Bulgaria Gets Ready to Switch to the Euro. Bulgaria is preparing to adopt the euro on January 1, marking a long-awaited step that will see the lev currency phased out. The Black Sea nation will become the 21st member of the euro zone after meeting criteria on inflation, deficits, borrowing costs and exchange-rate stability. The move will bring more than 350 million Europeans under the shared currency and give Bulgaria a seat on the European Central Bank’s rate-setting council. Public opinion remains divided, with excitement among businesses but scepticism and anger among some citizens who fear price rises and loss of national identity. In Sofia, shops are already displaying prices in both levs and euros, while government campaigns promote the slogan: “Common past. Common future. Common currency.” Supporters say the euro will make travel easier and reduce costs linked to currency exchange, especially for younger people and cross-border businesses. For exporters like wineries and manufacturers, the change promises simpler accounting and fewer transaction hurdles as Bulgaria deepens its integration with Europe.