Green light of plenary of the European Parliament to two key amendments on‘digital euroincluded in the resolution on the annual report of the Bce. The texts, first signed by the M5S MEP Pasquale Tridicostrengthen political support for the project, indicated as an instrument “essential” for “European sovereignty” in payments in a context of growing geopolitical uncertainty and strong dependence on infrastructures of third countries. But what are we talking about? In concrete terms, the digital euro is the electronic version of the currency issued by European Central Bank: a form of digital cashguaranteed directly by the Eurotower, which would accompany banknotes and coins. The House also supports the creation of a digital euro that delivers equal access to payment servicesor, warning against the risk of new forms of exclusion for citizens and businesses if digitalisation were entrusted only to private actors.
“From the beginning ten payment systems most used in Europe none are European”, notes Tridico. Visa and Mastercard manage almost two thirds of card transactions in the Eurozone and in thirteen member countries a national alternative does not exist. “This dependence by non-European providers is not only a factor of instability, but also represents a hidden cost for citizens”. An online and offline digital euro should contribute to “safeguarding universal access to payments in full compliance with privacy and data protection standards”. The Five Star Movement invites the EPP rapporteur, the Spanish Fernando Navarreteto take note of the vote of the European Parliament and “accelerate with the approval of the regulation”, because “further delays and boycotts of the measure are unacceptable and are contrary to the interests of the European Union and its citizens”. The ECB president on Monday Christine Lagarde he had “begged” Parliament to move forward because without the new currency Europe will remain on “infrastructures offered by non-European suppliers”.
The amendment which strengthens political support for the digital euro – recalling the need to reduce dependence on third countries – gathered a cross-party consensus of 438 MEPs. The one dedicated to equal access to payments, to avoid new forms of exclusion, was approved with 420 votes in favour. On the Italian front, the passage in the Chamber offered an alignment that did not go unnoticed: after the rags flown last week, Roberto Vannacci – now among the non-members – and the Lega they found themselves the only Italians opposed to the project. On the other amendment, the party of Matteo Salvini chose the path of abstention, while the general remained the only Italian to vote against. In both votes, the rest of the government majority – Brothers of Italy e Forza Italia – instead he sided with conviction in favor, as did the opposition, united with M5S, Pd e Avs.
The first act of the game that should lead to the digital euro seeing the light in 2029 has arrived after weeks of tension. On January 11, 68 experts and academics (including French Thomas Piketty) had asked MEPs not to give in to the “short-sighted pressure of financial lobby“, crossing blades with the big banks – Deutsche BankBNP Paribas and ING above all – on alert on deposits and margins. The voice of the has also been added to strengthen the front European payments initiative (Epi), mother of Wero, the continental alternative to Apple Pay born in 2024 and already with 48.5 million users in Belgium, France and Germany. In the vision promoted by the European Chamber, the digital euro becomes the last safety net against Washington’s assertiveness. “We want to avoid depending on systems that are not in our hands,” he explained recently Piero Cipollonemember of the ECB board and responsible for the project. But the perceived risk is above all that of time: for many, waiting another three years for the first issue could prove to be a luxury that Europe cannot afford.
date:2026-02-10 20:54:00
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