The European Council published a speech by the Eurogroup President on the euro’s position and the policy agenda he argues is needed to reinforce the single currency amid heightened geopolitical, economic and trade uncertainty. The address links rising public support for the euro to its everyday convenience, crisis-era policy coordination and confidence that the euro area will defend and further develop the currency, and points to the digital euro, fiscal coordination and capital markets deepening as key levers for the next phase. The speech cites Eurobarometer results showing 52% of Europeans tend to trust the European Union and 83% of people in the euro area support the euro, alongside forecasts of moderating inflation reaching 2.1% in the euro area and around 2 million new jobs expected over the next two years. It argues the euro must remain “convenient” as the economy becomes more digital through the digital euro project, while fiscal coordination should rest on stable budget frameworks and an assessed euro area budget stance to support longer-term investment needs, including for security and the green and digital transitions. On confidence and the euro’s role, it points to euro area enlargement, noting Croatia’s accession and expressing hope that Bulgaria will join soon, and frames more competitive and liquid capital markets as central to increasing the euro’s use domestically and internationally. On capital markets, the remarks highlight the European Commission’s March plan for a Savings and Investment Union and call for follow-up at national level, including on pension systems, financial literacy, and the development of common savings and investment products and accounts for retail investors.

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