Bulgaria is poised to become the eurozone’s 21st member on 1 January 2026, as the European Commission and European Central Bank prepare to greenlight its accession in a report due next Wednesday.
For Sofia, it marks a long-awaited step into the EU’s financial core — with promises of increased trade, reduced transaction costs, and a seat at the ECB’s decision-making table.
Yet, the road to the euro is not without its bumps. Critics warn of a possible one-off price surge, especially in rural areas where consumers are most vulnerable.
President Rumen Radev’s recent call for a referendum to delay the switch rattled political circles, though the move appears unlikely to survive a constitutional challenge — or parliamentary support.
As the lev, long pegged to the euro, prepares its final bow, Bulgaria now stands at the edge of a monetary milestone — with both optimism and anxiety in the air.