Bulgaria will ask the European Commission and the European Central Bank for an assessment on whether the Balkan country meets all criteria to join the euro zone in January next year, its finance minister said on Monday.

Bulgaria is set to request the European Union’s assessment on its readiness to join the euro area early next year, highlighting the government’s determination to move toward the single currency.

Police in Bulgaria’s capital have clashed with nationalist protesters who demanded that the government scrap plans to bring the country into the eurozone

The anti-government protesters, chanting "Resignation" and "No to the Euro", threw red paint, firecrackers and Molotov cocktails at the EU building in Sofia, setting the front door on fire before the police pushed them away.

Thousands of supporters of Bulgaria's ultra-nationalist pro-Russian Vazrazhdane (Revival) party fought with police on February 23 as they attempted to storm the European Union mission in Sofia during a protest against the country's planned adoption of the euro.