European Central Bank Urges Swift Action on Digital Euro Initiative

Brussels (Eurotoday) – The European Central Bank is demanding urgent action on creating a digital euro, cautioning that the slow progress of a legislative process could leave Europe behind in the race to devise central bank digital currencies (CBDCs).

ECB’s digital euro project director, Evelien Witlox, urged faster progress as major players such as the UK and China are actively debating their digital currencies. Witlox said that it is necessary for Europe to speed up as it doesn’t want to fall behind these competitors.

There was no EU-wide digital payment solution, and 13 of the 20 nations that comprise the eurozone did not have a national card system. These nations, however, are dependent upon Visa and Mastercard rather than banks. The European market remains dispersed, stated Witlox, with only non-European entities contending with solutions for much of the continent. To close the holes, the ECB undertook a CBDC exploration project in October 2021. 

What is delaying the digital euro’s legislative progress?

The project has been postponed as the legislation process continues. The European Parliament and the Council of the European Union have to meet a legal framework for the digital euro to witness the light of day. Almost 17 months after the European Commission first proposed the digital euro, this step has not been taken.

These delays upset Witlox, who said they could make Europe less able to eventually develop the digital euro in a timely fashion. She emphasises that the digital euro must be prepared “at the right pace,” and for the right causes. Witlox is optimistic that Europe will retain its place in the global field of CBDCs. While there isn’t a detailed timeline for when the digital euro will launch, she stressed that while Europe is a leader in the CBDC space, its continuous work will keep it at the forefront of innovation in the space.


Comments

7 responses to “European Central Bank Urges Swift Action on Digital Euro Initiative”

  1. holycombo Avatar

    Ah, the European Central Bank is finally urging everyone to pick up the pace on the digital euro—because who wouldn’t want to sprint through a bureaucratic maze while the rest of the world has already made it to the finish line with their shiny new currencies?

  2. Ah, the European Central Bank is finally putting the pedal to the metal on the digital euro—because surely, in a continent renowned for its glacial pace, what could possibly go wrong with rushing a currency that might just save us from our own leisurely bureaucratic tendencies?

  3. Soiled Dove Avatar
    Soiled Dove

    Ah, the European Central Bank is urging us to pick up the pace on the digital euro – because clearly, keeping up with the UK and China is more urgent than, say, fixing the potholes on the roads or figuring out how to make a decent cup of coffee in Brussels!

  4. Lady Petal Avatar

    Ah, the European Central Bank is in a tizzy about the digital euro—because, you know, it’s not like we’ve been waiting for a currency that doesn’t fit in our pockets since the last time your grandmother tried to teach you how to use a wooden abacus!

  5. Clang Glyph Avatar
    Clang Glyph

    Ah, the European Central Bank is hustling to launch the digital euro—because nothing says “cutting-edge finance” quite like a committee deciding how to put a shiny new coin in our already overcrowded wallets, eh?

  6. widow curio Avatar
    widow curio

    Ah, the European Central Bank is suddenly in a mad rush to catch up with the digital currency train, as if they just realized the rest of the world is not waiting around for a leisurely coffee break—who knew that slowness might actually be a competitive disadvantage, eh?

  7. Golden Cougar Avatar
    Golden Cougar

    Ah, the European Central Bank finally realizes that while the rest of the world races ahead with digital currencies, it’s been busy perfecting the art of legislative speed-walking—perhaps they believe “slow and steady” wins the race, even if the finish line is a digital version of a snail.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Last News

Clandestine Industrial-Scale Drug Lab Dismantled in Belgium

Clandestine Industrial-Scale Drug Lab Dismantled in Belgium

Disclaimer: The views and information presented in the articles are solely those of the individuals expressing them. Their opinions are their own responsibility. The European Times provides a platform for free expression and does not necessarily endorse any particular viewpoint published.
Translation Notice: All content on this website is originally written in English. Translations into other lan

Read More

Brussels Court Orders Overhaul of Flight Paths at Zaventem Airport

Brussels Court Orders Overhaul of Flight Paths at Zaventem Airport

Zaventem – The federal government must restructure the flight paths over Brussels Airport, located in Zaventem, following a ruling by the Brussels Court of Appeal. The decision is part of an ongoing legal battle over aircraft-induced noise pollution affecting several surrounding municipalities.
The court found that the current flight route system causes excessive noise, particularly impacting Wemm

