site.btaBSP–United Left Leadership Holds Meeting with Employer Organizations on Eurozone Accession

The leadership of BSP–United Left, including Deputy Prime Minister and Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) Chair Atanas Zafirov, Ministers Borislav Gutsanov, Ivan Ivanov, and Manol Genov, as well as Dragomir Stoynev, head of the BSP–United Left parliamentary group, and other MPs, met on Tuesday with representatives of the four national employer organizations at BSP’s headquarters. The topic of the meeting was: “The Challenges Facing Bulgaria on Its Path to Eurozone Accession.” 

At the start of the discussion, Atanas Zafirov expressed hope that the meeting would help ease public concerns. According to him, the divide in Bulgarian society is being fueled by populist forces. “We must make genuine efforts in the coming months to dispel these fears. This includes an adequate awareness campaign and measures from state institutions,” the Deputy Prime Minister stated.

Rumen Radev, Chair of the Managing Board of the Bulgarian Industrial Capital Association (AICB), noted that January 1, 2026, is a realistic date for Bulgaria’s eurozone entry, and he believes that both the public and business are ready for such a transition.

Chairman of the Management Board of the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce (BCC) Dobri Mitrev stated that the business community expects the euro to be introduced as legal tender from January 1, 2026, and is fully prepared for the transition. “Data show that inflation is not caused by the introduction of a particular currency,” he said, noting that the true drivers are uncertainty, nearby conflicts, and the pandemic.

Vasil Todorov, Secretary General of the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI), stated that a survey conducted by the chamber found that more than 65% of companies are ready for full euro adoption. In his view, a more active awareness campaign could help overcome public and business concerns.

Boyan Nikolaev, Deputy Executive Director of the Confederation of Employers and Industrialists in Bulgaria, emphasized that the awareness campaign is particularly important. “We currently have higher inflation than the eurozone, but upon joining, [inflation] will stabilize,” he commented.

Dragomir Stoynev, head of the BSP–United Left parliamentary group, acknowledged that there is public concern—particularly over potential speculation. “The euro will neither make the Bulgarian people richer nor poorer,” he concluded.