The Path to the Digital Euro – Shaping Policy Choices for Successful Implementation

The rapid progress of digitalisation continues to transform the financial sector and accelerate innovation in payments and monetary systems, including the development of central bank digital currencies. In the European Union, the European Central Bank (ECB) and the European Commission are advancing towards a possible introduction of a digital euro that would provide citizens and businesses with a new form of payment to complement to cash. 

The ECO section is currently working on an own-initiative opinion on the introduction of the digital euro. The opinion aims to assess the latest developments concerning the digital euro project, including progress in the ongoing legislative process and the current state of play at the ECB. It will focus in particular on issues related to financial stability and the potential impact of a digital euro on monetary sovereignty, payment resilience, payment innovation, and financial inclusion. In view of a possible future introduction, the opinion will also reflect on questions of financial literacy, digital inclusion and how citizens can best be informed and educated about the digital euro. Furthermore, the opinion will examine the broader implications of the digital euro for the international role of the euro and for Europe’s competitiveness.

In the context of the work on this opinion, the ECO section decided to organise a public hearing bringing together experts from European and international institutions and various organised civil society. The findings of the hearing will feed into the recommendations of the opinion.

The event will be webstreamed (original, EN). No registration is needed and participation is free of charge.

Ask your questions to the panelists via Sli.do with the event code: #DigitalEuro

Follow us on X: @EESC_ECO | #DigitalEuro