70 economists released a joint open letter calling for the digital euro project to prioritize the public interest.

A letter published by 70 economists and policy experts calls on members of the European Parliament to support a digital euro that clearly serves the public good. The letter argues that this is crucial for Europe's monetary sovereignty and for ensuring central bank funding in economies where cash use is declining. It warns that without strong public options, private stablecoins and foreign payment giants could have a greater impact on digital payments in Europe. Signatories include José Leandro, former EU Executive Board member of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), and French economist Thomas Piketty. They describe the proposed central bank digital currency (CBDC) as a public good, advocating for a public digital payment system issued by the Eurosystem, with free basic services, covering the entire Eurozone, to supplement rather than replace cash.