European Union (EU) welcomes Bulgaria as 21st eurozone member

Exam-focused facts from the 2 January 2026 current affairs briefing.

Key facts

Bulgaria becomes the 21st of 27 EU members to adopt the euro, raising the euro-using population to 350 million.
The lev retires after being pegged to the Deutschmark and later the euro since 1997.
Euro becomes sole legal tender in Bulgaria from February 1, following a one-month dual-currency period.
Membership grants Bulgaria a seat on the European Central Bank (ECB) Governing Council that sets eurozone interest rates.
Consumer protection rules require all shops to display dual prices to curb unjustified price hikes during the changeover.