12.04.2024

The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Lyudmila Petkova, the Executive Vice-President of the European Commission Valdis Dombrovskis and the European Commissioner for the Economy Paolo Gentiloni signed a Partnership Agreement between the European Commission and the Republic of Bulgaria for the organisation of information and communication campaigns on the introduction of the euro in the country in Luxembourg today.

“This is an important signal for the Bulgarian society and our partners that the European institutions support Bulgaria towards its full-fledged integration. The government will continue working hard to prepare our country for the accession to the Economic and Monetary Union”, Minister Petkova said.

The document foresees the coordination of the efforts of the Bulgarian and European authorities in order to raise public awareness on the functioning of the Economic and Monetary Union, as well as to support the smooth replacement of the lev with the euro. The Agreement is based on the Communication Strategy for Information and Publicity of Bulgaria’s Accession to the Euro Area which was updated in February 2024 and which aims to make citizens and businesses familiar with all practical aspects of the introduction of the single European currency as an official means of payment in Bulgaria by providing accurate, accessible and timely information.

By signing the Partnership Agreement, the European Commission agrees to support a series of communication activities to be implemented within the framework of the large-scale national information campaign planned by the Bulgarian institutions, such as public opinion surveys, production of promotional materials and publications, holding conferences and seminars, exhibitions, media campaigns, etc., with the aim of ensuring consistency with the messages that euro area Member States have adopted as useful for countries whose accession is forthcoming.

The partnership between Bulgaria and the European Commission for an effective communication campaign on the introduction of the euro in Bulgaria will enter into force on the date of signing the document and will automatically cease to be in force 12 months after the date of introduction of the euro in Bulgaria, unless both parties agree on an extension of this period. Similar agreements have been signed with the other countries during the preparation for their accession to the euro area.

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