Read More

Macron Urges Trump to Blame Putin and Demands Russia ‘Stop Lying’ About Ukraine

Macron Urges Trump to Blame Putin and Demands Russia ‘Stop Lying’ About Ukraine

On Wednesday, U.S. President Donald Trump voiced his frustration over Ukraine’s reluctance to accept certain demands during ongoing negotiations, directing sharp criticism at Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a post on Truth Social.
French President Emmanuel Macron responded by urging Trump to focus his anger on the true instigator of the conflict.
“There is an aggressor, Russia, an

Read More

Ribera Dismisses Concerns That Fines on Apple and Meta Will Impact U.S. Negotiations

Ribera Dismisses Concerns That Fines on Apple and Meta Will Impact U.S. Negotiations

Mexico City (EFE) ** Teresa Ribera, the Vice President of the European Commission (EC) responsible for the Clean, Fair, and Competitive Transition, dismissed any connection between the fines imposed on American tech giants Apple and Meta and the ongoing negotiations between Brussels and the U.S. aimed at avoiding tariffs.
At a press conference during her official visit to Mexico City on Wednesday

Read More

Outrage Erupts as Russian Overnight Strikes on Ukrainian Cities Kill at Least Nine Civilians

Outrage Erupts as Russian Overnight Strikes on Ukrainian Cities Kill at Least Nine Civilians

Title: UN Condemns Escalating Civilian Casualties After Latest Russian Attacks Across Ukraine
Recent Russian airstrikes have caused widespread destruction in Kyiv and several other Ukrainian cities, resulting in significant civilian casualties and damage to infrastructure. According to reports, 12 buildings were struck in the capital alone, affecting homes, businesses, and essential public servic

Read More

PTS Boom Students Create Mini Car Obstacle Course to Jumpstart Automotive Careers

PTS Boom Students Create Mini Car Obstacle Course to Jumpstart Automotive Careers

Boom, Belgium – Students from the wood department at PTS Boom in Antwerp have teamed up with automotive sector organisation EDUCAM to build a mobile obstacle course for miniature remote-controlled cars. The initiative is part of a larger effort to spark youth interest in the automotive industry by offering hands-on learning experiences.
Funded by EDUCAM, the project brought together students from

Read More

The Ministry of Transport Chooses 14 Candidates for Astronaut Svoboda’s Space Mission

The Ministry of Transport Chooses 14 Candidates for Astronaut Svoboda’s Space Mission

Prague – The Ministry of Transport has announced the selection of 14 research experiments that will be included in the European Space Agency (ESA) mission. Some of these experiments will be carried out by Czech astronaut Aleš Svoboda aboard the International Space Station (ISS), with some projects potentially commencing even before his mission, which is anticipated to launch by the end of 2027. T

Read More

Trump Official Criticizes Climate Policy at London Energy Summit

Trump Official Criticizes Climate Policy at London Energy Summit

At a recent energy summit, Irish Minister Michael Joyce’s remarks sparked controversy, clashing with the views of several high-level European officials. His speech stood in contrast to calls for reducing reliance on fossil fuels—an objective emphasized by other speakers such as U.K. Energy Secretary Ed Miliband and French Minister for Industry and Energy Marc Ferracci.
Ferracci made a strong case

Read More

Uniting Traditions Through Kindness: Scientologists Spread Easter Joy Across Europe

Uniting Traditions Through Kindness: Scientologists Spread Easter Joy Across Europe

Here is a rewritten version of the article, with a fresh tone while preserving the content and key messages:

KINGNEWSWIRE / Press Release / This Easter, the Church of Scientology brought new meaning to the season of renewal by spreading joy and compassion across Europe. From Hungary to the United Kingdom, Scientologists transformed tradition into acts of kindness, uniting communities thro

Read More

UK Removes Sanctions on Syria’s Defence and Interior Ministries

UK Removes Sanctions on Syria’s Defence and Interior Ministries

London (Eurotoday) – The United Kingdom has lifted asset freezes previously imposed on Syria’s Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Interior, and several intelligence agencies, rolling back sanctions established during Bashar al-Assad’s tenure.
The move comes as Western governments reassess their approach to Syria following the December ousting of Assad by the insurgent group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, e

Read More