Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport and Communications in resignation Grozdan Karadzhov and Minister of Finance in resignation Temenuzhka Petkova validated the first postage stamp for 2026, "Bulgaria in the Eurozone", at a ceremony in the building of the Ministry of Transport and Communications.

Grozdan Karadzhov emphasized that although the stamp has a denomination of one euro and is small in size, it carries great historical significance, as it signals a new stage in the country's development.

Karadzhov thanked the outgoing Minister of Finance Temenuzhka Petkova for her efforts in managing public finances during a difficult period, noting the containment of inflation and the limitation of the budget deficit. According to him, entering the Eurozone is a long-standing dream for Bulgarian citizens.

He also drew attention to the artistic design of the stamp, created by the artist Nenko Atanasov, which connects the first Bulgarian postage stamps with modern European identity. The design resembles the earliest Bulgarian stamps, including the crowned Bulgarian lion – a symbol of statehood since the Tarnovo Constitution, and refers to the historical stages in the country's monetary system.

Karadzhov clarified that the postage stamps will continue to be sold in the network of "Bulgarian Posts" until stocks are exhausted, and payment will be possible in euros at the official exchange rate.

The outgoing Minister of Finance Temenuzhka Petkova stated that Bulgaria's acceptance into the Eurozone is a long-awaited dream for generations of Bulgarians. According to her, the country is taking its rightful place among the member states and is completing the process of full integration into the European Union.

Petkova pointed out that the benefits of adopting the euro include greater economic and financial stability, more investment, economic growth, higher incomes, and easier payments for citizens and businesses. She emphasized that the process of introducing the euro is proceeding smoothly, without shocks, and called on society and businesses to take advantage of the advantages of Bulgaria's membership in the Eurozone.