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

Yellow code for strong wind in 16 eastern and southwestern regions

On Wednesday , the lowest temperatures will be between 3 and 8°C. In the regions with strong wind it will be up to 10-12°C. In Sofia it will be around 4°C. In the western parts of the Danube Plain and the Upper Thracian Plain it will..

published on 11/25/25 7:50 PM

Drones to aid disaster and fire response in Burgas

Following a series of fires in the Burgas area last summer, including one that destroyed homes in a local villa district, the Burgas municipality has acquired high-tech drones equipped with thermal cameras, night vision, and 3D imaging . The two..

published on 11/25/25 7:01 PM

Bulgarian police break up migrant smuggling network

Illegal migrants from Syria, Iraq and Iran have been discovered in Sofia, and ten members of an organised criminal group have been arrested , Deputy City Prosecutor Desislava Petrova told reporters. Two of those arrested have been charged as the..

published on 11/25/25 6:48 PM

WEATHER
Pick city: Sofía
Mostly Cloudy
Min: -3 | Max: 10
Mostly Cloudy
Min: 2 | Max: 12
Mostly Cloudy
Min: 2 | Max: 12
Cloudy
Min: 0 | Max: 8
Partly Cloudy
Min: -2 | Max: 12
Partly Cloudy
Min: -3 | Max: 13
Partly Cloudy
Min: -4 | Max: 11
Mostly Cloudy
Min: -3 | Max: 10
Mostly Cloudy
Min: -2 | Max: 10
Mostly Cloudy
Min: -4 | Max: 10
Partly Cloudy
Min: -3 | Max: 12
Mostly Cloudy
Min: -1 | Max: 10
Mostly Cloudy
Min: -2 | Max: 11
Mostly Cloudy
Min: -4 | Max: 8
Mostly Cloudy
Min: -1 | Max: 10
Mostly Cloudy
Min: -1 | Max: 12
Mostly Cloudy
Min: -4 | Max: 10
Cloudy
Min: -1 | Max: 9
Cloudy
Min: -1 | Max: 8
Mostly Cloudy
Min: -1 | Max: 11
Partly Cloudy
Min: -1 | Max: 11
Mostly Cloudy
Min: -2 | Max: 9
Cloudy
Min: -2 | Max: 10
Mostly Cloudy
Min: -3 | Max: 10
Cloudy
Min: -2 | Max: 8
Mostly Cloudy
Min: -3 | Max: 11
Cloudy
Min: -2 | Max: 9
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

english@bnr.bg

+359 2 9336 661

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