One of the European Central Bank’s most complex and controversial projects is heading for a crucial test in the first half of 2026, when the European Parliament is expected to vote on the digital euro. Piero Cipollone, the ECB executive board member in charge of the project, argued for the digital euro in 21 speeches, six interviews and two blog posts in 2025. ECB president Christine Lagarde vowed in December to “push as hard and as fast as we can to get [the digital euro] out”. The central bank’s main argument for the digital euro is freedom and sovereignty. Centre-left groups and liberals in the European Parliament back the plan but are more than 40 votes short of an absolute majority.

Source: The Irish Times January 05, 2026 14:40 UTC