site.btaBulgaria Stays Firmly on Course for Eurozone Entry Despite Political Tensions, BNB Governor Says in Luxembourg

Bulgaria remains strategically oriented towards membership of the eurozone despite the country’s current political situation, Bulgarian National Bank (BNB) Governor Dimitar Radev said in Luxembourg. “Bulgaria is currently experiencing political tensions and waves of public pressure. These dynamics are part of democratic life and give rise to an intense public debate. But despite these changes, the strategic orientation towards the euro remains intact,” Radev said in a speech at the European Stability Mechanism’s annual dinner in Luxembourg, as reported by the BNB on Thursday.

Radev added that the introduction of the euro requires political responsibility and public trust, not only technical readiness.

The BNB Governor said that support for adopting the euro exists across a broad political spectrum in Bulgaria and is embedded through a constitutional majority. This is not a consensus of unanimity but a consensus of continuity, based on the understanding that the country’s long-term security and prosperity depend on deeper European integration, he noted. This continuity lends stability and credibility to the accession process, Radev added.

In his address, Dimitar Radev also said that Bulgaria brings valuable experience – that of a small, open economy accustomed to operating under strict monetary discipline, maintaining fiscal sustainability and adapting to external shocks. He added that this experience will be an important contribution to the Eurosystem and to the collective efforts to manage an increasingly complex European and global environment. Quoting Tommaso Padoa-Schioppa, one of the architects of the euro – “The euro is a community of stability and trust” – Radev said that for Bulgaria, joining this community marks the beginning of a new stage in our European development, a stage that strengthens our institutions, supports citizens and deepens our commitment to Europe’s future. Behind every element of technical preparation stands a simple truth: the euro is for the people – for their savings, their security and their future, the BNB Governor added in his speech.

Earlier, the BNB Governor met in Luxembourg with the Managing Director of the European Stability Mechanism (ESM), Pierre Gramegna. For the first time, the Bulgarian flag was raised at the institution’s building, a symbolic gesture marking Bulgaria’s upcoming membership as the 21st state in the mechanism after the country's planned accession to the eurozone on January 1, 2026, BNB said.

The BNB Governor also took part in a strategic discussion with members of the European Stability Mechanism’s Board of Governors, dedicated to the adoption of the euro in Bulgaria, the country’s current situation and Bulgaria’s future membership in the mechanism. Dimitar Radev left a message in the European Stability Mechanism’s guest book, in which he thanked Managing Director Pierre Gramegna and the institution’s entire team for the excellent partnership and expressed expectations for active cooperation in support of a stable European economic framework.

During his visit, Dimitar Radev also met Bulgarian experts working in the structures of the European Stability Mechanism. Deputy Finance Minister Metodi Metodiev also took part in the meetings.