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BRUSSELS/FRANKFURT – The President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and the President of the European Central Bank Christine Lagarde welcomed Bulgaria on the occasion of the country’s accession to the euro area, which will take place in a few hours.
Congratulations, Bulgaria! You can be proud of what you have achieved. Bulgaria is joining the euro area, one of the EU’s greatest achievements. This important milestone reflects years of hard work and commitment, overcoming challenges, said Ursula von der Leyen.
The euro will bring benefits to the Bulgarian people by making payments and travel easier. It will provide new opportunities for Bulgarian business and will further strengthen Bulgaria’s voice in Europe. This step is good for Bulgaria and strengthens Europe. It makes our economy more resilient and competitive on a global scale, added the President of the EC.
The Commission has fully supported Bulgaria in the process of joining the euro. With Bulgaria’s accession, 21 EU countries and over 357 million European citizens will share the common currency. Public support for the euro in the EU and the euro area remains very strong, with a large majority of citizens believing that the euro is something good for the EU and for their country, as shown by the latest Eurobarometer survey, the EC adds.
The President of the European Central Bank Christine Lagarde expressed gratitude to the Bulgarian National Bank for its dedicated work and commitment in preparing for the adoption of the euro and extended wishes for a happy and successful New Year.
With the arrival of 2026, we proudly welcome Bulgaria into the euro family, Lagarde wrote in a post on the social network Facebook.
The statement is part of a series of public comments by Christine Lagarde in the last weeks of 2025, marking Bulgaria’s progress towards membership in the euro area.
This is a historic moment that will strengthen trade, travel and financial stability across Europe, Lagarde wrote in one of these posts.
The European Central Bank will mark Bulgaria’s accession with an official visual projection on the southern facade of its main building in Frankfurt. The animation will include the greeting “Welcome, Bulgaria” in all the languages of the euro area countries, as well as a visual representation of the national side of the Bulgarian 50 cent, 1 euro and 2 euro coins.
The projection will last about four minutes and will be shown from 1 to 11 January 2026, with its first showing on New Year’s Eve. The visual elements will be in the colors of the European Union and will be synchronized with the music of the “Ode to Joy”.
Bulgaria will officially adopt the euro and will become the 21st member of the euro area as of 1 January 2026 – 19 years after the country’s accession to the European Union. The Council of the EU voted unanimously on 8 July this year on the final decisions related to the adoption of the euro in Bulgaria. With this, the procedure was completed, after earlier the same day the European Parliament also approved by a large majority the report on the introduction of the single European currency by Bulgaria. (31.12.2025)