Bulgaria Joins Euro Amidst Hopes & Fears, Deepening EU Ties

• Bulgaria is set to become the 21st country to adopt the euro, a move hailed by supporters as a major step towards EU integration and economic prosperity.
• Public opinion is divided, with significant skepticism fueled by fears of price increases, rampant corruption, and low trust in authorities.
• The government met EU inflation criteria but resigned shortly after, leading to political instability and hampering reforms.
• Pro-Russian groups are exploiting public fears with disinformation, while analysts see euro adoption as a strategic counter to Russian influence.
• Economically, the immediate impact might be limited as the Bulgarian lev has been pegged to the euro since 1999.

Why It Matters: Bulgaria's euro adoption is a strategic EU integration step, but faces public skepticism and political instability.