ПРОГРАМИ
en de ru fr es sr gr al tr ro
Podcast in English
Share
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

Bulgaria could adopt the euro on 1 January 2026, predicts IME

Photo: ЕПА/БГНЕС

On the basis of December inflation data published yesterday by Eurostat, the Institute for Market Economics (IME) forecasts that the country could join the eurozone from 1 January next year.

Compared to December 2024, the average annual inflation in the country is 2.6 per cent, while the lowest in the European Union are: 0.9 per cent in Lithuania, 1 per cent in Finland and 1.1 per cent in Italy. The criterion that Bulgaria has to meet, according to the Maastricht Treaty, is the average of the countries with the lowest inflation plus 1.5 points. This means that Bulgaria's deviation is 0.1 per cent.

"In this sense, as of December 2024, the benchmark has not been met in its pure form," said Petar Ganev of the institute.
There is a parliamentary resolution that obliges Bulgaria to submit a request for an extraordinary assessment within two weeks of formally meeting all the criteria for eurozone membership. The realistic date for joining the single European currency is 1 January 2026, according to the IME.

Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.
Radio Bulgaria News    criteria eurozone ime inflation prognosis

More from category

Bulgaria is the most affected country by fires in the EU for 2024-2025

The most affected country by fires for 2024-2025 in the European Union is Bulgaria, the Ministry of Environment and Water has reported. Over the past two years, this country has reported an alarming trend: 38,000 sq. m. have been affected by fires and..

published on 7/25/25 5:13 PM

Bulgarian students earn 4 medals at the International Physics Olympiad in Paris

Bulgarian students won four bronze medals and one honorable mention at the 2025 International Physics Olympiad  held in Paris, the Ministry of Education and Science announced. More than 400 students from 85 countries participated in the..

published on 7/25/25 3:19 PM

The association “Doyran 2025” is launching a procedure for a referendum on the eurozone

The civic association “Doyran 2025” has initiated a procedure for a referendum with questions about Bulgaria’s membership in the European Union and the eurozone, announced the association’s chairperson Rumyana Chenalova at a press conference held at..

published on 7/25/25 2:59 PM

WEATHER
Pick city: Sofía
Partly Cloudy
Min: 21 | Max: 41
Clear
Min: 23 | Max: 34
Clear
Min: 23 | Max: 32
Mostly Cloudy
Min: 20 | Max: 42
Mostly Cloudy
Min: 26 | Max: 42
Clear
Min: 25 | Max: 42
Clear
Min: 21 | Max: 40
Clear
Min: 21 | Max: 36
Clear
Min: 22 | Max: 40
Partly Cloudy
Min: 19 | Max: 41
Clear
Min: 23 | Max: 42
Mostly Cloudy
Min: 23 | Max: 43
Clear
Min: 21 | Max: 41
Partly Cloudy
Min: 18 | Max: 39
Clear
Min: 23 | Max: 43
Clear
Min: 21 | Max: 42
Clear
Min: 23 | Max: 40
Clear
Min: 25 | Max: 43
Clear
Min: 25 | Max: 41
Clear
Min: 22 | Max: 40
Clear
Min: 17 | Max: 36
Partly Cloudy
Min: 23 | Max: 39
Clear
Min: 22 | Max: 42
Clear
Min: 20 | Max: 40
Clear
Min: 22 | Max: 42
Clear
Min: 22 | Max: 40
Clear
Min: 21 | Max: 42
BULGARIA IN PICTURES
Which world-famous Bulgarian artist designed QSL cards for Radio Bulgaria?
Yasen Gyuzelev
Theodore Ushev
Christo Javacheff - Christo
Ilia Peikov
Lika Yanko

BULGARIANS ABROAD

Български English Русский Deutsch Српски Français Ελληνικά Español Shqip Türkçe Română
MOST VIEWED

Moroccan migrant shot trying to enter Bulgaria from Turkey

A Moroccan national was shot while illegally crossing the Bulgarian-Turkish border near the village of Zvezdets, Chief Commissioner Anton Zlatanov,..

published on 7/25/25 9:36 AM

Bulgarian students earn 4 medals at the International Physics Olympiad in Paris

Bulgarian students won four bronze medals and one honorable mention at the 2025 International Physics Olympiad  held in Paris, the Ministry of..

published on 7/25/25 3:19 PM

Medical University Sofia ranks No 1144 in 2025–2026 Best Global Universities Rankings

Medical University Sofia has been ranked as the best university in Bulgaria according to the 2025–2026 Best Global Universities ranking by U.S. News..

published on 7/25/25 1:14 PM

english@bnr.bg

+359 2 9336 661

Общи условия за използване на сайта | Политика за поверителност | Политика за "бисквитки"