EU member state objects to Bulgaria's Cyrillic euro coin design

An unidentified European Union member state has objected to the proposed design of Bulgaria's first commemorative 2-euro coin, which is set to be issued in 2026, Bulgarian news website eualive.bg reported.

The Council of the European Union has not disclosed which country raised the objection or the reasons behind it. It said only that the matter forms part of a "very sensitive decision-making process" and that releasing further details could affect the procedure.

Bulgaria has proposed dedicating its first commemorative 2-euro coin to the Cyrillic alphabet, describing it as a "Bulgarian alphabet" to highlight the country's historical contribution to the script and its place in Bulgaria's cultural heritage.

According to eualive.bg, that wording may lie at the heart of the objection.

Citing Balkan analyst Reinier Jaarsma, the publication said the dispute could reflect differing interpretations of the historical legacy of the Cyrillic script. Slovakia, for example, has previously issued euro coins featuring Saints Cyril and Methodius.

Some observers cited by the publication believe the objection may be linked to broader debates over Slavic cultural heritage and narratives that have also been promoted by Russia. Neither the Council nor the member state involved has publicly commented on the reported reasons for the objection.

Editor: Ivo Ivanov