European Parliament Delays Digital Euro Committee Vote to June, ECB Urges Legislation by Year-End

The Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee rescheduled its vote on the digital euro regulatory package from May 5 to June 23, 2026. The postponement follows the Council's adoption of its negotiating position in December 2025.

Cipollone, speaking at the Peterson Institute on April 22, said the ECB is 'not worried' about the schedule change. He stressed that finalizing legislation by the end of 2026 is essential to preserving the planned pilot exercise and the 2029 target for potential first issuance.

The European merchant trade association EuroCommerce welcomed support from the S&D parliamentary group for the 'better off' principle on digital euro merchant fees. Under this principle, merchants would pay no more for digital euro acceptance than for comparable existing payment methods.