Bulgaria and the Euro: What Happens to National Monetary Sovereignty?
One of the most debated topics around Bulgaria’s upcoming transition from the lev to the euro is whether the country is giving up its sovereignty
The Bulgarian National Bank (BNB) has announced that it will stop publishing the key interest rate following the country's adoption of the euro. This change is outlined in a new series of questions and answers available on the central bank's website.
Once the euro becomes the official currency of Bulgaria, the key interest rate will no longer be relevant for calculating statutory interest rates. Instead, after Bulgaria’s transition to the euro, the interest rate for eurozone members will be based on either the most recent refinancing rate applied by the European Central Bank (ECB) or the marginal interest rate from ECB’s variable rate tender procedures.
For one month following the euro's introduction, both the lev and the euro will be legal tender in Bulgaria, allowing citizens to make cash payments in either currency. However, bank transfers and card payments will be processed exclusively in euros during this period.
Inflation in Bulgaria recorded a slight uptick in May 2025
Bulgaria has secured an additional 300 million leva in debt from the domestic market, according to the results of the latest government securities auction held by the Bulgarian National Bank (BNB)
In April 2025, Bulgaria recorded a current account deficit of 724.9 million euros, marking the largest monthly shortfall since January 2022
With Bulgaria set to adopt the euro on January 1, 2026, questions are surfacing about whether the country might face financial risks similar to those that led to Greece’s debt crisis
The introduction of dual pricing in leva and euro is progressing smoothly and, in some cases, even ahead of the planned timeline in Bulgaria
Annual inflation in Bulgaria accelerated slightly in May, reaching 3.7%
Borderless Bulgaria: How Schengen Benefits Are Transforming Trade and Logistics
Bulgaria's Mortality Rate Remains Highest in Europe