Bulgaria adopts the euro, nearly 20 years after joining the EUListen to this articlePrices are displayed in both levs and euros ahead of Bulgaria's adoption of the euro on January 1, 2026. (Photo: AFP)SOFIA (BULGARIA) - Bulgaria became the 21st country to switch to the euro as it entered the New Year on Thursday, a milestone met with both cheers and fears, nearly 20 years after the Balkan nation joined the European Union. Central bank governor Dimitar Radev said the euro symbolised much more than "just a currency -- it is a sign of belonging". "Unfortunately, prices no longer correspond to those in levs," pastry shop owner Turgut Ismail, 33, told AFP, saying that prices have already begun surging. Bulgaria's accession will bring the number of Europeans using the euro to more than 350 million.

Source: Bangkok Post January 01, 2026 02:05 UTC