DIGITAL EURO What Will It Mean for Europeans With Disabilities?

The developers of the digital euro application are making significant efforts to ensure that everyone, regardless of the type of disability they have, can use it without difficulty

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Switzerland recently held a referendum in which voters rejected the complete digitalisation of the national currency and enshrined the protection of physical cash in the country’s constitution.

Across the rest of Europe, however, the introduction of a digital currency has become a major political issue in the European Union. Public debate has focused less on its economic implications and potential benefits for growth, and more on concerns about how the digital euro could affect civil liberties and the exercise of legally protected economic rights.

Whatever the outcome of those debates, the transition towards greater digitalisation of payments is unlikely to become the subject of referendums in EU member states, while cash transactions are expected to be subject to increasing oversight and regulation.

For Europeans with disabilities, one encouraging development is the announcement by the European Central Bank (ECB) that the digital euro application will be designed to be both accessible and inclusive.

“Like cash, the digital euro will be a public good, and in the digital age every European should be able to access it under equal conditions. We support the European Commission’s legislative proposal to ensure that everyone has access to the digital euro application. Accessibility is how we make sure the digital euro belongs to everyone,” said Piero Cipollone, a member of the ECB’s Executive Board.

The application is currently under development and is scheduled to be tested next year as part of the digital euro pilot project. It is already known that the app will include features such as screen reader compatibility, simplified language, improved keyboard navigation, enhanced visual design and other accessibility tools.

The developers are therefore making considerable efforts to ensure that all users, regardless of the nature of their disability, can use the application without barriers.

“The proposed application features reflect the ECB’s commitment to ensuring that every European can access digital payments on equal terms, regardless of their needs, abilities or level of digital confidence. The design of the digital euro application demonstrates the ECB’s commitment to creating a payment solution that works for everyone. By embedding accessibility into its design, the application will empower Europeans to participate fully in the digital economy,” the ECB said.

The proposed accessible digital euro application has been developed in close cooperation with consumer organisations, accessibility experts and the national central banks of the euro area.