Bulgaria Adopts Euro as 21st EU Member, ECB’s Lagarde Hails Symbol of Unity
Christine Lagarde, President of the European Central Bank, celebrated Bulgaria's formal adoption of the euro, marking the country as the 21st member of the eurozone. The conversion rate was fixed at 1.95583 Bulgarian lev to one euro following a July decision by the European Commission.
Lagarde emphasized the euro as a unifying force for Europe, particularly amid geopolitical tensions. "The euro represents what Europe can achieve when nations stand together," she stated in a post on X, welcoming Dimitar Radev, Governor of the Bulgarian National Bank, to the ECB Governing Council.
Radev echoed the sentiment, framing the euro as more than an economic instrument—it signifies Bulgaria's integration into a rules-based system of shared responsibility. The transition, effective January 2026, underscores the bloc's resilience despite global headwinds.
