European Parliament President Metsola Supports Bulgaria’s Euro Adoption, Calls for Action Against Disinformation

European Parliament President Roberta Metsola has highlighted Bulgaria’s progress toward euro adoption during a meeting with Bulgarian National Assembly Speaker Raya Nazaryan at a gathering of European parliamentary leaders in Brussels.

In a message shared on social media platform X, Metsola expressed satisfaction with the meeting and pointed to Bulgaria’s recent achievements on the European integration path. “Following Bulgaria’s recent accession to Schengen, it is encouraging to see the country’s preparation for joining the eurozone on January 1,” Metsola noted.

Bulgaria’s path to euro adoption represents a significant milestone in the country’s economic integration with the European Union. The nation, which joined the EU in 2007, has been working toward meeting the convergence criteria required for eurozone membership, including price stability, sound public finances, and exchange rate stability.

The country’s partial entry into the Schengen Area in March 2023, which removed border checks at air and sea ports, marked another step in Bulgaria’s European integration journey, though land border controls remain in place pending further approval from all member states.

During her address at the forum’s opening, Metsola broadened her focus to address democratic challenges facing the European Union. She emphasized the critical importance of increasing voter participation across the bloc, particularly with European Parliament elections approaching in 2024.

“Each day brings reminders of how vulnerable our democratic systems can be,” Metsola warned, citing the ongoing war in Ukraine, escalating geopolitical tensions, and mounting pressures on freedoms long taken for granted within the European community.

The Parliament President expressed particular concern about the impact of disinformation, which she said continues to distort public debate throughout Europe. “This environment has left many Europeans questioning the value of democracy and the purpose of voting,” she observed.

Metsola called for democratic institutions to demonstrate their continued relevance by delivering tangible results for citizens. “As elected representatives, we bear the responsibility of responding effectively to citizens’ expectations and addressing their concerns,” she stated.

The parliamentary gathering comes at a challenging time for European democracy, with rising populism, increased polarization, and declining trust in traditional institutions across several member states. Recent elections in various European countries have seen gains for parties on the political extremes, reflecting growing voter dissatisfaction with mainstream political movements.

Metsola specifically highlighted the challenge of engaging younger voters, noting that many encounter political issues primarily through social media platforms. “Reaching this audience requires deliberate efforts to counter polarization and prevent the spread of simplistic populist narratives,” she said.

Political analysts note that youth voter turnout has historically been lower than other demographic groups in European elections, though 2019 saw improvements with increased participation from voters under 25.

For Bulgaria, the path to euro adoption represents both opportunity and challenge. While joining the eurozone would eliminate exchange rate risks and potentially reduce transaction costs for businesses, it would also require continued fiscal discipline and economic reforms to maintain competitiveness within the currency union.

The meeting between Metsola and Nazaryan underscores the continued importance of parliamentary diplomacy in advancing European integration despite the current challenging geopolitical climate.