Bulgaria is ready to adopt the euro from January 1, 2026.

Today, the European Commission announced that Bulgaria is ready to adopt the euro, effective from January 1, 2026. This will make the country the twenty-first member state to join the eurozone. This assessment is set out in the 2025 Convergence Report, prepared at the request of the Bulgarian authorities, and marks a decisive and historic step in Bulgaria's path to adopting the single European currency.

The report finds that Bulgaria meets the four nominal convergence criteria, which are intended to ensure that a country is ready to adopt the euro and that its economy is sufficiently prepared for it. The country's legislation is also considered compatible with the requirements of the Treaty and the Statute of the European System of Central Banks and the European Central Bank (ECB).

The Commission's assessment also examines additional factors related to economic integration and convergence, including changes in the balance of payments and integration processes in the goods market, the financial market, and the labor market. This assessment is complemented by the ECB's own published convergence report, also released today.

The Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) has consistently and unequivocally expressed its firm support for the introduction of the euro in the Republic of Bulgaria. This position was reflected in the BCCI's Guidelines for Activity 2024-2028, as well as in the priorities of the Association of Organizations of the Bulgarian Business (AOBR) for 2025.

Joining the eurozone will be a key step in the integration of the Bulgarian economy into the European Union and will lead to increased economic stability and competitiveness of the country.