site.btaInformation Events on Euro's Introduction Held in Razgrad, Blagoevgrad

Information events within the National Information Campaign for the Introduction of the Euro in Bulgaria were held in Razgrad (NE Bulgaria) and Blagoevgrad (SW Bulgaria) on Thursday. The aim of the campaign is to provide citizens with clear, detailed and reliable information on the main stages and deadlines of the euro introduction process. 

The debate on the introduction of the euro and Bulgaria’s membership in the eurozone is more of a political rather than an economic or social issue, Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov said in Razgrad. He noted that Bulgaria’s eurozone membership is the final step towards full integration into the structures and systems of the European Union. “The topic of the euro has become the subject of a serious political debate. In fact, one could say that at one point the euro was the ‘cherry on top’ of the political debate,” he noted and pointed out however that with the adoption of the euro, Bulgaria will become part of a nearly 400 million-strong market. "We will not accept a foreign currency, we will accept our European currency, which will allow Bulgaria to be a more complete participant in the single European market," Zhelyazkov stressed. He recalled the Greek financial crisis in 2009 and added that if Greece had not been part of the eurozone at the time, the events would have developed in a fundamentally different way.

The Health Ministry continues to work actively and with full transparency in fulfilling the national priorities related to Bulgaria’s accession to the Eurozone, said Health Minister Silvi Kirilov. The event was part of the National Information Campaign on the introduction of the euro in Bulgaria. He noted that the adoption of the single European currency marks the culmination of a long journey, filled with efforts, challenges, and changes. According to him, this is undoubtedly a historic step in the development of the country - a new direction that will bring stability, prosperity, and strengthen national authority and confidence.

E-Government Minister Valentin Mundrov said that the adoption of the euro is not just an economic step, but an ecological reform that will accelerate digital development in Bulgaria. This opens up a huge opportunity to model information systems, to ensure more security, more transparency and better services for citizens, he noted, adding that this is an opportunity to build a more efficient, digital and European Bulgaria. "I would like to emphasize that this is a strategic choice for our future, the stability of the economy and trust in state institutions. When we talk about Bulgaria's accession to the eurozone, we are not just talking about a currency. We are talking about a system of standards, technologies and integrations that will accelerate Bulgaria's digital transformation," the Minister pointed out.

At the information meeting in Blagoevgrad, Economy and Industry Minister Peter Dilov said that the euro is a symbol of stability, trust and common direction, and joining the eurozone will strengthen the national economy and provide security for businesses and citizens. The introduction of the single European currency is also an act of trust in Bulgaria, he noted. Membership in the eurozone will facilitate travel, trade and investment, he pointed out, adding that benefits will include faster income growth, a more competitive and attractive national economy and the opening of more opportunities and cooperation for business.

Bulgaria's admission to the eurozone is the result of joint efforts by the State and the public over the years, Foreign Minister Georg Georgiev said. According to him, membership is not only a sign of economic growth, but also of belonging to a community made up of the most developed and stable countries in the world. He added that the adoption of the euro was an agreement that Bulgaria agreed to even before it became an EU member.  In his words, the euro does not mean a loss of sovereignty or national identity, but quite the opposite. “It is an emphasis on our strong European integration and a guarantee that from now on we will be at the table where the highest decisions in the European Union are made,” Georgiev said.

Education and Science Minister Krasimir Valchev said that information boards and materials about the euro, to be introduced in January 2026, will be displayed in schools, helping students quickly familiarize themselves with the new banknotes. The curricula include topics on budgets, loans, income and expenses. "These additional competencies have been included in the new curricula, but the issue for Bulgarian students is more with basic and functional literacy than with financial literacy," Valchev noted.

Deputy Finance Minister Galya Dimitrova said that Bulgaria is achieving the strategic goal of joining the eurozone thanks to the efforts of several governments. The eurozone is not only an economic and monetary union but also a community of trust, she noted. Bulgaria has earned recognition for strong public finance management, a predictable business environment and effective institutions. She stressed that this sends a clear signal to investors that Bulgaria is a reliable partner committed to the security and stability of its citizens.

Petar Chobanov, Deputy Governor and member of the Bulgarian National Bank’s (BNB) Governing Council, said that Bulgaria’s accession to the eurozone opens the door for the country to seek strategic economic partnerships such as the one with German industrial giant Rheinmetall, and to participate in building new supply and production chains within the monetary union and the European Union as a whole. “The eurozone provides opportunities for both businesses and the State to pursue strategic partnerships. We now have predictability, a shared currency, and reduced transaction costs,” Chobanov said.

Vasil Golemanski, Chair of the Financial Supervision Commission (FSC), said all insurance policies, pension fund accounts and investment positions will be automatically converted from lev to euro on January 1, meaning that no contracts or additional agreements need to be signed in connection with Bulgaria's euro adoption. He was speaking at an information session in Blagoevgrad, part of the National Information Campaign on the introduction of the euro.

Bulgarian companies will become more expensive with the accession to the eurozone said Manyu Moravenov, Executive Director of the Bulgarian Stock Exchange (BSE). “The adoption of the euro will benefit the Bulgarian capital market, because it trades with a representative sample of the Bulgarian economy. The price of Bulgarian companies will rise,” Moravenov emphasized. He added that this effect is already visible. The main index of the exchange, SOFIX, ranks among the leaders in growth in Europe. Small investors are also increasing, with their number up 30% this year. 

Information events were also held in Avren and Levski on Thursday. The events are a joint effort between the responsible institutions, including the Ministry of Finance, the Bulgarian National Bank, the Ministry of Economy and Industry, the Consumer Protection Commission, the National Revenue Agency, the Financial Supervision Commission, the National Social Security Institute, and others. Bulgaria is set to adopt the euro as of January 1, 2026, becoming the 21st member of the eurozone.