site.btaChristine Lagarde Congratulates Bulgaria on Eurozone Accession as ECB Holds Year's First Meeting

European Central Bank (ECB) President Christine Lagarde congratulated Bulgaria on its accession to the euro area as of January 1, 2026. She made the remark at the start of the press conference following the ECB’s first meeting of the year.

Lagarde noted that the euro area has nearly doubled its membership since its establishment in 1999, describing this as evidence of the attractiveness of the single currency and of the lasting benefits of European integration. 

She also welcomed Bulgarian National Bank Governor Dimitar Radev, who joined the ECB’s Governing Council with voting rights.