The European Central Bank (ECB) has launched an extensive project to redesign euro banknotes.

The design of the new banknotes will represent the first complete visual change of the common currency in more than twenty years, given that the original banknotes were put into circulation back in 2002.

This change directly affects all members of the euro area, including Croatia, which adopted the euro as the newest member.

The main goals of the project are focused on increasing security, functionality, and reducing environmental impact. Although the focus is on stronger protection against counterfeiting and easier use, the ECB also emphasizes that one of the key goals is to reduce the ecological impact of banknotes throughout their entire life cycle, including production, distribution, and final destruction.

The process of creating the new visual identity of the currency is already underway. The ECB Governing Council has already made a decision on two fundamental themes that will serve as inspiration for the future design. These themes are 'European culture', which focuses on shared spaces and important Europeans, and 'Rivers and birds', which highlight the resilience and natural diversity of European ecosystems.

A competition is currently open for graphic designers across the European Union, who are invited to propose specific illustrations for the selected themes. After an independent expert jury selects the best proposals, the public will be invited during 2026 to give their opinion in a public survey.

The ECB Governing Council is expected to make the final decision on the design by the end of 2026. However, the new banknotes themselves will not immediately enter circulation, but only several years later, after the complex process of production and technical preparation is completed.

For all currency users, it is important to emphasize that the current euro banknotes will retain full legal validity and may continue to be used even after the new series are put into circulation, thus guaranteeing an uninterrupted transition in payment transactions.