Internal ECB document about the digital euro

Dear Mr Steinhammer,

Thank you for your request dated 25 August 2025 for access to European
Central Bank (ECB) documents.

In accordance with Article 7(1) of [1]Decision ECB/2004/3 of the European
Central Bank, you will receive a reply within 20 working days.

Yours sincerely,

Compliance and Governance Office

DG Secretariat

European Central Bank

Sonnemannstrasse 20

60314 Frankfurt am Main

[2][email address]

Privacy notice: By submitting a request for access to documents, the ECB
collects information about you for the sole purpose of processing your
request in accordance with [3]Decision ECB/2004/3. All personal data are
processed in accordance with EU Data Protection Law ([4]Regulation (EU)
2018/1725 of the European Parliament and of the Council). The ECB is the
controller for the processing of the personal data. The recipients of the
data will be the ECB’s Compliance and Governance Office and, only when
necessary, other institutions within the European System of Central Banks,
the Single Supervisory Mechanism, or EU institutions.

You have the right to restrict processing and to access, rectify and under
certain conditions to request deletion of your stored personal data. You
can exercise your rights by contacting the ECB's Compliance and Governance
Office ([5][email address]) or the ECB’s Data Protection
Officer ([6][email address]).Furthermore, you have the right to address
the European Data Protection Supervisor ([7]www.edps.europa.eu) any time
regarding this processing of your personal data.

________________________________________

From: Erwin Ernst

Sent: Monday, 25 August 2025 21:11:01 (UTC+01:00) Amsterdam, Berlin, Bern,
Rome, Stockholm, Vienna

To: [8][email address]

Subject: [EXT] access to documents request - Internal ECB document about
the digital euro

Dear European Central Bank,

Under the right of access to documents in the EU treaties, as developed in
Regulation 1049/2001, I am requesting documents which contain the
following information:

1) the information referred to in this article:
[9]https://www.politico.eu/article/ecb-pred...
especially the need of a digital euro system that can handle 50.5 billion
transactions annually

2) definition, calculations, clarifications or speculations about the
requirements, demands or needs of a future digital euro (system).

Yours faithfully,

Erwin Ernst Steinhammer

-------------------------------------------------------------------

This is a request for access to information under Article 15 of the TFEU
and, where applicable, Regulation 1049/2001 which has been sent via the
AsktheEU.org website.

Please kindly use this email address for all replies to this request:
[10][FOI #16258 email]

If [11][ECB request email] is the wrong address for information
requests to European Central Bank, please tell the AsktheEU.org team on
email [12][email address]

This message and all replies from European Central Bank will be published
on the AsktheEU.org website. For more information see our dedicated page
for EU public officials at [13]https://www.asktheeu.org/help/officers

Please note that in some cases publication of requests and responses will
be delayed.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Any e-mail message from the European Central Bank (ECB) is sent in good
faith, but shall neither be binding nor construed as constituting a
commitment by the ECB except where provided for in a written agreement.
This e-mail is intended only for the use of the recipient(s) named above.
Any unauthorised disclosure, use or dissemination, either in whole or in
part, is prohibited. If you have received this e-mail in error, please
notify the sender immediately via e-mail and delete this e-mail from your
system. The ECB processes personal data in line with Regulation (EU)
2018/1725. In case of queries, please contact the ECB Data Protection
Officer. Further information on data protection is available on the ECB
website. You also have the right to lodge a complaint with the European
Data Protection Supervisor.

References

Visible links
1. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/...
2. mailto:[email address]
3. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/...
4. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/...
5. mailto:[email address]
6. mailto:[email address]).furthermore
7. http://www.edps.europa.eu/
8. mailto:[email address]
9. https://www.politico.eu/article/ecb-pred...
10. mailto:[FOI #16258 email]
11. mailto:[ECB request email]
12. mailto:[AsktheEU.org contact email]
13. https://www.asktheeu.org/help/officers

Dear Mr Steinhammer,

We refer to your request of 25 August 2025 for access to European Central
Bank (ECB) documents.

