Bulgaria will begin using the euro as its currency on Thursday, and the country hopes it will bring an economic boost, despite concerns.

Bulgaria is welcoming a new year and a new currency. The nation of 6.4 million in southeastern Europe will become the 21st member of the shared euro currency on Jan. 1.

Supporters of switching to the euro from the old currency, the lev, are praising the move as one of the greatest achievements since the 1989 transition from a Soviet-style economy to democracy and free markets.

On January 1, Bulgaria will adopt the euro as its official currency. Here's how the country is gearing up for the change.

Spain's central bank offers an interesting view inside of what the Eurosystem is building around blockchain and cryptocurrencies, with the digital euro as its flagship.

Euro-area inflation hitting 2% may seem like success, but it masks a fragile equilibrium with risks on both sides of the goal, highlighting the need for policies that can absorb shocks and

In November 2025, the euro area seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 6.3%, down from 6.4% in October 2025 and up from 6.2% in November 2024. The EU unemployment rate was 6.0% in November 2025, stable compared with October 2025 and up from 5.