On June 4, 2025, the European Commission concluded that Bulgaria is ready to adopt the euro as of 1 January 2026 – a key milestone that would make it the twenty-first Member State to join the euro area. This assessment is set out in the 2025 Convergence Report, prepared at the request of the Bulgarian authorities and marks a critical and historic step on Bulgaria’s journey towards euro adoption.
The Report finds that Bulgaria fulfils the four nominal convergence criteria, which are intended to ensure that a country is ready to adopt the euro and that its economy is sufficiently prepared to do so. The Member State’s legislation is also found to be compatible with the requirements of the Treaty and the Statute of the European System of Central Banks and of the European Central Bank (ECB). The Commission’s assessment also considers additional factors relevant to economic integration and convergence, including balance of payments developments and the integration of product, labour and financial markets. This assessment is complemented by the ECB’s own Convergence Report, also published today.
More information is available in our press release and questions & answers.