We regret to inform you that, due to the increased workload created by a
high number of simultaneous requests, the ECB has not yet been able to
conclude its internal assessment as well as a detailed analysis of all
legal aspects related to the possible disclosure of the requested
documents.

In accordance with Article 7(3) of [1]Decision ECB/2004/3, the ECB has
decided to extend the time limit for responding to your application by 20
working days. The new deadline is 21 October 2025.

We apologise for the inconvenience this delay may cause.

Yours sincerely,

Compliance and Governance Office

DG Secretariat

European Central Bank

Sonnemannstrasse 20

60314 Frankfurt am Main

[2][email address]

From: Access to documents <[email address]>
Sent: 27 August 2025 11:33
To: [FOI #16258 email]
Cc: Access to documents <[email address]>
Subject: Acknowledgement of receipt: access to documents request -
Internal ECB document about the digital euro

Dear Mr Steinhammer,

Thank you for your request dated 25 August 2025 for access to European
Central Bank (ECB) documents.

In accordance with Article 7(1) of [3]Decision ECB/2004/3 of the European
Central Bank, you will receive a reply within 20 working days.

Yours sincerely,

Compliance and Governance Office

DG Secretariat

European Central Bank

Sonnemannstrasse 20

60314 Frankfurt am Main

[4][email address]

Privacy notice: By submitting a request for access to documents, the ECB
collects information about you for the sole purpose of processing your
request in accordance with [5]Decision ECB/2004/3. All personal data are
processed in accordance with EU Data Protection Law ([6]Regulation (EU)
2018/1725 of the European Parliament and of the Council). The ECB is the
controller for the processing of the personal data. The recipients of the
data will be the ECB’s Compliance and Governance Office and, only when
necessary, other institutions within the European System of Central Banks,
the Single Supervisory Mechanism, or EU institutions.

You have the right to restrict processing and to access, rectify and under
certain conditions to request deletion of your stored personal data. You
can exercise your rights by contacting the ECB's Compliance and Governance
Office ([7][email address]) or the ECB’s Data Protection
Officer ([8][email address]).Furthermore, you have the right to address
the European Data Protection Supervisor ([9]www.edps.europa.eu) any time
regarding this processing of your personal data.

________________________________________

From: Erwin Ernst

Sent: Monday, 25 August 2025 21:11:01 (UTC+01:00) Amsterdam, Berlin, Bern,
Rome, Stockholm, Vienna

To: [10][email address]

Subject: [EXT] access to documents request - Internal ECB document about
the digital euro

Dear European Central Bank,

Under the right of access to documents in the EU treaties, as developed in
Regulation 1049/2001, I am requesting documents which contain the
following information:

1) the information referred to in this article:
[11]https://www.politico.eu/article/ecb-pred...
especially the need of a digital euro system that can handle 50.5 billion
transactions annually

2) definition, calculations, clarifications or speculations about the
requirements, demands or needs of a future digital euro (system).

Yours faithfully,

Erwin Ernst Steinhammer

-------------------------------------------------------------------

This is a request for access to information under Article 15 of the TFEU
and, where applicable, Regulation 1049/2001 which has been sent via the
AsktheEU.org website.

Please kindly use this email address for all replies to this request:
[12][FOI #16258 email]

If [13][ECB request email] is the wrong address for information
requests to European Central Bank, please tell the AsktheEU.org team on
email [14][email address]

This message and all replies from European Central Bank will be published
on the AsktheEU.org website. For more information see our dedicated page
for EU public officials at [15]https://www.asktheeu.org/help/officers

Please note that in some cases publication of requests and responses will
be delayed.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Any e-mail message from the European Central Bank (ECB) is sent in good
faith, but shall neither be binding nor construed as constituting a
commitment by the ECB except where provided for in a written agreement.
This e-mail is intended only for the use of the recipient(s) named above.
Any unauthorised disclosure, use or dissemination, either in whole or in
part, is prohibited. If you have received this e-mail in error, please
notify the sender immediately via e-mail and delete this e-mail from your
system. The ECB processes personal data in line with Regulation (EU)
2018/1725. In case of queries, please contact the ECB Data Protection
Officer. Further information on data protection is available on the ECB
website. You also have the right to lodge a complaint with the European
Data Protection Supervisor.

