BRUSSELS, Jan 1 (KUNA) -- Bulgaria on Thursday officially began adopting the euro, becoming the 21st country to join the eurozone in a historic step that comes nearly 20 years after its accession to the European Union.
At midnight on Wednesday, Bulgaria abandoned its national currency, the lev, which has been in use since the late 19th century. The euro is set to gradually replace the lev, with both currencies to be used concurrently for a period of one month.
Any change due will be returned in euros when payments are made in lev, paving the way for the withdrawal of the national currency from circulation.
Dual price displays in levs and euros have been mandatory since August 2025 and will continue until August 2026, as part of measures aimed at protecting consumers and preventing unjustified price increases.
It is noteworthy that the implementation of this decision coincides with a period of political tension in Bulgaria following widespread anti corruption protests that toppled a conservative government in mid December last year, heightening public concerns over inflation as the country prepares to hold its eighth parliamentary election in five years.
For its part, the European Commission said in a statement that Bulgaria's accession to the eurozone marks an important milestone in the history of the country and the European Union, noting that more than 357 million citizens in 21 member states will share the single currency.
The latest European opinion polls have shown continued strong public support for the euro within the European Union.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in the statement that "Bulgaria's accession to the eurozone is one of the European Union's greatest achievements," adding that the move reflects years of hard work and commitment and will deliver tangible benefits to Bulgarian citizens and businesses by facilitating payments and travel, enhancing participation in the EU single market, and strengthening Bulgaria's role within the Union.
The European Commission had concluded in its 2025 Convergence Report that Bulgaria had met all the criteria required to adopt the euro, a finding endorsed by the European Central Bank.
EU finance ministers then took the official decision in July 2025, paving the way for this monetary transition following comprehensive national preparations focused primarily on consumer protection and ensuring a safe and smooth currency changeover. (end) arn.gta