Sofia to Host High-Level Eurozone Conference Ahead of Bulgaria's Euro Adoption

High-Profile Conference to Address Euro Adoption

Sofia, Bulgaria, is preparing to host a significant high-level conference titled 'Bulgaria on the Doorstep of the Eurozone' on November 4, 2025. The event, organized by the Ministry of Finance and the Bulgarian National Bank, will take place at the Boyana Residence and is a key component of the communication campaign leading up to Bulgaria's anticipated adoption of the euro on January 1, 2026.

The conference is expected to draw a distinguished roster of Bulgarian, European, and international officials, underscoring the importance of Bulgaria's integration into the eurozone. Discussions will focus on the final preparations and implications of this historic economic transition for the country.

Key Speakers and Participants

The conference will feature prominent figures from the European Union and global financial institutions. The opening session, commencing at 9 a.m., will include addresses from:

• Rosen Zhelyazkov, Prime Minister of Bulgaria
• Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF)

A keynote speech will be delivered by Christine Lagarde, President of the European Central Bank (ECB). A leaders' dialogue will be initiated via video conference by Paschal Donohoe, President of the Eurogroup and Minister of Finance of Ireland.

A roundtable discussion will further engage:

• Temenuzhka Petkova, Minister of Finance of the Republic of Bulgaria
• Dimitar Radev, Governor of the Bulgarian National Bank
• Valdis Dombrovskis, European Commissioner for Economy and Productivity, Implementation and Simplification
• Pierre Gramegna, Managing Director of the European Stability Mechanism

The high-level proceedings will be moderated by Liliana Pavlova, former vice-president of the European Investment Bank. Commissioner Dombrovskis is also on a two-day visit to Sofia, with his participation in the conference being a central part of his agenda.

Bulgaria's Path to the Eurozone

Bulgaria's journey towards adopting the euro has reached its final stages. On July 8, 2025, the Council of the European Union formally approved Bulgaria's accession to the euro area, confirming its readiness to become the 21st member state. This decision followed the European Commission's assessment in June 2025, which concluded that Bulgaria had fulfilled all the necessary convergence criteria, including those related to inflation, public finances, exchange rates, and long-term interest rates.

The conversion rate between the Bulgarian lev and the euro has been fixed at 1.95583 lev per 1 euro. The upcoming conference serves as a crucial platform to communicate the benefits and address any remaining questions regarding the transition, ensuring a smooth integration into the single currency area.

Broadcast Information

For those unable to attend in person, the conference will be broadcast live. Viewers can follow the proceedings in Bulgarian on the Facebook page 'For the Euro BG' and in English on the website evroto.bg. Additionally, the event will be broadcast live on BNT 1 starting at 9 a.m. local time.