Bulgaria meets criteria to join the euro area on 1 January 2026

This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission.

Today, the European Commission concluded that Bulgaria is ready to adopt the euro as of 1 January 2026 – a key milestone that would make it the twenty-first Member State to join the euro area. This assessment is set out in the 2025 Convergence Report, prepared at the request of the Bulgarian authorities and marks a critical and historic step on Bulgaria’s journey towards euro adoption.

The Report finds that Bulgaria fulfils the four nominal convergence criteria, which are  intended to ensure that a country is ready to adopt the euro and that its economy is sufficiently prepared to do so. The Member State’s legislation is also found to be compatible with the requirements of the Treaty and the Statute of the European System of Central Banks and of the European Central Bank (ECB). The Commission’s assessment also considers additional factors relevant to economic integration and convergence, including balance of payments developments and the integration of product, labour and financial markets.

This assessment is complemented by the ECB’s own Convergence Report, also published today.

Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission said: “The euro is a tangible symbol of European strength and unity. Today, Bulgaria is one step closer to its adoption as currency. Thanks to the euro, Bulgaria’s economy will become stronger, with more trade with euro area partners, foreign direct investment, access to finance, quality jobs and real incomes. And Bulgaria will take its rightful place in shaping the decisions at the heart of the euro area. Congratulations, Bulgaria!”

Next steps

As a result of this assessment, the Commission has also adopted proposals for a Council Decision and a Council Regulation on euro introduction in Bulgaria on 1 January 2026. The Council of the EU will take the final decisions on Bulgaria’s euro adoption, following discussions in the Eurogroup and the European Council, and after the European Parliament and the ECB have delivered their opinions.

Background

The Convergence Report prepared by the European Commission forms the basis for the Council of the EU’s decision on whether a Member State fulfils the conditions required to join the euro area.

The Commission’s report is published in parallel with the Convergence Report of the ECB.

Convergence Reports are issued every two years, or in response to a specific request by a Member State to assess its readiness to join the euro area. The Commission received Bulgaria’s request for a special Convergence Report in February 2025 with the aim of adopting the euro in 2026.