References

Visible links
1. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/...
2. mailto:[email address]
3. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/...
4. mailto:[email address]
5. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/...
6. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/...
7. mailto:[email address]
8. mailto:[email address]).furthermore
9. http://www.edps.europa.eu/
10. mailto:[email address]
11. https://www.politico.eu/article/ecb-pred...
12. mailto:[FOI #16258 email]
13. mailto:[ECB request email]
14. mailto:[AsktheEU.org contact email]
15. https://www.asktheeu.org/help/officers

Dear Mr Steinhammer,

We refer to your request for access to European Central Bank (ECB)
documents concerning the digital euro.

The ECB is currently finalising its reply, which should reach you in the
coming days.

We are making our best efforts to address your request and keep the delay
as short as possible.

We apologise for the inconvenience this delay may cause.

Yours sincerely,

Compliance and Governance Office

DG Secretariat

European Central Bank

Sonnemannstrasse 20

60314 Frankfurt am Main

[1][email address]

From: Access to documents <[email address]>
Sent: 19 September 2025 13:34
To: [FOI #16258 email]
Cc: Access to documents <[email address]>
Subject: Extension of deadline: access to documents request - Internal ECB
document about the digital euro

Dear Mr Steinhammer,

We refer to your request of 25 August 2025 for access to European Central
Bank (ECB) documents.

We regret to inform you that, due to the increased workload created by a
high number of simultaneous requests, the ECB has not yet been able to
conclude its internal assessment as well as a detailed analysis of all
legal aspects related to the possible disclosure of the requested
documents.

In accordance with Article 7(3) of [2]Decision ECB/2004/3, the ECB has
decided to extend the time limit for responding to your application by 20
working days. The new deadline is 21 October 2025.

We apologise for the inconvenience this delay may cause.

Yours sincerely,

Compliance and Governance Office

DG Secretariat

European Central Bank

Sonnemannstrasse 20

60314 Frankfurt am Main

[3][email address]

From: Access to documents <[4][email address]>
Sent: 27 August 2025 11:33
To: [5][FOI #16258 email]
Cc: Access to documents <[6][email address]>
Subject: Acknowledgement of receipt: access to documents request -
Internal ECB document about the digital euro

Dear Mr Steinhammer,

Thank you for your request dated 25 August 2025 for access to European
Central Bank (ECB) documents.

In accordance with Article 7(1) of [7]Decision ECB/2004/3 of the European
Central Bank, you will receive a reply within 20 working days.

Yours sincerely,

Compliance and Governance Office

DG Secretariat

European Central Bank

Sonnemannstrasse 20

60314 Frankfurt am Main

[8][email address]

Privacy notice: By submitting a request for access to documents, the ECB
collects information about you for the sole purpose of processing your
request in accordance with [9]Decision ECB/2004/3. All personal data are
processed in accordance with EU Data Protection Law ([10]Regulation (EU)
2018/1725 of the European Parliament and of the Council). The ECB is the
controller for the processing of the personal data. The recipients of the
data will be the ECB’s Compliance and Governance Office and, only when
necessary, other institutions within the European System of Central Banks,
the Single Supervisory Mechanism, or EU institutions.

You have the right to restrict processing and to access, rectify and under
certain conditions to request deletion of your stored personal data. You
can exercise your rights by contacting the ECB's Compliance and Governance
Office ([11][email address]) or the ECB’s Data Protection
Officer ([12][email address]).Furthermore, you have the right to address
the European Data Protection Supervisor ([13]www.edps.europa.eu) any time
regarding this processing of your personal data.

________________________________________

From: Erwin Ernst

Sent: Monday, 25 August 2025 21:11:01 (UTC+01:00) Amsterdam, Berlin, Bern,
Rome, Stockholm, Vienna

To: [14][email address]

Subject: [EXT] access to documents request - Internal ECB document about
the digital euro

Dear European Central Bank,

Under the right of access to documents in the EU treaties, as developed in
Regulation 1049/2001, I am requesting documents which contain the
following information:

1) the information referred to in this article:
[15]https://www.politico.eu/article/ecb-pred...
especially the need of a digital euro system that can handle 50.5 billion
transactions annually

2) definition, calculations, clarifications or speculations about the
requirements, demands or needs of a future digital euro (system).

