Bulgaria Will Switch To Euro From January 1

• 30.12.2025, 12:13

The country has achieved all the necessary criteria.

Bulgaria this week is expected to bid farewell to its national currency, the lev, and switch to the euro from January 1, becoming the 21st eurozone country.

According to Reuters.

Bulgaria is set to become the 21st eurozone country on January 1, 2026 - two years after Croatia introduced the euro from 2023. This year Bulgaria has achieved all the necessary criteria, including inflation, budget deficit, borrowing, and exchange rate stability.

After the introduction of the euro, Bulgaria, in addition to switching to the new currency, gets a seat on the governing council of the European Central Bank.

Although the transition to the euro has been the goal of many Bulgarian governments, the public is still divided as to whether it is more of a positive or a negative for the country. Thus, some people fear rising prices or do not want to lose the lev as their own national currency. Among businesses that actively trade with other European countries, positive perceptions prevail.

Businesses have recently started to display price tags on goods with double prices - in levs and euros. Also in recent weeks, state information billboards with the exchange rate and the slogan "Common Past, Common Future, Common Currency" have been up all over the country and videos have been running to remind people of the change.

Reminder, the switch to the euro will take place during a major political crisis that is leading Bulgaria to its eighth early parliamentary elections.