Imaginary arches, bridges or stained glass windows… The euro banknotes in circulation for more than twenty years have often been criticized for their coldness and their disconnection with the continent’s heritage. For the new generation to succeed them in four to five years, the European Central Bank (ECB) is launching a broad online consultation with citizens on the choice of design, open until the end of August.
Seven themes, concrete or abstract, are proposed: birds (supposed to represent freedom and inspiration), European culture, values of Europe reflected in nature (understand who can), the future (innovation), hands (for embody the European construction), “our Europe, ourselves” and rivers.
Once again, it is for the big European fundraisers to try to find common denominators for the twenty countries that use the single currency, avoiding any national bias. The track of a selection of trees would have been discarded, because too connected to the landscapes of the different countries. When this process was announced at the end of 2021, the idea of European figures such as Leonardo da Vinci or Simone Veil was mentioned by Christine Lagarde, President of the ECB. This is no longer explicitly mentioned, but this track is not totally excluded in the culture or values of the Union categories.
The ECB wants these new banknotes to embody modernity, and that the younger generations can appropriate them. “There is a strong link between our single currency and our common European identity, emphasizes Christine Lagarde. Our new series of banknotes should highlight this. We want Europeans to identify with the design of the euro banknotes, which is why they will play an active role in the selection of the new theme.”
At the beginning of next year, two themes should be selected, so that the Governing Council of the ECB chooses one. The graphic design of future banknotes will then be launched, for validation expected in 2026. It will then take another two to three years before the new banknotes arrive in our portfolios.
In the meantime, the ECB will no doubt have given the green light this fall to the construction of the digital euro. The new generation of banknotes aims to reassure citizens that cash, still used in 59% of transactions, will always be available. The new banknotes will benefit from the latest technologies to make them safer (against counterfeiting) and more durable.
