Overview

• The European Commission found that Bulgaria has met all four Maastricht convergence criteria and recommended its entry into the euro area from the start of 2026.
• The European Central Bank issued a favorable assessment of Bulgaria’s currency stability, inflation rate and central bank independence.
• EU finance ministers will convene on July 8 to set the lev-to-euro conversion rate and give the final go-ahead for accession.
• Officials say euro adoption will boost foreign direct investment, streamline trade with eurozone partners and grant Bulgaria a voting seat on the ECB’s Governing Council.
• A Eurobarometer poll shows Bulgarians are divided over the change, with fears of price hikes and loss of monetary sovereignty fueling protests in Sofia and beyond.