Dolenc: Digital euro crucial for strategic autonomy
Primož Dolenc, Governor of Banka Slovenije, emphasized the critical role of the digital euro in ensuring monetary sovereignty and strategic autonomy for Europe. Speaking at the ACI Slovenia Annual Assembly on June 12, 2026, he discussed the profound structural changes driven by the digitalization of money and digital assets.
Monetary sovereignty in the digital age
The rapid evolution of the monetary system, driven by technological advancements like distributed ledger technology (DLT) and tokenization, is fundamentally reshaping financial markets.
While these innovations promise faster transactions and lower costs, they also raise fundamental questions about currency settlement, trust, and monetary sovereignty.
Primož Dolenc highlighted that a significant portion of the burgeoning tokenized ecosystem relies on stablecoins predominantly pegged to the US dollar.
To counteract this, the EU has established a comprehensive crypto-asset supervision system with the MiCAR framework.
However, regulation alone is insufficient to preserve the euro's central role; Europe must develop its own reliable digital forms of money to ensure citizens' continued access to the safest form of money, upholding the fundamental principle of the singleness of money across all its forms.
European resilience through digital finance
Beyond basic payments, the digital euro project is vital for European resilience and strategic autonomy.
Dolenc highlighted Europe's dependence on non-European providers for critical digital payment infrastructure.
This, while efficient in stable times, becomes a strategic vulnerability amid rising geopolitical tensions.
The digital euro aims to address this, allowing Europe to shape its financial infrastructure.
The Eurosystem also advances institutional solutions like Project PONTES, bridging central bank infrastructure with DLT platforms, and Project APPIA, enabling tokenized reserves for direct settlement of digital assets.
Slovenia has actively contributed, issuing its first government bond using DLT technology.
Innovation meets stability
Dolenc's address underscores the Eurosystem's proactive approach to navigating the profound transformation of money.
It highlights the critical balance between harnessing digital innovation and safeguarding financial stability and monetary sovereignty.
The emphasis on strategic autonomy reveals a deeper geopolitical imperative driving the digital euro project, positioning Europe to shape its future rather than merely react.