site.btaEC Supports Bulgaria In Organizing Effective Awareness Raising Campaign on Country's Euro Changeover

The European Commission and Bulgaria Friday signed a Partnership Agreement for the organization of information and communication campaigns on this country’s euro changeover as part of the preparatory steps for Bulgaria's accession to the euro area, the Ministry’s press centre said. The document was signed on the margins of the ECOFIN meeting in Luxembourg by Bulgaria's caretaker Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Lyudmila Petkova, European Commission Executive Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis, and European Commissioner for Economy Paolo Gentiloni. 

"This is an important signal for the Bulgarian public and our partners that the European institutions support Bulgaria's path towards full integration. The government will continue to work actively to prepare our country for joining the euro area," Petkova said.

The document envisages coordinating the efforts of the Bulgarian and European authorities to raise public awareness about the workings of the Economic and Monetary Union and to contribute to a smooth euro changeover. The agreement builds on the Communication Strategy for Information and Publicity of Bulgaria's Accession to the euro area, which was updated in February 2024 and aims to provide citizens and businesses with accurate, accessible, and timely information about all aspects of the introduction of a single European currency as the official means of payment in Bulgaria.

The Partnership Agreement signed on Friday is a commitment from the Commission to support the organization of information and communication campaigns on the changeover to the euro in Bulgaria, once the country has fulfilled all the convergence criteria. It is the basis for the preparation and signature of a Grant Agreement, which will allow the Commission to co-finance communication activities on the euro changeover in Bulgaria. Such activities include public opinion polling, the preparation of promotional materials and publications, conferences and seminars, exhibitions, media campaigns, etc.

The partnership between Bulgaria and the European Commission for an effective communication campaign on the euro changeover in Bulgaria becomes effective on the date of signature of the document and will automatically expire 12 months after the date of introduction of the euro in Bulgaria, unless both parties agree to extend it. Similar agreements have been signed with other countries in preparation for their euro area accession, the Ministry’s press release reads.