Yours faithfully,

Erwin Ernst Steinhammer

-------------------------------------------------------------------

This is a request for access to information under Article 15 of the TFEU
and, where applicable, Regulation 1049/2001 which has been sent via the
AsktheEU.org website.

Please kindly use this email address for all replies to this request:
[16][FOI #16258 email]

If [17][ECB request email] is the wrong address for information
requests to European Central Bank, please tell the AsktheEU.org team on
email [18][email address]

This message and all replies from European Central Bank will be published
on the AsktheEU.org website. For more information see our dedicated page
for EU public officials at [19]https://www.asktheeu.org/help/officers

Please note that in some cases publication of requests and responses will
be delayed.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Any e-mail message from the European Central Bank (ECB) is sent in good
faith, but shall neither be binding nor construed as constituting a
commitment by the ECB except where provided for in a written agreement.
This e-mail is intended only for the use of the recipient(s) named above.
Any unauthorised disclosure, use or dissemination, either in whole or in
part, is prohibited. If you have received this e-mail in error, please
notify the sender immediately via e-mail and delete this e-mail from your
system. The ECB processes personal data in line with Regulation (EU)
2018/1725. In case of queries, please contact the ECB Data Protection
Officer. Further information on data protection is available on the ECB
website. You also have the right to lodge a complaint with the European
Data Protection Supervisor.

References

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ECB-RESTRICTED

Dear Mr Steinhammer,

Please find attached the ECB’s reply to your request for access to ECB
documents.

Please note that we have tried to send you the reply as a pdf document,
but we get an error message from the “Ask the EU” portal stating that our
message was undeliverable.

We have already contacted the [1][email address] in order to solve
this technical issue.

Yours sincerely,

Compliance and Governance Office

DG Secretariat

European Central Bank

Sonnemannstrasse 20

60314 Frankfurt am Main

[2][email address]

From: Access to documents <[3][email address]>
Sent: Tuesday, October 21, 2025 22:08
To: [4][FOI #16258 email]
Cc: Access to documents <[5][email address]>
Subject: The ECB is finalising your reply - : access to documents request
- Internal ECB document about the digital euro

Dear Mr Steinhammer,

We refer to your request for access to European Central Bank (ECB)
documents concerning the digital euro.

The ECB is currently finalising its reply, which should reach you in the
coming days.

We are making our best efforts to address your request and keep the delay
as short as possible.

We apologise for the inconvenience this delay may cause.

Yours sincerely,

Compliance and Governance Office

DG Secretariat

European Central Bank

Sonnemannstrasse 20

60314 Frankfurt am Main

[6][email address]

From: Access to documents <[7][email address]>
Sent: 19 September 2025 13:34
To: [8][FOI #16258 email]
Cc: Access to documents <[9][email address]>
Subject: Extension of deadline: access to documents request - Internal ECB
document about the digital euro

Dear Mr Steinhammer,

We refer to your request of 25 August 2025 for access to European Central
Bank (ECB) documents.

We regret to inform you that, due to the increased workload created by a
high number of simultaneous requests, the ECB has not yet been able to
conclude its internal assessment as well as a detailed analysis of all
legal aspects related to the possible disclosure of the requested
documents.

In accordance with Article 7(3) of [10]Decision ECB/2004/3, the ECB has
decided to extend the time limit for responding to your application by 20
working days. The new deadline is 21 October 2025.

We apologise for the inconvenience this delay may cause.

Yours sincerely,

Compliance and Governance Office

DG Secretariat

European Central Bank

Sonnemannstrasse 20

60314 Frankfurt am Main

[11][email address]

From: Access to documents <[12][email address]>
Sent: 27 August 2025 11:33
To: [13][FOI #16258 email]
Cc: Access to documents <[14][email address]>
Subject: Acknowledgement of receipt: access to documents request -
Internal ECB document about the digital euro

Dear Mr Steinhammer,

Thank you for your request dated 25 August 2025 for access to European
Central Bank (ECB) documents.

