The launch of the digital euro awaits approval from EU lawmakers, said ECB President Lagarde.

"Why are we doing this? Simply because of customer demand, to put it very simply," said the ECB President. She emphasized that the shift to central bank digital currency (CBDC) is based on changing consumer preferences in the eurozone.

Explaining the reasons for this initiative, Lagarde noted that the ECB's goal is to provide both digital and physical forms of money to meet the diverse needs of users. "Many Europeans — not all, but many — prefer to pay electronically, without cash. Many Europeans still love cash. I love cash. Therefore, we will continue to use cash and in a few years we will issue new banknotes," she said.