The European Central Bank has decided to redesign the euro. Citizens of EU member states will have their say in the European currency’s first total makeover since it entered into circulation.
The Eurozone’s regulator has asked European citizens to select the main theme of the redesigned banknotes. “There is a strong link between our single currency and our shared European identity, and our new series of banknotes should emphasize this,” ECB President Christine Lagarde said in a statement. According to Lagarde, Europeans should be able to identify with the design of euro banknotes, which prompted the ECB to ask for public opinion. Overall, seven possible themes were chosen by the central bank, ranging from rivers and birds to culture and values.
The initial design of euro banknotes used neutral objects that did not have any identifiable national symbols or landmarks, such as gates, arches, and bridges. The theme for the design of the next generation of euro banknotes will be chosen by 2024 based on the results of the survey. This will be followed by a design contest where citizens will again have the opportunity to express their preferences. The European regulator is expected to make a final decision on the redesign in 2026.
Talks about redesigning the euro have been ongoing since December 2021. “After 20 years, it's time to review the look of our banknotes to make them more relatable to Europeans of all ages and backgrounds,” ECB President Christine Lagarde said in a statement two years ago.
