leva per euro produces a value of €5.11, not €5.12 as stated in the decree.
“The rounding method applied favored the state,” the ruling said, stressing that conversion rules must be applied strictly and transparently, particularly during the sensitive euro transition process.
The court emphasized that even a one-cent discrepancy carries legal significance, as euro conversion legislation does not allow discretionary rounding to the benefit of public authorities.
Importantly, the judges underlined that the defect was narrow in scope and affected only the weekend vignette’s euro price, not the vignette system as a whole.
The conversion of prices for daily, weekly, monthly, and annual road vignettes was reviewed and found to be accurate and compliant with the law.
As a result, those vignette prices remain valid and enforceable, and motorists will continue to pay them under the existing framework.
The weekend vignette was introduced as part of broader reforms aimed at offering more flexible and affordable road access, particularly for short-term and transit drivers.
It allows drivers to use Bulgaria’s toll road network from Friday evening through Sunday night, catering to tourists and occasional travelers.
The case was brought before the Supreme Administrative Court after challengers argued that the euro price breached statutory conversion rules introduced ahead of eurozone accession.
Bulgaria has been preparing for euro adoption amid intense public debate, protests, and legal scrutiny over the economic and social impact of the transition.
The Euro Introduction Act establishes a fixed exchange rate and mandates precise conversion rules to prevent hidden price increases during the changeover.
Legal experts say the ruling reinforces the principle that euro conversion must be mathematically exact and politically neutral.
“This decision sends a clear signal that even symbolic overpricing, however small, will not be tolerated,” a Sofia-based administrative law specialist told local media.
The court also stressed that public trust in the euro adoption process depends on strict compliance with conversion safeguards.
By correcting the euro price, the judges sought to prevent precedents that could allow incremental price inflation through rounding practices.
The ruling does not automatically trigger refunds, as the annulment applies to the euro price wording rather than the leva-based cost itself.
Motorists continue to pay 10 leva for the weekend vignette, but authorities may be required to amend official euro references in legal and informational texts.
The decision is not final and may be appealed within 14 days, leaving open the possibility of further legal clarification.
If appealed, a higher instance would review whether the rounding error constitutes a sufficient breach to justify partial annulment.
Government officials have not yet indicated whether they intend to challenge the ruling or simply revise the decree to reflect the correct euro amount.
For now, the judgment stands as a reminder that Bulgaria’s path toward the euro will be closely monitored by courts, citizens, and institutions alike.
As the country moves closer to full euro adoption, even minor discrepancies are likely to remain under intense legal and public scrutiny.