MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Lack of sound calculations of the costs and risks of introducing the digital euro – E-002443/2025

Question for written answer  E-002443/2025/rev.1
to the Commission
Rule 144
Auke Zijlstra (PfE)

At the Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee meeting on 27 March 2025, Claudia Buch, Chair of the ECB’s Supervisory Board, argued that banks could make profits as a result of the introduction of the digital euro. This contradicts the industry’s own calculations[1].

When I asked Claudia Buch in writing to back up her claims with a calculation of expected profits, she replied that ‘it is not possible to exactly assess the impact of the digital euro in quantitative terms’ and that profits depend, among other things, on ‘business model, size, and existing IT architecture’[2]. I conclude from this that Ms Buch’s claims are devoid of facts and unsubstantiated.

Does the Commission agree that:

• 1.it is worrying that the ECB, unlike the banking sector, has not calculated the costs and risks of introducing the digital euro for European banks?
• 2.Ms Buch’s letter implies that the introduction of the digital euro is a greater risk for smaller banks, as it is significantly more expensive for these banks to adapt their IT architecture than for the big banks?

Submitted: 17.6.2025

• [1] Questions for written answer Z-000008/2025 and Z-000009/2025 to the Chair of the ECB Supervisory Board.
• [2] Answer by the Chair of the ECB Supervisory Board to questions QZ-008 and QZ-009 of 19 May 2025.