Brussels –Let the inter-institutional negotiations on the digital euro begin! The European Parliament has given its consent – with a large majority of 416 in favour, 169 against, and 22 abstentions – to move into the decisive phase of this dossier, which the European Central Bank considers essential, as does part of the Chamber. Today’s vote (9 July) means work can begin immediately, with the first trilogue already scheduled for Monday, 13 July. The process of seeking a political agreement will get underway immediately, as discussions among representatives of the Parliament, the Council, and the European Commission will cover three pieces of legislation: the digital euro, public procurement, and non-EU suppliers.
Reservations and opposition from the Conservatives (ECR) and the Sovereigntists (PfE) were not enough to prevent the Chamber from approving the start of political discussions with EU Member States. The two groups had contested the Committee on Economic Affairs’ decision to launch the trilogues, but the rest of the Chamber rejected their objections. The Spanish Fernando Navarrete Rojas (EPP), rapporteur for the measure, will lead the European Parliament’s negotiating team.
The digital euro: Parliament’s position
On this issue, Rojas’s mandate is clear: he is tasked with defending Parliament’s position, which centres on the ECB’s central role. It is the Eurotower that must issue and manage the digital euro, which must also be usable offline and in a way that respects users’ privacy. In this regard, the House wants “the majority of businesses” to be required to accept the digital euro. Exceptions would be made for the self-employed and small and micro-enterprises that do not accept other digital payments. Another principle on which the European Parliament insists is that basic services – such as opening an account, holding and managing funds, and access to at least one payment instrument – should be free of charge.
Measures are also planned to protect the financial system and financial stability. The intention here is to impose a cap – the details of which are yet to be negotiated and determined – on the amount of digital euros that each individual could hold. Secondly, banks and payment service providers (PSPs) in EU countries outside the eurozone would be authorised to distribute the digital euro, to ensure a pan-European payment system for all intra-EU transactions and reduce dependence on non-EU providers such as Visa or Mastercard.
It is from this position that Parliament is approaching its discussions with the Council, which had already agreed and finalised its negotiating position in December 2025. Things will really get underway on Monday.
English version by the Translation Service of Withub
