Bulgaria has the green light to join the euro next year and become the 21st member of the European Union's currency union.

Bulgaria's accession to the euro zone as of January next year will bring higher economic growth and higher living standards for the people, Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov said on Thursday. On Wednesday,

The European Union gave Bulgaria the green light to join the euro, but political ructions in Sofia threaten to torpedo its accession.