More than 60 Economists Urge EU to Adopt Digital Euro to Protect Monetary Sovereignty
In an open letter published Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, more than 60 economists warned EU policymakers that without an effective digital euro Europe risks losing control over its own money. The group argues that private stablecoins, big‑tech payment systems and foreign digital currencies could erode the euro’s role in payments and weaken monetary policy transmission unless the bloc provides a public, widely accessible alternative.
The economists call for a CBDC design that balances accessibility, privacy and resilience, and they urge faster political and technical decisions to avoid market-driven outcomes. The warning raises stakes for upcoming EU regulatory debates: a timely, credible digital euro could safeguard savings, cross‑border payments and policy autonomy, while delay could increase reliance on non‑EU payment rails and external currency influence.