Bulgarian lessons from entering the eurozone
Sofia’s uneasy membership in the currency bloc, four months in
Bulgaria joined the eurozone on January 1, 2026. Its adoption of the common European currency resulted in the end of use for the Bulgarian lev after 145 years. The outgoing currency had enjoyed widespread popularity in the country, most recently as it was seen as an anchor of stability following its peg, first to the deutschemark in 1997, and subsequently to the euro in 1999.
Bulgarians in and outside the Bulgarian National Bank had planned for the currency changeover for some time, with Bulgaria
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