© Alexas_Fotos/pixabay.com From February 1st, the nation has entirely transitioned to payments utilizing the euro.
Today, February 1st, Bulgaria concluded the interim phase of adjustment to the unified European currency.
Henceforth, the national lev has relinquished its status as a valid payment method in retail outlets and within the service sector. Every point-of-sale terminal across the country has been definitively altered to euros, and enterprises possess the authorization to formally decline the acceptance of legacy banknotes from patrons, as reported by the Bulgarian branch of Radio Liberty.
It’s worth noting that Bulgaria officially integrated into the Eurozone on January 1, 2026. Throughout the month of January, the country implemented a “dual circulation” system, which enabled citizens to gradually remove leva from their wallets, receiving any change in the novel currency. Today, this timeframe has lapsed, bringing to a close the nation’s 18-year endeavor towards complete financial alignment with the EU.
The nation’s governing body is attempting to avert opportunistic escalations in the cost of living. To achieve this aim, a series of preventative actions have been implemented:
Freeze on price hikes : Throughout the initial semester of the reform, a firm prohibition exists on price increases for both commodities and services.
Bilingual price labeling : Within stores, pricing in both leva and euros will be prominently showcased side-by-side until August 2026.
Audit findings : Irrespective of the oversight, monitoring squads have already identified infractions at 10% of business establishments, where attempts were made to elevate prices under the pretext of conversion.
Holders of cash reserves in the obsolete currency should not be alarmed – avenues for exchange remain accessible:
Postal services and commercial banks : exchange is provided without charge until the close of June 2026. Starting in July, banks may initiate the imposition of a fee.
Bulgarian National Bank : The supervisory institution has pledged to exchange leva for euros without any additional charges or temporal limitations.
This undertaking became viable because in the preceding year, Bulgaria formally verified adherence to all Maastricht standards, thereby demonstrating the robustness of its economy to global financial institutions.
Concurrently, Poland has opted against embracing the single European currency. The nation’s Finance Minister, Andrzej Domański, emphasized that at present, the benefits derived from utilizing the Polish zloty significantly surpass the prospective merits of adopting the single European currency,