#欧洲议会为数字欧元开绿灯 European Parliament Approves Digital Euro Plan, Aiming to "De-Americanize" Payment Systems

June 23rd, the European Parliament's Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs officially approved the long-debated Digital Euro plan. This move aims to reduce the EU's reliance on the U.S.-dominated payment system and strengthen "financial sovereignty." As a central bank digital currency (CBDC) issued and backed by the European Central Bank, the Digital Euro will support online and offline payments, with an emphasis on privacy protection. The EU plans to reach a final agreement with member states by the end of the year.

Core Logic Overview
Strategic autonomy driven, breaking free from U.S. payment system dependence: According to data from the European Central Bank, the two major U.S. payment giants Visa and MasterCard account for 61% of card payment transactions in the Eurozone, nearly monopolizing all cross-border card payment business. As geopolitical tensions escalate, concerns within the EU about reliance on foreign payment infrastructure are growing. The Digital Euro is one of the key initiatives proposed by the EU to enhance strategic autonomy, intended to supplement rather than replace cash and existing banking services.
Emphasizing privacy protection, building a new payment ecosystem: According to the proposal, consumers will be able to hold Digital Euros through dedicated digital wallets, though specific holding limits have not yet been determined. The system will support online and offline payments and emphasize high privacy protection, with the European Central Bank unable to directly identify users through payment data. The ECB will provide the underlying infrastructure, while commercial banks and payment service providers will offer related Digital Euro services to customers.
Legislative process accelerates, final agreement expected within the year: The European Parliament's Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs has reached a consensus on the single currency plan. It is expected that the European Parliament will formally confirm the committee's position at a plenary session in Strasbourg in early July. Subsequently, the EU will engage in formal negotiations with the 27 member states. Legislators hope to reach a final agreement by the end of this year.
Global CBDC race accelerates, divergence between U.S., China, and Europe: The EU is not the only economy advancing public digital currencies. 🇨🇳 has already launched the Digital Renminbi, and Russia has announced that the Digital Ruble will be officially operational by September 2026. In contrast, the U.S. has taken a different approach, supporting the development of stablecoins, believing this technology could further strengthen the dollar's international position.

Legislative process risks falling short of expectations: The Digital Euro still needs to undergo formal negotiations with all 27 member states. If there are significant disagreements on key issues such as compensation mechanisms, the final agreement could be delayed.
Technical security and privacy risks: CBDCs involve massive amounts of user data and funds. Major technical vulnerabilities or privacy breaches could trigger a public trust crisis.
Commercial bank resistance risks: The Digital Euro may exert a squeezing effect on commercial bank deposits. If the design of the compensation mechanisms is unreasonable, banks may be less willing to participate actively.
Geopolitical game risks: The promotion of the Digital Euro could trigger countermeasures from the U.S. and other countries, potentially intensifying global payment system conflicts and affecting the internationalization of the Digital Euro.