
SOFIA/BRUSSELS – President Rumen Radev has proposed a national referendum to the National Assembly, asking the public, “Do you agree that Bulgaria should adopt the euro by 2026?”.
Radev emphasized that, while Bulgaria is obligated to adopt the euro as per its EU accession treaty, the treaty does not stipulate a specific timeline for this transition. There is a lack of consensus among the Bulgarian populace concerning both the readiness to switch to the euro and the timeline for such a change, as noted in his proposal.
Several parliamentary groups that hold a majority in the 169-member parliament have expressed their opposition to the idea of a referendum.
National Assembly Chairperson Natalia Kiselova deemed Radev’s proposal for a referendum inadmissible.
The Bulgarian parliament will not entertain the referendum proposal, as it does not align with the Constitution of Bulgaria, the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU, and Bulgaria’s Accession Treaty, according to a statement from the National Assembly.
Meanwhile, Finance Minister Temenuzhka Petkova reassured European institutions that Bulgaria remains committed to joining the eurozone by the beginning of 2026.
Despite the president’s efforts to divert our country from its strategic objective, we are actively working to ensure Bulgaria’s rightful place in the eurozone, Petkova stated to reporters in Brussels, where she was attending a meeting of EU finance ministers. She mentioned that she had updated European institutions on Bulgaria’s recent progress.
Joining the eurozone is crucial for maintaining Bulgaria’s economic and financial stability during these turbulent geopolitical times, Petkova emphasized.
She also indicated that an important milestone is the upcoming convergence reports, which are expected in early June. European institutions have confirmed their commitment to adhere to the established timeline for preparing and reviewing these reports.
Bulgaria is confidently advancing towards achieving its strategic goal of eurozone membership by January 1, 2026, declared Minister Petkova.
Bulgaria can count on the support of European institutions in its efforts to adopt the euro as its main currency, according to European Parliament President Roberta Metsola, who spoke with National Assembly Chairperson Natalia Kiselova during her visit on May 12-13, 2025.













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