In accordance with Article 7(1) of [15]Decision ECB/2004/3 of the European
Central Bank, you will receive a reply within 20 working days.

Yours sincerely,

Compliance and Governance Office

DG Secretariat

European Central Bank

Sonnemannstrasse 20

60314 Frankfurt am Main

[16][email address]

Privacy notice: By submitting a request for access to documents, the ECB
collects information about you for the sole purpose of processing your
request in accordance with [17]Decision ECB/2004/3. All personal data are
processed in accordance with EU Data Protection Law ([18]Regulation (EU)
2018/1725 of the European Parliament and of the Council). The ECB is the
controller for the processing of the personal data. The recipients of the
data will be the ECB’s Compliance and Governance Office and, only when
necessary, other institutions within the European System of Central Banks,
the Single Supervisory Mechanism, or EU institutions.

You have the right to restrict processing and to access, rectify and under
certain conditions to request deletion of your stored personal data. You
can exercise your rights by contacting the ECB's Compliance and Governance
Office ([19][email address]) or the ECB’s Data Protection
Officer ([20][email address]).Furthermore, you have the right to address
the European Data Protection Supervisor ([21]www.edps.europa.eu) any time
regarding this processing of your personal data.

________________________________________

From: Erwin Ernst

Sent: Monday, 25 August 2025 21:11:01 (UTC+01:00) Amsterdam, Berlin, Bern,
Rome, Stockholm, Vienna

To: [22][email address]

Subject: [EXT] access to documents request - Internal ECB document about
the digital euro

Dear European Central Bank,

Under the right of access to documents in the EU treaties, as developed in
Regulation 1049/2001, I am requesting documents which contain the
following information:

1) the information referred to in this article:
[23]https://www.politico.eu/article/ecb-pred...
especially the need of a digital euro system that can handle 50.5 billion
transactions annually

2) definition, calculations, clarifications or speculations about the
requirements, demands or needs of a future digital euro (system).

Yours faithfully,

Erwin Ernst Steinhammer

-------------------------------------------------------------------

This is a request for access to information under Article 15 of the TFEU
and, where applicable, Regulation 1049/2001 which has been sent via the
AsktheEU.org website.

Please kindly use this email address for all replies to this request:
[24][FOI #16258 email]

If [25][ECB request email] is the wrong address for information
requests to European Central Bank, please tell the AsktheEU.org team on
email [26][email address]

This message and all replies from European Central Bank will be published
on the AsktheEU.org website. For more information see our dedicated page
for EU public officials at [27]https://www.asktheeu.org/help/officers

Please note that in some cases publication of requests and responses will
be delayed.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Any e-mail message from the European Central Bank (ECB) is sent in good
faith, but shall neither be binding nor construed as constituting a
commitment by the ECB except where provided for in a written agreement.
This e-mail is intended only for the use of the recipient(s) named above.
Any unauthorised disclosure, use or dissemination, either in whole or in
part, is prohibited. If you have received this e-mail in error, please
notify the sender immediately via e-mail and delete this e-mail from your
system. The ECB processes personal data in line with Regulation (EU)
2018/1725. In case of queries, please contact the ECB Data Protection
Officer. Further information on data protection is available on the ECB
website. You also have the right to lodge a complaint with the European
Data Protection Supervisor.

References

Dear Mr Steinhammer,

Thank you for your confirmatory application of 14 November 2025 for access
to European Central Bank (ECB) documents.

In accordance with [1]Decision ECB/2004/3 on public access to ECB
documents, as last amended, you will receive a reply within 20 working
days.

Yours sincerely,

Compliance and Governance Office

DG Secretariat

European Central Bank

Sonnemannstrasse 20

60314 Frankfurt am Main

[2][email address]

Privacy notice: By submitting a request for access to documents, the ECB
collects information about you for the sole purpose of processing your
request in accordance with Decision ECB/2004/3 on public access to ECB
documents. All personal data are processed in accordance with EU Data
Protection Law (Regulation (EU) 2018/1725). The ECB is the controller for
the processing of the personal data. The recipients of the data will be
the ECB’s Compliance and Governance Office and, only when necessary, other
institutions within the European System of Central Banks, the Single
Supervisory Mechanism, or EU institutions.

