ECB Official Calls for European-Led Digital Payments System

European Central Bank Executive Board member Piero Cipollone has emphasized the need for a European-led digital payment system amid rising geopolitical tensions. In a recent interview, Cipollone highlighted the digital euro as a crucial component, describing it as a “digital form of public money” essential for supplementing cash and addressing Europe’s fragmented payment landscape. He noted that cash transactions are projected to drop to 24% of daily transactions by 2024, down from 40% in 2019, underscoring the need for the ECB to adapt its monetary provisions.

Cipollone linked the development of a European-controlled payment system to geopolitical concerns, warning against reliance on non-European suppliers. He stressed the importance of a system based on European technology and infrastructure to ensure control and security in the face of global tensions and the “weaponization of all possible tools.”