ECB Could take more than One Tear to Assess Bulgaria's Banking Union Bid

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Bulgaria should send a request soon to join the banking union, a preliminary step before euro membership, and the assessment of its progress could take more than one year, European Central bank board member Benoit Coeure said on Thursday.

A request to join the banking union "should be sent within days to the European Central Bank," Coeure told a news conference after a meeting of euro zone finance ministers that welcomed Bulgaria's preliminary commitments to join the bloc's banking project meant to strengthen lenders' monitoring and financial stability.

The assessment of Bulgaria's progress should last around one year, "but if there is need for more time, that could be more than one year," Coeure added.