site.btaForeign Minister on Munich Attacker's Nationality, Bulgaria’s Eurozone Readiness, Western Balkans’ EU Integration

Bulgarian Foreign Minister Georg Georgiev spoke to Bulgarian National TV on Sunday about the speculations that the 30-year-old woman who stabbed several people in Munich was Bulgarian, this country’s readiness to adopt the euro next year and the EU integration of the Western Balkans.

Munich attacker

There is no official information at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs about the case in Munich where a 30-year-old woman attacked passers-by, Georgiev in response to a question about whether the woman is Bulgarian, as reported by the German outlet Bild.

The woman injured several people with a knife on Saturday in Munich in the area where the Oktoberfest beer festival is usually held in the fall.

The attack occurred around 8:00 p.m. local time. The victims were passers-by. Police officers who arrived at the scene shot the attacker and wounded her. She was taken to a hospital, where she later died. So far, there is no information on the motive behind the attack, but it is suspected the woman may have had mental health issues.

"We are waiting for details from local authorities so that we can comment," said Minister Georgiev.

Eurozone accession

Regarding the positive assessments for Bulgaria's accession to the eurozone from January 1, 2026, in the two convergence reports — from the European Commission and the European Central Bank — the Minister said the assessments are the result of long-standing consistent work. "We have dealt with many crises along the way so that the reports could be positive," stated Georg Georgiev.

According to him, it is only natural for people to have concerns, as this is a major change. However, through the efforts of the State, the regulators, and strong institutions that prevent speculation, these fears — which, in his words, are being amplified by some politicians — will be overcome.

Asked to comment on the President’s remark that the convergence reports are “a joy for those in power and a concern for the people,” Georgiev said that such a statement only shows a lack of understanding of the content of the reports — if they have even been read at all. "The reports always come with both recommendations and conclusions, but the fact is that they say one thing: Bulgaria is ready — its economy is prepared, its financial system is prepared, and its political stability allows it to join the eurozone," said Georgiev.

"Right now, a certain group of people, who don’t have much influence in the political process, are trying to suggest that something wrong has occurred. If you ask them whether there is something in eurozone countries that causes similar concerns — we don’t see any deterioration in their well-being — they won’t be able to answer," the Foreign Minister added. According to him, the great tragedy of Bulgarian political life is that “no one can ruin a good thing better than we ourselves can. Bulgaria has made its own contribution to this process — yes, we are ready for the eurozone. We meet both the technical and political criteria. We are a stable economy with a positive outlook, capable of attracting and protecting investments and fostering entrepreneurship. In recent years, Bulgaria has established itself as a factor of stability in this part of the world," Georgiev stated.

Western Balkans’ EU integration

On the topic of EU integration of the Western Balkans, the Minister said that there hasn’t been a conversation, action, or direction that could have been taken to defend Bulgaria’s vision on the integration process — particularly in relation to North Macedonia — that has not been pursued.

"If other governments had a historical responsibility for the Republic of North Macedonia not being best aligned with Bulgaria at this point, they should admit it. For a long time, we even failed to properly communicate our position on the matter," the Minister added.

"Our role is to ensure that the EU continues to adhere to the European consensus. I spoke with my Austrian counterpart — there will be no backtracking, not even a centimeter. What North Macedonia must do is change its Constitution and meet the set criteria," Georgiev added. He reiterated that no country has been granted EU membership as a gift, and the EU will not allow doubts about its stance by circumventing the rules.