site.btaFinance Minister Petkova Touts World Bank Ties as Bulgaria Presses for Eurozone Entry

Bulgaria values the long-standing partnership with the World Bank, Finance Minister Temenuzhka Petkova said during a meeting with World Bank Vice President of the Europe and Central Asia Region Antonella Bassani on Thursday. 

The talks, held at the Ministry of Finance in Sofia, underscored what Petkova called the bank’s “vital contribution to stability and predictability in a fragmented geopolitical landscape.”

Petkova set out the Government’s priorities, identifying full eurozone membership as the chief goal. Bulgaria has “made significant progress” and hopes to join the single currency on January 1, 2026, she said. The minister added that the cabinet is keeping public finances stable, sharpening economic competitiveness, cutting administrative burdens for business and cultivating a climate attractive to foreign investors. She also pointed to work on salvaging projects under the Recovery and Resilience Plan and advancing the energy sector.

Both sides praised the close co-operation between the ministry and the World Bank’s permanent representation in Sofia and discussed further ways to deepen collaboration.