The European Parliament, by 531 votes in favor, 69 against and 79 abstentions, adopted a report confirming Bulgaria fulfils the criteria for adopting the euro on 1 January 2026.
After confirmation by EU member states, Bulgaria will become the 21st member of the Euro area. The most recent country to join was Croatia in 2023.
Rapporteur Eva Maydell (EPP, BG) said after the vote: “Today’s vote sends a clear signal: Bulgaria is ready to join the Euro area. All criteria have been met, and this step marks a key milestone towards Bulgaria’s full European integration – for the country and its citizens.”
