Overview

• On June 4, the European Commission and European Central Bank endorsed Bulgaria’s entry into the eurozone starting January 1, 2026
• Sofia satisfied all four Maastricht convergence criteria covering price stability, fiscal health, exchange-rate alignment and long-term interest rate convergence
• Bulgaria’s inflation averaged 2.7% in April 2025, below the ECB’s 2.8% ceiling, while public debt stood at 24.1% of GDP
• The country has maintained budget deficits under 3% of GDP and avoided EU excessive deficit procedures since 2012
• The Ecofin Council of EU finance ministers will deliver the final decision on July 8, 2025