site.btaUPDATED European Parliament Votes on Bulgaria's Euro Adoption on January 1, 2026

At a plenary session in Strasbourg on Tuesday, the European Parliament (EP) voted, 531-69 with 79 abstentions to adopt a report confirming that Bulgaria fulfils the criteria for adopting the euro on January 1, 2026.

Before that, the EP defeated a motion by the Europe of Sovereign Nations Group (which includes Bulgaria's Vazrazhdane Party) to adjourn the vote on this item of the agenda.

Rapporteur Eva Maydell, Bulgarian MEP of the European People's Party/GERB, said after the vote, quoted by the EP Liaison Office in Sofia: "Today’s vote sends a clear signal: Bulgaria is ready to join the Euro area. All criteria have been met, and this step marks a key milestone towards Bulgaria’s full European integration - for the country and its citizens." 

Later on Tuesday, meeting in Brussels, EU finance ministers adopted the last three legislative acts required for the euro area accession: a Council Decision and two Council Regulations, abrogating Bulgaria's derogation, effective January 1, 2026, setting the euro adoption date for the country at the same date, and fixing the conversion rate between the euro and the Bulgarian lev at EUR 1/BGN 1.95583.