Joining the Core: Bulgaria's Move into the Euro Area
29 January 2026 1:30 pm CET
4th FIW Round Table: Focus Central, Eastern and South Eastern Europe
In cooperation with:
Venue
Austrian Federal Economic Chamber
Wiedner Hauptstraße 63, Saal 2
1040 Vienna
Description
On 1 January 2026, Bulgaria takes an important step in its European journey by adopting the euro and joining the euro area. This move marks a deepening of the country’s economic integration with the European Union and reflects years of convergence and preparation. Beyond the technical change of currency, the introduction of the euro represents a commitment to greater stability, shared responsibility, and closer cooperation within Europe. For Bulgaria, and for the EU as a whole, it is a milestone that underscores the continued relevance and appeal of the European project.
Event language: English
Programme
13.30 – 14.00 Registration and Welcome Coffee
14.00 – 14.15 Welcome Addresses
- Gudrun HAGER | Chief Operating Officer, AUSSENWIRTSCHAFT AUSTRIA, Austrian Federal Economic Chamber
- Cynthia ZIMMERMANN | Director General, Austrian Federal Ministry of Economy, Energy and Tourism
- Mario HOLZNER | Director, The Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies (wiiw)
14.15 – 14.45 Introductory Presentation: "Crossing the threshold: Bulgaria's path to the Euro"
- Atanas PEKANOV | Economist, Austrian Institute of Economic Research; Former Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Bulgaria
14.30 – 14.45 Introductory Presentation: "Beyond currency: Bulgaria's Euro Accession as a strategic choice"
- Tanya MIHAYLOVA | Director, Bulgarian Diplomatic Institute at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria
14.45 – 16.00 Panel Discussion: "Future Gains: Unlocking Bulgaria's Eurozone potential"
- Thomas HANEDER | CEO, TPA Group Holding GmbH<
- Philippe KUPFER | The Austrian Trade Commissioner for Bulgaria
- Mariya MAERKOVA | Economist, IFC - World Bank Group
- Tanya MIHAYLOVA | Director, Bulgarian Diplomatic Institute at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria
- Atanas PEKANOV | Economist, Austrian Institute of Economic Research; Former Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Bulgaria
CHAIR: Dražen MALOČA | Regional Director Southeast Europe, Eastern Europe/Central Asia, ADVANTAGE AUSTRIA, Austrian Federal Economic Chamber
16.00 – 17.00 Networking
Registration
We kindly ask to register for this event until 27 January 2026. Please register here.
FIW Round Table is a series of events to discuss current trade policy issues and foster a systematic and sustainable networking among different actors in this field from Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe.
The FIW - Research Centre International Economics is a cooperation between the Vienna University of Economics and Business (WU), the University Vienna, the Johannes Kepler University Linz and the University of Innsbruck, WIFO, IHS and wiiw. FIW is supported by the Federal Ministry of Women, Science and Research (BMFWF) and the Federal Ministry of Economy, Energy and Tourism (BMWET).