The European Parliament approves the Digital Euro Regulation

9 July 2026

The Regulation on the digital euro was approved today at the first reading by the European Parliament. The measure forms part of the 'single currency package' and is a major step forward for a strategic project that will shape the future of payments in the euro area.

The next stage, which is expected to begin by the end of July, will be the Trilogue, namely the negotiations involving the European Parliament, the Council of the European Union and the European Commission, which are required for drawing up the final text of the regulation. The institutional objective is to complete the legislative process by the end of 2026.

The digital euro is the evolution of the single currency in the digital age. It will allow citizens to use a type of money issued directly by the central bank, also in electronic form, and it will provide an additional payment option alongside cash and the existing private payment instruments. The project aims to preserve access to public money while strengthening Europe's autonomy and capacity for innovation in the payments sector.

In parallel with the discussions among the European institutions, the Eurosystem is continuing its design and experimentation work. Here Banca d'Italia is actively involved, together with the ECB and other euro-area central banks, in the technical preparation of the project. Over the coming months, the legislative process and the experimentation activities will continue in parallel, with further developments expected on both the institutional and technical fronts.