Bulgaria is about to join the euro: Protests and abdominal pain remain!
Bulgaria is about to join the euro: Protests and abdominal pain remain!
A big step for Bulgaria: The EU heads of state and government have given their approval to the introduction of the euro today. As the Tagesspiegel , Bundeskanzler Friedrich Merz and other EU leaders support the EU Commission from the 1st To introduce January 2026. Bulgaria would take the euro currency as the 21st country and follow Croatia, which recently joined on January 1, 2023.
But what is this euro introduction? At its core, it aims to facilitate retail and travel and reduce the exchange rate risks. It will be a particularly practical advantage for tourists because they will no longer need a national currency. However, the original planning for the introduction of the euro was already scheduled for the beginning of 2024, but was postponed due to an inflation rate of 9.5 percent.
an up and down of public opinion
However, the citizens are divided about the euro introduction. According to a survey, which was published in ZDF , about 34.4% support the introduction, while 54.9% are against it. In the economy, the picture looks a little more optimistic: 66.3% support the accession to the euro zone. In many cities, such as the port city of Warna, business is already getting used to the new currency. Supermarket owner Dimitar Dimitrov shows prices in both LEW and in euros to introduce customers to the upcoming system. On the other hand, protests against the introduction of the euro are underway, often led by nationalist and pro-Russian groups that require a referendum for maintaining the Bulgarian LEVS. Older people in rural areas in particular express concerns about possible negative effects on their savings. Nikola Ragev, a 75-year-old pensioner, sees more risks than opportunities in the euro.The economic criteria are met
These concerns could not reflect the actual economic reality. A report by EZB certifies that it has made progress with regard to the economic and monetary union. The country fulfills the necessary criteria for one euro access, including the price stability with an inflation rate of 2.7 percent in April 2025. Public finances are also stable; The budget deficit is 3.0 % of GDP, which corresponds to the reference value.
Nevertheless, there are challenges. Political instability and corruption in the past four years have endangered the trust of citizens in politics and the introduction of the euro. In order to avoid future difficulties, it is crucial that Bulgaria will continue to focus on a stability -oriented economic policy and necessary structural reforms.
All in all, it turns out that Bulgaria is facing a decisive turning point. The introduction of the euro offers both opportunities and risks and could fundamentally change the country's economic banter. It will be interesting to see how the situation will develop until the final implementation.
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| Ort | Warna, Bulgarien |
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