Italy’s leading banks have voiced their support for the European Central Bank’s plan to introduce a digital euro, a central bank digital currency designed to modernize Europe’s financial system. According to a Reuters report, the Italian Banking Association’s General Manager, Marco Elio Rottigni, emphasized that while the sector backs the initiative, banks want to distribute the heavy initial costs over time.
Rottigni explained during a press seminar that the association views the digital euro as a key step toward achieving digital sovereignty within Europe. He added that the banks’ endorsement stems from the project’s potential to enhance the region’s financial independence while maintaining strong regulatory oversight.
Calls for Balanced Implementation and Dual Approach
Rottigni highlighted that Italian banks prefer a dual approach that promotes both the digital euro and commercial bank-issued digital currencies. This, he noted, would help Europe keep pace with other global economies like the United States, which recently advanced its regulatory framework for digital assets through the GENIUS Act.
Meanwhile, the European Union has reached a compromise agreement involving finance ministers, ECB President Christine Lagarde, and European Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis. The deal ensures that finance ministers will play a role in determining the digital euro’s issuance and set limits on how much citizens can hold, addressing fears of potential bank runs.
The project is expected to enter a pilot phase in 2027, with a potential full launch in 2029, pending legislative approval. Despite progress, debates persist among European financial institutions about the digital euro’s scope and implementation strategy.
Pushback and Diverging Views Across Europe
However, not all banking groups share Italy’s enthusiasm. The German Banking Industry Committee and conservative Member of the European Parliament Fernando Navarrete have expressed reservations. Navarrete has called for a scaled-down version of the digital euro that would enable offline payments but exclude real-time transactions between financial intermediaries.
He argued in a recent report that existing settlement systems already serve wholesale transactions effectively, and the digital euro should focus solely on retail payments. His position reflects broader caution across Europe regarding how the new currency might reshape the region’s financial ecosystem.
Europe’s Race to Stay Competitive in the Digital Era
Italy’s banking sector, nonetheless, remains confident that a coordinated rollout could reinforce Europe’s digital competitiveness and ensure the continent does not lag behind global peers. The push for a balanced transition highlights the growing urgency for Europe to secure its place in the rapidly evolving global financial landscape.