The Bulgarian National Bank has completed the process of coordinating and approving the design of the Bulgarian Euro coins. After the achievement of full legal convergence of the BNB with the adopted the new act of the BNB, this is the next important step that the institution took in the preparation for our country's full membership in the Eurozone.

The design renders the current symbols coin money on Bulgarian exchange coins (Madara horseman – on 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 Euro cent coins; St. Ivan Rilski – on EUR 1 coin; and Paisiy Hilendarski – on EUR 2 coin).

The process went through the following stages:

• On 06.12.2022 was signed Memorandum of Understanding between the Republic of Bulgaria, the Euro area Member States and the European Commission on the start of the production of Euro coins and the preparatory tasks prior to the start of the production.
• Adoption by Decision No. 337/20.07.2023 of the Management Board of the BNB (the Management Board of the BNB) of the ‘Procedure for the design development of the Bulgarian national part of Euro coins’ and ‘Main motives and mandatory design details of the national part of the Bulgarian Euro coins and inscription on the lateral edge of the EUR 2 coins'.
• Approval by Decision No. 479/02.11.2023 of the Management Board of the BNB of the design for the Bulgarian national part of the Euro coins of all mint price, as well as the graphic design for the inscription on the face of the lateral edge of the EUR 2 coins'.
• Acceptance with the Written Statement of the meeting dated 16.11.2023 of the Coordination Council for the preparation of the Republic of Bulgaria for membership in the Euro area of the design of the Bulgarian national part of Euro coins approved by the Management Board of the BNB.
• Sending by letter dated 18.01.2024 to the BNB the design for approval to the European Commission and all member states of the Euro area.
• Approval by Decision (IN5693/24) of the Council of the European Union (Council of the EU) of the design proposed by the Bulgaria of the national part of exchangeable Euro 1 and 2 coins, as well as 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 Euro cents.

The next steps include:

• Production of Euro coins with the Bulgarian national part in an amount of up to 1 million pieces for each mint price for testing the quality of the produced coins and certification of the Bulgarian Mint EAD.
• Commencement of regular production of the necessary quantities of Euro coins with a Bulgarian national part after the Decision of the Council of the EU on the Euro adoption by the Republic of Bulgaria.
• Issuance of Euro coins with Bulgarian symbols, beginning from the date of the Euro adoption by the Republic of Bulgaria as a legal tender.