Bulgaria sees rising public support for euro adoption in 2026

Bulgaria sees rising public support for euro adoption in 2026
The euro will officially replace the Bulgarian lev on January 1, 2026.
By bne IntelliNews August 20, 2025

Support for Bulgaria’s planned adoption of the euro is growing among both citizens and businesses, according to a recent survey conducted by Alpha Research, as the country prepares to join the euro area on January 1, 2026.

The nationally representative poll, commissioned by the Ministry of Finance and conducted between July 8 and 22, shows that 49.2% of Bulgarians now support the transition to the euro, compared to 45.8% opposed. This shows a steady rise from 45.2% support in April and 46.5% in May.

Business sentiment remains markedly positive, with 69% of companies backing the euro adoption and just 30% against. More than 60% of business representatives and 43% of the general public believe the move will strengthen Bulgaria’s integration into the European Union.

The euro will officially replace the lev on January 1, 2026, following the European Council’s final approval in July. Bulgaria will become the 21st member of the euro area, after having met all required economic and legal convergence criteria earlier this year.

As part of the transition, dual pricing in both euros and levs became mandatory on August 8. The two currencies will circulate in parallel throughout January 2026 before the lev is gradually phased out. Bulgarians will be able to exchange levs for euros at banks and post offices free of charge until the end of June 2026. The Bulgarian National Bank will offer unlimited conversion thereafter.

While long-term expectations remain optimistic—particularly among entrepreneurs (65% positive vs. 22% negative)—short-term concerns persist. According to the survey, 47% of Bulgarians expect negative impacts immediately after the euro’s introduction, compared to 39% who anticipate positive outcomes.

A key source of anxiety is the potential for speculative price increases. Seventy-one percent of respondents expressed concern about inflation linked to the transition, a sharp rise from previous surveys and the most significant negative trend identified.

Support for the euro is strongest among citizens with higher education, professional backgrounds, and those living in larger cities. Alpha Research noted that these groups are more likely to view the benefits through a pragmatic lens, highlighting advantages such as simplified travel and payments (59%), closer trade ties with the EU and enhanced financial stability.

Confidence in institutions responsible for managing the transition is highest for the Bulgarian National Bank, with 91% of business leaders expressing trust in its capabilities. Commercial banks also scored high at 88%, followed by the Ministry of Finance (70%) and the National Revenue Agency (66%).

However, confidence drops sharply when it comes to regulatory bodies such as the Commission for Protection of Competition (30%) and the Consumer Protection Commission (34%), despite their expanded responsibilities during the transition.

Most Bulgarians plan to exchange their levs for euros at bank branches; 71% of respondents prefer this method, up from previous months. Post offices were the choice of just 6%, mostly among residents of small towns, while use of exchange offices has declined significantly.

A total of 1,200 citizens and 500 business representatives were surveyed in the latest round of polling, which forms part of a broader monitoring programme led by the Ministry of Finance.

Bulgaria, which joined the European Union in 2007, has maintained a fixed exchange rate between the lev and euro under a currency board arrangement since the 1990s. The upcoming transition will mark the end of the lev, first introduced in 1878.

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