Bulgaria Officially Adopts Euro

(MENAFN) In the opening minutes of 2026, a three-dimensional euro emblem illuminated the facade of the Bulgarian National Bank in Sofia. Simultaneously, the European Central Bank headquarters in Frankfurt displayed a synchronized light show, symbolizing Bulgaria’s formal accession to the eurozone.

“The introduction of the euro is the final milestone in Bulgaria's integration into the European Union,” Bulgarian President Rumen Radev declared in his New Year’s address.

For Sofia, the occasion signified much more than a currency transition. Having joined the European Union in 2007, Bulgaria spent the subsequent 19 years striving to meet the eurozone’s fiscal, inflationary, and institutional benchmarks.

Officials and analysts note that membership ushers in a new era for the nation, characterized by deeper integration alongside fresh economic challenges.

The governor of the Bulgarian National Bank will now participate in the European Central Bank’s Governing Council, contributing to decisions on eurozone interest rates and monetary policy.

European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde welcomed Bulgaria in a video message, describing the euro as “a powerful symbol of what Europe can achieve when we work together,” particularly amid heightened global geopolitical tensions.

Advocates of the single currency argue that the symbolic achievement is accompanied by tangible economic advantages. Tourism is expected to be among the first industries to benefit from the transition.

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