Bulgaria is now definitely qualified as the next country with the euro as currency.
The finance ministers of the EU countries said their final yes on Tuesday, which means that the Bulgarians will be admitted as the 21st euro country from January 1, 2026.
"The euro has a positive impact on growth thanks to full integration into the EU's internal market, where Bulgaria's goods and services will become more competitive", claims the EU's Economic Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis in a press release.
The EU Parliament also gave its support on Tuesday with a large majority: 531 yes votes against 69 no.
The last time a new country was admitted to the euro family was when Croatia joined in 2023.
