Bulgaria ready for euros: from 2026 as a 21st euro zone member!

Bulgaria ready for euros: from 2026 as a 21st euro zone member!

Bulgarien - Bulgaria faces a historical step: On January 1, 2026, the country will introduce the euro as an official currency. This becomes the 21st member of the euro zone after the EU Commission and the European Central Bank (ECB) confirmed compliance with the necessary stability criteria in spring 2025. This reported ADAC .

The defined changeover course is 1 euro = 1.95583 Lewa. After the introduction, the exchange of Lewa will only be possible in Bulgaria. For a smooth transition phase, it is planned that both currencies can be used in parallel for one month. From February 1, 2026, the LEWA will then lose its status as a legal means of payment.

political approval and economic requirements

The approval for Bulgaria's euro joining was not overnight. In June 2023, the European Commission and the EU heads of state and government already gave the EU Green Light. The Minister of Finances of the EU recently passed the last legal acts required, which now fulfills Bulgaria all the necessary criteria, such as price stability and solid state finances. Finance Minister Temenuschka Petkowa emphasized the strategic character of this decision and promised that Bulgaria would remain a "pillar of financial discipline".

Denmark congratulated the Bulgarian people on this progress and emphasized the extensive preparation for the entry into the euro. Bulgaria had originally planned the introduction of the euro in early 2024. However, this was postponed due to an inflation rate of 9.5 percent.

social reactions and challenges

Despite the political approval, the situation in Bulgarian society is not unproblematic. Surveys show that only about half of the population is for the introduction of the euro. Prorussian and nationalist groups have already organized protest campaigns in Sofia, which indicates a split opinion about the euro accession.

The euro zone now comprises 21 member states. Other countries are added with Bulgaria, while the introduction of the euro in other countries such as Romania is planned for 2029 at the earliest. The Czech Republic, Poland and Hungary have postponed their euro access to an indefinite period. Denmark and Sweden rejected the introduction of the euro in referenders. In addition, non-EU countries such as Andorra, Monaco, San Marino and the Vatican, as well as Montenegro and Kosovo use the euro.

The last euro entrust was Croatia, which carried out the change on January 1, 2023. The stability of the Bulgarian Lewa, which has existed since the 1990s, is expected as a positive indicator of the future euro. However, the path until the introduction of the euro is associated with political and social challenges that must be mastered.