Bulgarians divided over euro as official currency - From February 1st it will become the sole legal tender
Bulgarians remain deeply divided over adopting the euro as their official currency, amid growing geopolitical uncertainties in Europe and escalating trade tensions between the European Union and the United States. On January 1, 2026, Bulgaria officially joined the eurozone, becoming its 21st member.
To ensure a smooth transition to the new currency, the Bulgarian lev will remain in circulation alongside the euro throughout January. Starting on February 1, the euro will become the country's sole legal tender.
From January 1 to June 30, exchanging leva for euros will be free at banks and post offices. After this period, currency exchanges will have a fee, according to a government announcement.
In Sofia, the country's capital, there were long queues outside the Bulgarian National Bank as residents rushed to exchange euro banknotes.
Retailers across the city adopted a dual pricing system, displaying amounts in both leva and euros, to help consumers adapt to the new scenario.
According to the Bulgarian National Bank, the technical transition has been smooth: banking systems, ATMs and point-of-sale terminals have successfully switched to euro transactions. On average, five euro transactions are taking place every second across the country, with no major market disruptions reported.
However, public and expert opinions remain deeply divided. Recent polls show an almost equal number of Bulgarians for and against adopting the euro. Supporters argue that joining the eurozone will encourage foreign investment, expand trade and stimulate economic growth.
However, critics warn of the dangers amid Europe's current fragility.
Bulgaria first sought to join the eurozone in 2009, but was thwarted by the European debt crisis. Now, the country has finally taken the step, only to face a host of new uncertainties: rising US-EU trade tensions, ongoing conflicts on Europe's eastern flank, and internal tensions within the monetary union itself.
Over 1,300 new businesses opened in December - NCC processes nearly 10,000 applications from entities
December has closed as a month of increased commitment for the National Business Center, which throughout this period has been close to businesses and......
Vineyard areas for wine are determined - Draft law/ Strengthening indigenous varieties, increasing exports
The viticulture and wine sector represents one of the branches with high development potential of Albanian agriculture. The centuries-old tradition of grape......
New draft "On lobbying", public registry for transparency - Businesses under scrutiny / Contacts and expenses will be declared
A new draft law “On Lobbying” has been submitted to the Assembly. This draft aims to formalize and make traceable the influence on public decision-making, by......
DIVA Declarations, Taxes: Here's how to obtain compensation for children
The General Directorate of Taxes, through a post on social networks, has provided details on how to benefit and how to apply to benefit children after......
The year 2025 closes with an average inflation of 2.2%/ Rent and food gave the biggest boost to the year-end rate
December inflation usually shows a higher increase compared to other months, due to increased demand during holidays and seasonal spending. The annual change......
Serbia prefers Chinese loans - They are obtained faster and with fewer political conditions, but transparency is lacking
About 11 percent of Serbia's external debt consists of liabilities to the Chinese Export-Import Bank (EXIM), according to the latest October report by the......
Trump cancels second attack on Venezuela - "We are cooperating well. Oil companies will invest 100 billion USD"
US President Donald Trump said on Friday he had called off a second series of planned strikes on Venezuela after the South American country cooperated. Trump......
Wine producers, declarations by January 15 - New regulation/ Obligation for cultivated areas and quantity of products
The high level of informality in the wine sector has led the government to take measures to create a complete database with detailed data. The government......
