04.04.2025

The Minister of Finance Temenuzhka Petkova held a meeting with the Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany H. E. Irene Maria Plank. They discussed the development of the commercial and economic relations, the possible direct and indirect effects on the economies of the two countries and on the EU in the context of the new US trade conditions.

Minister Petkova made Ambassador Plank familiar with the parameters of the State Budget Law adopted by the National Assembly, which has an estimated deficit of up to 3%. The Finance Minister noted that the euro area was a strategic priority and our country met the four numerical criteria in a sustainable way, which gave reason to expect a positive outcome of the country’s request for preparation of extraordinary convergence reports by the European Commission and the ECB. Temenuzhka Petkova highlighted that Bulgaria’s technical preparations were at an advanced stage and the necessary actions had been taken in terms of legislation. The government was about to launch a massive information campaign to explain all the effects of the euro adoption for citizens, businesses and the state. Countering misinformation on the subject would be an important element of the communication campaign.

Ambassador Plank assured Minister Petkova of Germany’s support for the efforts of the Bulgarian government to join the euro area on 1 January 2026.