EU gives Bulgaria green light to adopt euro in 2026

The EU gave the green light on Wednesday for Bulgaria to adopt the euro on January 1, 2026, in a "historic" step for the southeastern European country set to become the 21st member of the single currency area.

Valdis Dombrovskis, European Commissioner for Trade said "Today's report is a historic moment for Bulgaria, the Euro area and European Union as a whole as well. It's not a final step, but it's an important one. On the basis of this positive report, the Council is now expected to take final decision on Bulgaria's entry into the Euro area in the first half of July. This would pave the way for the adoption of the Euro by Bulgaria at the beginning of 2026."

The approval by the EU's executive body comes 18 years after Bulgaria joined the bloc.