site.btaGERB-UDF: Eurozone Accession a Historic Moment, New National Goals Must Follow

GERB-UDF sees Bulgaria’s accession to the eurozone as a historic moment that both completes the country’s European integration and marks the beginning of a new stage in its development, MP Toma Bikov said in a declaration read out in Parliament on Wednesday on behalf of the parliamentary group.

He said that society now expects political leaders to set new, ambitious national goals that can generate broad public support and be pursued with consistency.

“The EU is not a fulfilled utopia of socialism, it is a real structure, and as such, it comes with its challenges and difficulties,” Bikov said.

He emphasized that over the past 35 years, three generations of Bulgarians have worked hard to return the country to what he described as its natural home, European civilization. Full EU membership was one of the main goals set by Bulgarian society after the fall of the totalitarian regime, he added.

“What distinguishes success from failure in a nation’s history is the ability to achieve a major goal it has set for itself,” Bikov said. In this sense, joining the eurozone is not only a historic success but also a source of greater national confidence and self-belief, he added.

Bikov argued that GERB-UDF, as a major political force, took on the serious political risk of participating in a minority government during a complex domestic and geopolitical situation. “When the Cabinet was formed, we pledged to secure eurozone membership from January 1, 2026. Today we can say that this commitment has been fulfilled, but efforts for a smooth and successful transition to the euro still lie ahead,” the declaration reads.

GERB-UDF thanked the 171 MPs who supported eurozone accession with their signatures and expressed confidence that their efforts will benefit future generations.

Bikov also acknowledged the views of eurosceptics, noting that such scepticism exists in every EU member state. Whether eurozone membership will make Bulgarians wealthier will depend on the society’s willingness to work together and apply sustained efforts, the declaration concludes.