The digital euro: a further step forward by the European Parliament

23 June 2026

The digital euro has taken another step forward. Today, the European Parliament's Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs (ECON) adopted its position on the ‘single currency package', which also includes the regulation for the digital euro. This outcome gives renewed momentum to a project of strategic importance for the future of payments in the euro area.

The ECON's decision does not yet amount to the final approval of the legislation. In the coming weeks, a further step will be required in the European Parliament's plenary session. Negotiations can then begin with the Council of the European Union and the European Commission to draw up the final text of the regulation.

The digital euro would be an evolution of the single currency in the digital age. It would enable citizens to use money issued directly by the central bank in an electronic format as well, alongside cash and the existing private payment instruments. The initiative aims to preserve the availability of public money while strengthening Europe's autonomy and innovative capacity in the payments sector.

In parallel with discussions among European institutions, the Eurosystem is continuing its design and experimentation work. In this context, Banca d'Italia, together with the ECB and the other euro-area central banks, is involved in the project's preparatory technical activities. In the coming months, legislative discussions and experimental work will proceed in parallel, with further developments expected on both the institutional and the technical front.