European Parliament Backs Digital Euro, Setting Stage for Final Talks
MEPs have voted in favour of creating a digital euro, moving the EU's central bank digital currency toward final negotiations and a possible 2029 launch.
Abena Owusu
West Africa Editor · Accra
The European Parliament has voted to support the establishment of a digital euro, advancing a project that could reshape how payments work across the eurozone and, by extension, its trading relationships with markets beyond the bloc, including Africa. According to Finextra Research, the vote clears the path for the concluding round of negotiations with EU member states over how the central bank digital currency (CBDC) should be structured, with a potential launch date of 2029.
What the Vote Means
The parliamentary decision does not by itself create the digital euro. Instead, it moves the legislative process into its final phase, in which Parliament and representatives of EU member states must reconcile their positions on the design and governance of the currency. This stage, often referred to as trilogue-style negotiation in EU policymaking, typically determines the practical details that will shape how a proposal ultimately functions.
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