Bulgaria Gears Up for the Euro: Essential Cash Register and Vending Machine Updates (KEY DATES)
With Bulgaria preparing to adopt the euro as its official currency, changes in how retail transactions are processed are on the horizon
At the end of July 2024, Bulgaria's gross external debt reached 43.69 billion euros, or 43.6% of the country's GDP, marking an increase of 1.23 billion euros compared to the same period in the previous year, when the debt stood at 42.46 billion euros, or 45.2% of GDP. This is according to data from the Bulgarian National Bank.
Short-term liabilities amounted to 7.82 billion euros at the end of July 2024, representing 17.9% of gross debt and 7.8% of GDP, an increase of 481.3 million euros year-on-year. A year earlier, this figure was 7.34 billion euros, accounting for 17.3% of gross debt and 7.8% of GDP.
Long-term liabilities reached 35.87 billion euros, or 82.1% of gross debt and 35.8% of GDP, by the end of July 2024. This represents an increase of 748.6 million euros compared to July 2023, when long-term liabilities were 35.12 billion euros, or 82.7% of gross debt and 37.4% of GDP.
By the end of July, 26.2 billion euros, or 60% of gross external liabilities, had a residual maturity of more than one year, and 78.9% of gross external liabilities were denominated in euros, a slight decrease from 79.3% the previous year.
The gross external debt of the General Government sector reached 10.13 billion euros, or 10.1% of GDP, by the end of July 2024, up by 620.8 million euros compared to the previous year. The Central Bank’s external liabilities stood at 2.03 billion euros, or 2% of GDP, a slight decrease of 4.3 million euros year-on-year.
External liabilities of "Other monetary financial institutions," including banks and money market funds, reached 6.36 billion euros, or 6.4% of GDP, an increase of 535.7 million euros compared to the previous year.
The external liabilities of "Other sectors" grew to 12.25 billion euros, or 12.2% of GDP, an increase of 328.8 million euros from a year earlier. Meanwhile, intra-company lending decreased to 12.91 billion euros, or 12.9% of GDP, down by 251 million euros from the previous year. Intra-company lending continued to hold the largest share of external debt at 29.6%, compared to 31% in July 2023.
At a briefing, Finance Minister Temenuzhka Petkova expressed optimism that Bulgaria is on track to meet the eurozone’s price stability criterion once again in June
Some Bulgarians are beginning to exchange their leva for euros ahead of the country’s eurozone entry, only to find that the rates offered at banks and exchange offices differ from those announced publicly
Bulgaria’s annual inflation rate climbed to 4.4% in June 2025, marking its highest point since December 2023
Deputy Finance Minister Metodi Metodiev described the recent upgrades to Bulgaria’s credit rating by three international agencies as a clear sign of growing investor confidence
The Bulgarian National Bank (BNB) will begin issuing commemorative coins in euros starting next year
The European Council's decisions from July 8, 2025, marked the final approval for Bulgaria to adopt the euro as its official currency starting January 1, 2026
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