Overview
- Finance ministers at a Luxembourg meeting voted to admit Bulgaria to the euro area effective January 1, 2026.
- The European Commission and the European Central Bank confirmed in June that Bulgaria fulfilled criteria on price stability, public finances and exchange-rate stability.
- Originally slated for early 2024, euro adoption was postponed after inflation in Bulgaria reached about 9.5 percent.
- As the EU member with the lowest GDP per capita, Bulgaria aims to eliminate currency risk and attract more trade and investment.
- Domestic protests have erupted over concerns about sovereignty and inflation and the accession still requires formal approval by EU leaders and legal ratification.