site.btaFinance Minister Calls on People to Congratulate Each Other, Be Happy as Bulgaria Gets Final Approval for Eurozone Entry

Approached for comment on Bulgaria getting the final approval it needed for entry in the eurozone on January 1, 2026, Finance Minister Temenuzhka Petkova told Bulgarian journalists here on Tuesday: "Bulgaria succeeded. I congratulate all Bulgarian citizens. This is a huge success for our country, a historic day. It has taken years of effort and perseverance to reach this point." 

"Let us congratulate ourselves on this success and be happy, only good moments await us," she added. "I would like to particularly underscore the role of GERB leader Boyko Borissov and GERB for the fact that throughout the years, Bulgaria's euro area membership has been a key priority for us. I am very happy that today again, a government formed with the cabinet-forming mandate of GERB, has the opportunity to bring Bulgaria into the euro area," Petkova said.

In her words, the benefits of eurozone membership are indisputable - economic and financial stability, much more investment and a better standard for Bulgarian citizens. This success belongs to the Bulgarian citizens, she added. "I would like to thank the coalition partners and all the parties that support the Government. Today, the Government of Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov has completed the process of Bulgaria's full accession to the EU," Petkova summarized.

"The President has done his best to discourage Bulgarian citizens and our European partners. Fortunately, he failed and today we can congratulate ourselves on this success. I hope he will be happy too," Petkova also said said.

Petkova said that the Ministry of Finance and the Bulgarian National Bank are launching a major campaign to explain the benefits of the euro.