The European Commission cannot support any unilateral decisions related to the introduction of the common European currency in any EU member state.

This statement was made Friday by Amelia Torres, the spokesperson of the European Commissioner for Economic and Monetary Affairs Joaquin Almunia, regarding the recent suggestions that Bulgaria introduce unilaterally the euro as a national currency, or that the euro be introduced as a parallel currency to the Bulgarian lev.

Torres pointed out that the position of the European Commission was clear - the euro could be recognized as an official currency in any EU member state only if the respective state met the established criteria for joining the Eurozone.

In her words, it did not matter whether Bulgaria could introduce the euro as the national currency, or as a parallel currency; the only way to use the euro was the meeting of the stated requirements.

The idea about the unilateral introduction of the euro in Bulgaria initially came from the Confederation of Employers and Industrialists in Bulgaria, and was supported by the Minister of Economy Petar Dimitrov. A number of prominent Bulgarian economists also spoke in favor of such a move.

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