"European Culture" and "Rivers and Birds" are the top choices of the European Central Bank's Governing Council for future euro banknotes' themes, selected in accordance with the public preferences expressed in 2023 surveys.
In a press release on November 30th, the ECB revealed that 23,377 participants took part in a survey where they were asked to rank seven themes. The top choice was "European culture", gaining favor with 21% of respondents. This was followed by "Rivers: the waters of life in Europe" at 18%, and "Birds: free, resilient, inspiring" coming in third with 17%. These results were mirrored by a larger online survey conducted last summer that saw participation from over 365,000 individuals.
ECB President Christine Lagarde highlighted that both chosen themes share a common thread - connecting Europe and Europeans - aligning well with their goal of creating relatable banknotes for all ages and backgrounds. Executive Board member Piero Cipollone emphasized that these banknotes are symbols of European unity, reaffirming their commitment to offering multiple payment methods including cash and digital payments.
The press release also disclosed plans for an advisory group to propose motifs for these themes by 2024. After considering these recommendations, there will be a design competition before the public is once again consulted regarding their preferred designs. Final decisions about the design and issuance timeline for the new banknotes will be made by the council in 2026.