site.btaEuro Means Strong European Integration, Not Loss of Sovereignty, Foreign Minister Says

Bulgaria's admission to the eurozone is the result of joint efforts by the State and the public over the years, Foreign Minister Georg Georgiev said Thursday at an information meeting in Blagoevgrad, part of the National Information Campaign for the introduction of the euro in Bulgaria.

According to him, membership is not only a sign of economic growth, but also of belonging to a community made up of the most developed and stable countries in the world. He added that the adoption of the euro was an agreement that Bulgaria agreed to even before it became an EU member. 

In his words, the euro does not mean a loss of sovereignty or national identity, but quite the opposite. “It is an emphasis on our strong European integration and a guarantee that from now on we will be at the table where the highest decisions in the European Union are made,” Georgiev said.

He added that he was convinced that no country in the eurozone had lower standards, lower wages, poorer shops, or a more disadvantaged society.

He explained that the Foreign Ministry is also preparing its systems to fully function after the introduction of the euro on January 1. Consular services, certification, visa issuance, and the wide range of administrative services provided abroad by Bulgaria’s foreign missions will be carried out in euros after January 1. In accordance with the rules, prices at the moment are announced in both currencies on all official websites.

Georgiev said that the ministry's goal is to make the transition as smooth as possible, but also as transparent as possible. “So, let us reject any speculation and any attempt to introduce hybrid elements into this public discussion. I say ‘hybrid’ [threats] because, from the point of view of a severely deteriorating international security environment, unfortunately, this is a method that is being used. It threatens national security and, just as there have been claims for years now, that Bulgaria is on the brink of war because it is a NATO ally, or has renounced its national identity because it belongs to the European Union,” the minister added, the same misinformation tactics are now being used regarding the adoption of the euro.