site.btaCabinet Updates Eurozone Accession Framework for 2026 Entry

Cabinet adopted amendments to Council of Ministers Decree No. 168 of July 2015 establishing the Council for the Coordination of the Preparation of the Republic of Bulgaria for Euro Area Membership, the government press service said on Wednesday.

The changes come after the European Commission, in a special convergence report requested by the Bulgarian government in February, confirmed that Bulgaria meets all the criteria for joining the euro area and proposed that the country adopt the euro as its official currency as of January 1, 2026.

The amendments assign the Council responsibility for organizing and coordinating the practical preparation of the Republic of Bulgaria for euro area membership under a new target date, after the European Commission—via the extraordinary convergence report requested by the government in February—announced that Bulgaria meets all accession criteria and proposed that the member states approve the country’s adoption of the euro as official currency from January 1, 2026.

The changes are also aimed at refining the Council’s functions and increasing the effectiveness of its operations. The Consumer Protection Commission, Bulgarian Posts, the National Statistical Institute, the Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Policy, as well as the heads of the National Social Security Institute and the General Labour Inspectorate Executive Agency, are included as Council members.

The functions and responsibilities of the “Consumer Protection” working group within the Council have also been expanded in light of new circumstances related to the practical preparation for introducing the euro, which fall within the working group’s remit.