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Bulgarian Businesses Embrace Euro Adoption To Enhance Cross-Border Commerce

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

January 6, 2026

Historic Euro Transition

Bulgarian banks, enterprises, and consumers are readying themselves for a significant monetary transition as the country prepares to replace the lev with the euro on January 1. This long-anticipated shift marks Bulgaria’s arrival as the 21st member of the euro currency zone following its successful satisfaction of strict entry criteria including inflation control, budget discipline, sustainable borrowing costs, and stable exchange rate management.

Meeting The European Standards

Two years after Croatia joined the euro area in January 2023, Bulgaria’s conversion ramps up the number of Europeans using the single currency to more than 350 million. In addition to everyday transactions with euro banknotes and coins, membership in the euro zone also secures Bulgaria a place on the governing council of the European Central Bank, thereby increasing its influence in monetary policy decisions across the continent.

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Diverse Reactions Amid Political And Economic Uncertainty

Although successive Bulgarian administrations have pursued euro adoption since joining the European Union in 2007, public sentiment remains mixed. While local businesses largely favor integration for its potential to streamline cross-border trade, segments of the population express concerns. Some observers fear that the change might lead to price increases, and there is ongoing skepticism, particularly given Bulgaria’s recent political turbulence marked by government resignations amid protests over proposed tax hikes.

Business Preparedness And The Practical Benefits

In Sofia’s bustling marketplaces, the adaptation to a dual pricing system—displaying costs in both levs and euros—illustrates the proactive stance adopted by many companies. Government-sponsored campaigns, billboards, and television advertisements emphasize the smooth transition, underscoring the message: “Common Past. Common Future. Common Currency.”

Implications For Cross-Border Commerce

The adoption of the euro is poised to simplify cross-border transactions, as evidenced by the sentiments of industry players. Natalia Gadjeva, owner of the Dragomir Estate Winery in the Thracian Valley, highlighted the elimination of cumbersome currency conversions and reissuing of invoices as a key operational advantage. This transition not only supports seamless consumer travel across Europe but also strengthens Bulgaria’s commercial integration with its European counterparts.

Looking Ahead

While some remain cautious about the long-term impacts of euro adoption, the overwhelming trend among businesses signals a strategic shift toward deeper integration with European economic frameworks. As Bulgaria enters this new phase, the balance of public opinion and political stability will be critical in ensuring a smooth and beneficial transition for its 6.7 million citizens.

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Women Make Up A Majority Of The EU’s Science And Technology Workforce But The Real Gap Is Elsewhere

by News Editor

June 25, 2026

Women now make up the majority of the EU’s science and technology workforce. According to Eurostat, in 2025, more than 81.6 million people aged 15 to 74 were employed in science and technology occupations across the EU. Of those, 52.5% were women, equal to 42.8 million women. The number of women in these occupations rose by 27.9% compared with 2015, an increase of more than 9.3 million over a decade.

On the surface, the numbers resemble progress. However, Eurostat’s category requires context before that figure can be read accurately. The data refers to HRST, or Human Resources in Science and Technology, specifically people employed in science and technology occupations. These are roles where the main tasks require professional or technical knowledge in physical and life sciences, but also in social sciences and humanities. That definition is wider and broader than engineering, ICT, laboratory science, or high-tech research alone.

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Zooming In

The gender picture changes once the data moves from a wider definition of the workforce to the narrower scientist-and-engineer (research and manufacturing) subgroup.

Scientists and engineers represented almost a quarter of all people employed in science and technology in the EU in 2025. Eurostat describes scientists and engineers as often being the innovators at the centre of technology-led development, making them an important subgroup to focus on separately.

Women accounted for only 40.8% of scientists and engineers in 2025, despite making up more than half of the wider category. That share has increased by a mere 0.5 percentage points over the past decade. The absolute number of women working as scientists and engineers rose from 5.3 million in 2015 to 8.2 million in 2025, despite the push from national and international organisations to increase the number of women in the field. Europe has expanded the number of women in science and technology occupations over ten years. However, that expansion has not extended equally into the scientist-and-engineer subgroup, where much of Europe’s research and innovation work is conducted.

In 2025, of the 39.4 million women aged 25 to 64 working in science and technology occupations in the EU, 35.5 million worked in service activities. Only 2.7 million worked in manufacturing. Women accounted for 57.5% of science and technology employment in services, but only 31.3% in manufacturing.

In 2025, the highest shares of women employed in science and technology occupations were recorded in Latvia at 62.4%, followed by Hungary’s Great Plain and North region at 61.1%, Estonia at 60.5%, Poland’s Central macroregion at 60.4%, and Lithuania at 60.3%. No EU country recorded a majority of women among science and technology workers in manufacturing.

Break-down

Eurostat’s figures measure employment in broad science and technology occupations. They do not show job security, pay levels, management roles, promotion rates, research leadership, or whether women are concentrated in junior or senior workplace positions.

The classification of “senior” also requires additional explanation. Eurostat reports that 45.9% of science and technology workers aged 25 to 64 in the EU were classified as “senior” HRST in 2025. In this dataset, “senior” refers to workers aged 45 to 64. It does not mean senior manager, senior researcher, team lead, or decision-maker.

A high female share in the wider Human Resource Science and Technology (HRST) category does not parallel equal representation across scientists, engineers, manufacturing roles, senior posts, pay, research funding, or decision-making. These figures also reflect the occupational mix inside each country or region, not only structural progress across all areas of science and technology.

The Case Of Cyprus

Eurostat data places Cyprus’s overall science and technology employment at 37.2% of the labour force in 2025, slightly above the EU-27 figure of 36.9%, and above Greece at 26.8%, Malta at 33.9%, and Turkey at 18.2%. This figure covers the total share of the labour force employed in science and technology across all genders.

Progress Or Work-in-Progress?

52.5% in the broad category. 40.8% among scientists and engineers. 31.3% in manufacturing. Europe’s gender gap in science and technology hasn’t closed yet, and there is still work to be done to encourage and support more women to enter the field, especially in research and manufacturing.

Let’s not wait another decade for another couple of percentage points of hope.