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Christine Lagarde

Christine Lagarde

President, European Central Bank

Appears in 1 story

Notable Quotes

The Governor of the Bulgarian National Bank will sit on the ECB's Governing Council, with the same say, the same vote and the same responsibility as every other member. The gains from euro adoption are substantial and translate into smoother trade, lower financing costs, and more stable prices.

With the arrival of 2026, we proudly welcome Bulgaria into the euro family. This is a historic moment that will strengthen trade, travel and financial stability across Europe. The euro is a powerful symbol of what Europe can achieve when we work together, and of the shared values and collective strength that we can leverage to confront the global geopolitical uncertainty that we face.

Stories

Bulgaria adopts the euro after 19-year wait

Rule Changes

Welcomed Bulgaria as 21st eurozone member; presided over ECB expansion

Bulgaria became the 21st member of the eurozone on January 1, 2026, replacing the lev at a fixed rate of 1.95583 per euro. ECB President Christine Lagarde welcomed Governor Dimitar Radev to the Governing Council table in Frankfurt, calling the euro "a powerful symbol" of European unity amid global geopolitical uncertainty. The ECB illuminated its headquarters with "Welcome, Bulgaria" in all eurozone languages. The adoption happened despite 49% public opposition and President Rumen Radev's New Year's address lamenting that "those in power chose not to listen to the citizens" about holding a referendum. Euro banknotes and coins began circulating at midnight, ending nearly three decades under a currency board.

Updated Jan 1