Euro Adoption in Bulgaria: Key Payment Changes and Consumer Advice for the Start of 2026
Starting January 1, 2026, consumers in Bulgaria will need to pay extra attention to receipts, as the total amount will now be listed first in euros
Standard & Poor's has raised Croatia's credit rating from BBB+ with a positive outlook to A- with a positive outlook, as reported by the information portal dnevnik.hr and quoted by BTA. This marks the highest credit rating in Croatia's history, following the country's adoption of the euro on January 1, 2023.
Prime Minister Andrej Plenković commented that the upgraded rating will benefit citizens, businesses, and companies by enabling lower interest rates on loans and providing more favorable market conditions.
Employers believe that the improved credit rating will boost foreign investment by signaling that Croatia is a stable and attractive destination for investors. Irena Weber, CEO of the Croatian Employers' Association, emphasized that the rating influences the country's financial stability and the perceived risk of its economy. She expects significantly lower interest rates for both individuals and businesses compared to other European countries, noting that such conditions were once unimaginable for Croatia 15 years ago.
However, Weber stressed that further improvements in the credit rating will depend on continued tax cuts and reforms, particularly in the areas of justice and healthcare. She pointed out that healthcare contributions, which currently stand at 16.5%, are a significant burden on wages and should be addressed.
The European Commission has temporarily halted the preliminary assessment of Bulgaria’s request for the third payment under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has reaffirmed that the most efficient way to fund Ukraine is by using the profits from frozen Russian assets to back a new loan
France is set to mark the 10th anniversary of the November 13, 2015 terror attacks in Paris, in which over 130 people were killed and more than 400 were injured
The European Commission is pushing for an EU-wide handling fee on small packages purchased from Chinese online platforms such as Shein, Temu, and Alibaba
The European Commission has identified Spain, Italy, Greece, and Cyprus as countries “under migratory pressure,” opening the way for the relocation of asylum seekers to other EU member states
The European Commission, under President Ursula von der Leyen, has initiated the creation of a new intelligence body aimed at enhancing the EU’s ability to use information
Bulgaria's Strategic Role in the EU's Drone Wall Defense Initiative
When Politics Means Violence