On 28 June 2023, the European Commission published two proposals for regulations concerning the euro as legal tender: Regulation on the establishment of the digital euro (COM (2023) 369) and Regulation on the legal tender of euro banknotes and coins (COM (2023) 364). The two proposals combined are intended to achieve the central goal of de-facto and legal equivalence of the digital euro and euro cash as legal tender.

AK welcomes the plan to introduce a digital euro as a largely free and secure alternative to the numerous existing means of payment from private issuers. AK also welcomes the proposed new legal framework and the commitment to euro cash, but sees room for improvement in the interest of consumers. It should be underlined that the digital euro is intended merely to complement, rather than replace, euro cash under the proposed legislation.