site.btaPM, Central Bank Governor Sign Position Backing Euro Adoption by 2026

Bulgarian Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov and Bulgarian National Bank (BNB) Governor Dimitar Radev have formally reaffirmed their support for adopting the euro as Bulgaria’s currency starting January 1, 2026. Speaking after a meeting of the Joint Governance Council, Zhelyazkov said the signed position confirms the commitment of both the Government and Central Bank to meet eurozone entry conditions and to implement the transition with safeguards for Bulgarian society.

“This position is meant to reassure our European Union partners that Bulgaria is a country governed by the rule of law, committed to honoring its obligations,” Zhelyazkov said, referencing two decades of national efforts since signing the EU accession treaty.

Zhelyazkov announced that the pro-euro position he and Central Bank Governor Dimitar Radev signed is now open for endorsement by members of Parliament, to strengthen its weight before European institutions. The position affirms Bulgaria’s readiness to adopt the euro on January 1, 2026, and underlines the country's commitment to the rule of law and EU obligations.

The Prime Minister praised Parliament Chair Nataliya Kiselova’s decision to block President Rumen Radev’s recent proposal for a national referendum on euro adoption, calling her move “in line with the principles of a rule-of-law state.” He also thanked GERB Deputy Floor Leader Raya Nazaryan and the wider legal community for their defense of constitutional order in recent days.

Referring to the referendum proposal—which stirred significant concern among Bulgaria’s pro-European and democratic circles—Zhelyazkov said: “I believe this issue is now behind us.”

The developments signal a coordinated institutional pushback against the referendum initiative, reinforcing Bulgaria’s strategic aim of joining the eurozone, pending final EU approval.

The move comes just days after President Rumen Radev proposed a national referendum on the euro’s adoption, a decision that has sparked political controversy. On Tuesday, Parliament Chair Nataliya Kiselova formally rejected the President’s proposal as inadmissible, citing constitutional grounds.

Despite growing public and political debate, Bulgaria's leadership appears determined to stay the course toward eurozone membership, pending final convergence assessments by the European Central Bank and European Commission.