Bulgaria adopts the euro amid political instability and fears of price hikes

Описание: (30 Dec 2025)

RESTRICTIONS SUMMARY:

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Sofia, Bulgaria - 27 December 2025
1. Wide exterior of Bulgarian National Bank
2. Various of Bulgarian and EU flags on Bulgarian National Bank building
3. People waiting in line to buy packages of new euro coins with Bulgarian symbols
4. SOUNDBITE (Bulgarian) Nevelin Petrov, Sofia resident:
"I am unequivocally happy (about Bulgaria’s entry into the eurozone). Bulgaria is part of the European continent and a full member of the European Union; its rightful place is alongside the other developed and democratic European nations. I am convinced that the adoption of the euro will contribute to the long-term prosperity of our country and will serve the interests of future generations."
5. Various of Petrov holding package of Bulgarian newly minted euro coins
6. Stray dog seen near the Bulgarian National Bank
7. People walking in front of Bulgarian Presidency building

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Sofia, Bulgaria - 27 December 2025
8. SOUNDBITE (Bulgarian) Petar Ganev, analyst at Institute for Market Economics:
"The broader institutional environment in Bulgaria - particularly the failure to reform the judicial system and address large-scale corruption - remains the single greatest obstacle to the country’s development. This is not a matter of petty corruption, such as interactions with traffic police, but of entrenched, systemic corruption and the capture of key institutions. International analyses consistently show that while Bulgaria performs relatively well in areas of competitiveness such as taxation, fiscal stability, and access to a large market - these institutional weaknesses continue to hold the country back."
9. Cutaway of Ganev
10. SOUNDBITE (Bulgarian) Petar Ganev, analyst at Institute for Market Economics:
"The euro functions, to some extent, as an external seal of approval that the economy is fundamentally sound. This does not eliminate Bulgaria’s fiscal challenges - on the contrary, fiscal policy will now be the central issue. The recent government collapse was largely driven by disagreements over fiscal policy."
11. Various cutaways of Ganev reading book
12. SOUNDBITE (Bulgarian) Petar Ganev, analyst at Institute for Market Economics:
"What ultimately holds Bulgaria back is corruption and the lack of the rule of law. This is consistently confirmed by research and is precisely what could prevent the country from fully seizing the opportunities offered by eurozone membership, while accession increases trust, trust alone is not sufficient."
13. Public billboard announcing the official exchange rate of the Bulgarian lev to the euro
14. SOUNDBITE (Bulgarian) Petar Ganev, analyst at Institute for Market Economics:
"Now is an appropriate moment for Bulgaria to join the eurozone because the country has reached a stage where it must define a new development path. When an economy reaches 70–80% of average European income, its objective can no longer be limited to integration into European supply chains. The goal must shift toward producing goods and services that compete directly with those of advanced European economies. This includes higher-value activities such as artificial intelligence and advanced technology sectors. At this point, the debate is no longer about catching up, it is about becoming a developed country."
15. Billboard displaying Bulgarian to Euro currency rate.

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Sofia, Bulgaria - 27 December 2025
16. Various of billboard displaying eurozone information campaign
17. Various of currency exchange office with a poster reading "Did you exchange your levs for euros?"

ASSOCIATED PRESS



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