You have the right to restrict processing and to access, rectify and under
certain conditions to request deletion of your stored personal data. You
can exercise your rights by contacting the ECB's Compliance and Governance
Office ([3][email address]) or the ECB’s Data Protection
Officer ([4][email address]).Furthermore, you have the right to address
the European Data Protection Supervisor ([5]www.edps.europa.eu) any time
regarding this processing of your personal data.

________________________________________

From: Erwin Ernst

Sent: Friday, 14 November 2025 12:31:15 (UTC+01:00) Amsterdam, Berlin,
Bern, Rome, Stockholm, Vienna

To: [6][email address]

Subject: [EXT] Internal review of Informationsfreiheit Anfrage - Internal
ECB document about the digital euro

Dear European Central Bank,

I wish to make a confirmatory application in regard to my request for
access with the reference number LS/PS/2025/56.

The ECB denied access to two documents, a presentation to an ECB
decision-making body on 23 July 2025 about the Digital Euro project, as
well as a document which forms part of an ECB procurement procedure
concerning Digital Euro component providers and related services.

Access to both documents was denied based on the exception in Article 4
(3.). However, I find that the refusal was based on general arguments. No
argument was put forward why disclosure of these specific documents would
in any way undermine the decision-making process in a concrete and
non-hypothetical way, or limit the ECB’s “space to think”.

Indeed, the documents in question appear to be of a rather technical
nature and discuss fact-based assessment, rather than the ongoing
decision-making process itself, therefore it is hard to understand why
their disclosure could be seen as detrimental to the overall
decision-making process. Any refusal should be grounded in specific and
concrete harm to internal processes, rather than general considerations
such as the ones that were put forward.

Furthermore, I argue for an overriding public interest in disclosure.
Understanding facts about the draft proposal for the Digital Euro and
technical circumstances will allow public participation in the ongoing
legislative and administrative decision-making process around the Digital
Euro, therefore enhancing public debate. In addition, the second-document
appears to concern a public procurement procedure, for which public
scrutiny should be welcomed as a way to safeguard against any undue
influence.

The full correspondence is available via:
[7]https://www.asktheeu.org/request/interna...

Kind regards

Erwin Ernst Steinhammer

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Bitte nutzen Sie diese Emailadresse für alle Antworten auf diese Anfrage:

[8][FOI #16258 email]

Diese Nachricht und alle Antworten von Europäische Zentralbank werden auf
der AsktheEU.org Internetseite veröffentlicht. Für weitere Informationen
besuchen Sie bitte unsere speziell für EU-Beamte eingerichtete Seite
[9]https://www.asktheeu.org/help/officers

Please note that in some cases publication of requests and responses will
be delayed.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Any e-mail message from the European Central Bank (ECB) is sent in good
faith, but shall neither be binding nor construed as constituting a
commitment by the ECB except where provided for in a written agreement.
This e-mail is intended only for the use of the recipient(s) named above.
Any unauthorised disclosure, use or dissemination, either in whole or in
part, is prohibited. If you have received this e-mail in error, please
notify the sender immediately via e-mail and delete this e-mail from your
system. The ECB processes personal data in line with Regulation (EU)
2018/1725. In case of queries, please contact the ECB Data Protection
Officer. Further information on data protection is available on the ECB
website. You also have the right to lodge a complaint with the European
Data Protection Supervisor.

References

Visible links
1. http://www.ecb.europa.eu/ecb/legal/pdf/0...
2. mailto:[email address]
3. file:///C:/Users/ballest/AppData/Roaming/OpenText/OTEdit/EC_darwin/c74320805/accesstodocuments%40ecb.europa.eu
4. mailto:[email address]
5. http://www.edps.europa.eu/
6. mailto:[email address]
7. https://www.asktheeu.org/request/interna...
8. mailto:[FOI #16258 email]
9. https://www.asktheeu.org/help/officers

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