On 26 June 2026, the European Parliament adopted its position on a regulation governing the provision of digital euro services by payment service providers (PSPs) in EU Member States whose currency is not the euro. The consolidated text, tabled by the EPP group and rapporteur Fernando Navarrete Rojas, introduces significant amendments to the European Commission's original proposal, broadening the categories of users who can receive digital euro services from non-euro area PSPs and adding new safeguards for national currencies.
The Parliament's position expands the scope of eligible users to include natural or legal persons residing or established in euro area Member States, persons who previously held a digital euro payment account while residing in a euro area state, and visitors to the euro area. Non-euro area PSPs may also provide digital euro acquiring services to merchants in non-euro area states or third countries. A new article requires these PSPs to comply with mandatory acceptance rules for digital euro when serving clients in the euro area who are subject to such rules.
To address concerns over monetary sovereignty, the Parliament introduced a national currency impact assessment mechanism. Non-euro area Member States must designate competent authorities to monitor digital euro's impact on their national currencies and report triennially to the Commission and the European Central Bank. A safeguard clause allows Member States to request the ECB impose restrictions on digital euro use if significant risks to currency stability arise.
The text also amends the eIDAS regulation to require European Digital Identity Wallet providers to ensure fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory access for PSPs distributing digital euro services. Additionally, the definition of "funds" in the cross-border payments regulation (EU) 2021/1230 is expanded to explicitly include retail central bank digital currency, ensuring digital euro is covered by cross-border payment rules.
These amendments aim to create a level playing field between euro area and non-euro area PSPs, fostering competition in digital euro distribution while preserving the single market's integrity. The safeguards for national currencies address concerns from Member States like Denmark, Sweden, and Bulgaria about potential erosion of demand for their currencies. The Parliament's position now moves to trilogue negotiations with the Council, which must agree on a final text before the regulation can enter into force.