Europe (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and ECB chief Christine Lagarde welcomed Bulgaria ahead of its imminent entry into the euro area.
The Bulgarian citizens will profit from the euro since it will make travel and payments simpler. It will boost Bulgaria’s influence in Europe and open up new business prospects for Bulgarians. Bulgaria will benefit from this action, which also benefits Europe. The EC President continued,
“It makes our economy more resilient and competitive on a global scale.”
“Congratulations, Bulgaria! You can be proud of what you have achieved. Bulgaria is joining the euro area, one of the EU’s greatest achievements. This important milestone reflects years of hard work and commitment, overcoming challenges”,
said Ursula von der Leyen.
Bulgaria’s path of joining the euro has received full backing from the Commission. With Bulgaria’s entry, the common currency will be used by 21 EU nations and more than 357 million Europeans. The vast majority of people in the EU and the euro region still firmly believe that the euro is beneficial to both their country and the EU.
“With the arrival of 2026, we proudly welcome Bulgaria into the euro family”,
Lagarde wrote in a post on the social network Facebook.
Christine Lagarde, the chairman of the European Central Bank, wished the Bulgarian National Bank a happy and prosperous New Year and thanked them for their hard work and fidelity in preparing for the relinquishment of the euro.
The protest is a part of Christine Lagarde’s public reflections from the final weeks of 2025, which punctuate Bulgaria’s advancement toward EU class.
An official visual projection on the southern exterior of the European Central Bank’s main headquarters will commemorate Bulgaria’s membership. In addition to a graphic depiction of the national side of the Bulgarian 50 cent, 1 euro, and 2 euro coins, the animation will feature the welcome “Welcome, Bulgaria” in all the languages of the countries in the euro area.
The protuberance will debut on New Year’s Eve of 2026 and run for roughly four twinkles from January 1 to January 11, 2026. The visual factors will be timed to the air of the” Ode to Joy” and will be in the colors of the European Union.
On January 1, 2026, Bulgaria will formally borrow the euro and become the 21st member of the euro region, 19 times after the country joined the European Union. On July 8 of this time, the EU Council unanimously decided on the final opinions pertaining to Bulgaria’s relinquishment of the euro. This concluded the process, as the European Parliament had earlier that day adopted a report on the introduction of European currency by a substantial majority.
What immediate economic effects will euro adoption have in Bulgaria?
Bulgaria’s euro relinquishment on January 1, 2026, will exclude currency exchange costs and pitfalls incontinently, saving businesses an estimated€ 195 million annually in transformations while enabling flawless trade within the eurozone.
Fixed conversion at 1.95583 lev per euro facilitates price translucency, boosting competition and consumer benefits; lower borrowing costs for enterprises and homes clustering to eurozone pars goad investment, with Croatia’s precedent showing quick drops in autonomous rates and private lending boosts.
Minimum one- off affectation (e.g., Croatia’s 0.2 shaft) may do from rounding, alongside tourism supplements from easier payments; binary rotation untilmid-2026 eases transition, enhancing ECB oversight for stability amid public enterprises over sovereignty.
