A member of the executive board of Germany’s central bank, Burkhard Balz, highlighted the digital euro’s role in ensuring Europe’s financial autonomy in an interview with German newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung last week.

Balz described the initiative as crucial to ensuring Europe’s resilience in an increasingly digital and competitive global environment. Comparing the digital euro to book money, he explained that while it exists in digital form, it remains interchangeable with physical cash, reinforcing that cash will not be abolished. “As long as people want to have cash, people will be able to pay with cash and have access to cash,” Balz stated, underscoring the coexistence of both payment forms.

The central bank executive board member expressed concern over Europe’s reliance on non-European payment providers like Mastercard and Paypal, highlighting the risks involved. Emphasizing the need for Europe to establish its own payment infrastructure, he stressed:

Dealing with the USA and China is going to be rough. We need to buckle up.

This concern has grown with China’s progress in developing its central bank digital currency (CBDC). “The Chinese are among the most advanced in the world in terms of developing their own central bank digital currency. They could introduce the digital currency, but currently have problems with the financial stability of the system and economic development,” Balz noted, recognizing the potential competitive edge China could gain while acknowledging their current challenges.

In light of these global developments, Balz reiterated the urgency for Europe to assert control over its financial systems. He pointed to instances where Chinese payment platforms like Alipay were used at public events in Germany, warning that this trend could expand without European alternatives.

“We basically have to represent our positions and interests very clearly,” Balz emphasized, reinforcing the importance of advancing projects like the digital euro to protect European sovereignty in the payments landscape. The lack of private sector initiatives over the past three decades has left a void, prompting central banks to intervene. Balz highlighted that the introduction of the digital euro is not about eliminating cash but rather about creating a resilient, autonomous European payment framework that can withstand global competition.

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