(ANSA-AFP) - BRUSSELS, JUN 4 - The EU gave the green light on Wednesday for Bulgaria to adopt the euro on January 1, 2026, in a "historic" step for the southeastern European country set to become the 21st member of the single currency area. The European Commission said Bulgaria had fulfilled the strict criteria "intended to ensure that a country is ready to adopt the euro and that its economy is sufficiently prepared to do so". The European Central Bank also gave a positive opinion, hailing Bulgaria's "tremendous dedication to making the adjustments needed". The push has, however, sparked a backlash from many Bulgarians, with protests and recent surveys showing nearly half of those questioned opposed adopting the euro -- fearing painful economic consequences. "If Bulgaria joins the eurozone, it will be like boarding the Titanic," Nikolai Ivanov, a retired senior official, told AFP at a recent protest calling for the country's currency -- the lev -- to be maintained. Bulgaria has had a rocky road to joining the eurozone: the nation has been plagued by political turmoil with seven elections in three years -- the last in October 2024. The approval by the EU's executive body comes 18 years after Bulgaria joined the bloc. "Congratulations, Bulgaria!" commission president Ursula von der Leyen said. (ANSA-AFP).