site.btaPM Meets ECB President, Calls Euro Adoption "Responsibility and Privilege"

Meeting with European Central Bank (ECB) President Christine Lagarde here on Tuesday, Bulgaria’s Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov said the adoption of the euro at the start of 2026 is “a responsibility and a privilege” for his country. “The euro is more than a currency - it is a symbol of trust, security, and our European identity. Bulgaria is not merely introducing the euro, we are affirming ourselves as part of the heart of Europe,” he said, as quoted by the government information service.

Prime Minister Zhelyazkov and the ECB President confirmed their mutual readiness for close cooperation and stressed that Bulgaria is on the final stretch toward full membership of the euro area as of January 1, 2026.

During the meeting, the sides noted that the Bulgarian National Bank and the government are working in constant coordination with the European Central Bank and the European Commission. The country’s banking sector is already integrated within the framework of the Single Supervisory Mechanism, which ensures a high degree of preparedness and alignment of the processes for the introduction of the euro. The leading principle for the 2026 budget is financial stability and predictability of public finances, Zhelyazkov said.

Despite the challenges in the fiscal sphere, the country will face them with realism and responsibility, just as Bulgaria approaches its European commitments, the Prime Minister said.

He noted that Bulgaria’s accession to the euro area is both a responsibility and a privilege. “A responsibility, because it requires discipline and predictability, and a privilege, because it places us in a community that embodies stability, trust, and security,” he said.

The Prime Minister stated that the government views the accession process as a logical and historic step in the country’s development and in its full participation in European economic and financial structures.

Prime Minister Zhelyazkov also highlighted the importance of public trust and active communication in the process of joining the euro area. The goal is for Bulgarian citizens to see the euro as a tool for stability and new opportunities, not as a risk. In this context, the government and the Bulgarian National Bank will continue the information campaign and strengthen consumer protection measures during the transition period, the Prime Minister said.

Bulgaria’s accession to the euro area will bring significant economic benefits - lower costs for businesses, more investments, and greater financial security for the country, according to ECB President Christine Lagarde.

The meeting was also attended by Bulgarian National Bank Governor Dimitar Radev.

Bulgaria is fully prepared to introduce the euro as of January 1, 2026, both at the national and local levels, said Finance Minister Temenuzhka Petkova during a high-level conference, titled “Bulgaria on the Doorstep of the Eurozone.”