According to Russia’s TASS agency, the resolution confirming Bulgaria’s readiness to join the currency union was supported by 531 MEPs, with 69 voting against and 79 abstaining. The report was presented by Eva Maydell, an MEP from the European People’s Party, who stated that Bulgaria meets all the required criteria.
However, several lawmakers questioned the impartiality of the report, noting that Maydell is politically aligned with Bulgaria’s ruling party. Rada Laykova, a member of the right-wing “Europe of Sovereign Nations” coalition, called for postponing the vote until further scrutiny. Her motion was rejected.
Domestically, the euro transition has sparked protests. On June 28, demonstrators in Sofia demanded the government’s resignation, arguing that replacing the Bulgarian lev with the euro would harm the national economy and undermine sovereignty.
