Translation. Region: Russian Federal
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Brussels/Sofia, June 4 (Xinhua) — Bulgaria has met the criteria to adopt the euro as of January 1, 2026, making it the 21st member of the eurozone, the European Commission (EC) announced on Wednesday.
The conclusion of the Commission’s 2025 Convergence Report, prepared at Bulgaria’s request, confirms that the country meets the four nominal convergence criteria required for adoption of the euro. The assessment also took into account broader economic indicators such as market integration and the balance of payments. The findings were also supported by a parallel report from the European Central Bank (ECB).
Based on the conclusion, the European Commission proposed that the EU Council adopt a decision and a regulation on the introduction of the euro in Bulgaria. The final decision should be taken by the EU Council in the first half of July after consultations with the Eurogroup, the European Council, the European Parliament and the ECB.
“This brings Bulgaria one step closer to adopting the euro,” said EC President Ursula von der Leyen, adding that eurozone membership would strengthen the country’s economy through increased trade, investment and access to finance.
Bulgarian Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov welcomed the positive assessment, calling it the result of years of reforms and coordination with other European partners. He is expected to make a formal statement later on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, public opinion in Bulgaria remains divided on the issue. A recent poll by the Trend Research Center found that only 21 percent of respondents support switching to the euro in 2026, while 33 percent want to delay the introduction of the single currency and 38 percent reject the idea entirely. In recent weeks, protests have been held across the country demanding a referendum on keeping the national currency, the lev. –0–