48As regards the financial penalty, the fact that its amount, in respect of a first offence, cannot be less than BGN 500 (approximately EUR 250) and may be as high as BGN 2000 (approximately EUR 1000), as well as the relationship between the VAT evaded on the sale of the packet of cigarettes at issue in the main proceedings, namely an amount of less than BGN 1 (approximately EUR 0.50), and the penalty imposed, which, according to the information provided by the Bulgarian Government, amounts to BGN 500 (approximately EUR 250), attest to the severe nature of that penalty.
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