Finance ministers across the European Union are under mounting pressure to finalize a legal framework for a digital euro by the end of 2025, but divisions remain over privacy protections, limits on holdings, and the role of non-euro countries.

The push comes after EU leaders earlier this year urged ministers to accelerate talks on the project, seen as crucial to the bloc’s financial autonomy. Throughout July, negotiations in the Council of the EU gathered pace, with most governments backing the Danish presidency’s target of reaching a common position by late 2025.

Yet, several countries argue that more technical groundwork is required before moving forward. Germany’s Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil told colleagues in Brussels that the framework must guarantee “fair compensation models for banks, good distribution conditions, and a high level of privacy protection from day one.”

Other states raised additional concerns. Sweden has insisted the system must not overburden banks outside the eurozone. The Netherlands has pushed for strict holding limits to ensure the digital euro functions solely as a payment tool. Hungary has gone further, demanding a direct say over the issuance of the currency.

At the start of July, European Central Bank (ECB) Vice-President Luis de Guindos reiterated that no launch decision will be made until the legislative groundwork is completed. Both the Council and the European Parliament must adopt the framework before the ECB governing bodies decide whether to proceed, a step that would trigger a preparatory phase of about two and a half years.

De Guindos emphasized the urgency, warning that Europe’s growing reliance on U.S. payment providers threatens its financial independence. “Accelerating progress on the digital euro is essential to reduce our dependence on the U.S., as most electronic payment solutions are American,” he said. Currently, 13 of the 20 eurozone countries lack their own national card scheme, depending instead on international providers such as Visa and Mastercard.

The recent approval of the U.S. Genius Act, which regulates dollar-pegged stablecoins, has further sharpened concerns in Europe. ECB Executive Board member Piero Cipollone warned in April that Washington’s support for stablecoins could undermine Europe’s financial stability, underscoring the need to strengthen the euro’s role through a digital alternative.

According to the Financial Times, the ECB is still weighing which technology to adopt, including the possibility of using a public blockchain such as Ethereum or Solana. The ECB confirmed to Euronews that it is testing both centralized and decentralized solutions but has not yet made a decision.

Consumer groups also argue that Europe must build its own infrastructure. Anna Martin, head of financial services at the European Consumer Organisation (BEUC), said, “Current geopolitical uncertainties show very clearly the necessity to reduce Europe’s dependency on non-European providers in strategic areas.”

Still, progress in the European Parliament has stalled. A draft report on the digital euro was tabled in February 2024 by German MEP Stefan Berger, but no vote has followed. After Berger stepped down, Spanish MEP Fernando Navarrete took over the file in April 2025. Despite appeals from the ECB to advance the legislation, Navarrete has yet to comment publicly on the delays.