Italy is lobbying for the exemption of merchants from fees on digital euro transactions under €10. This proposal aims to support small businesses during the final trilogue negotiations between the European Parliament, Council, and Commission regarding the regulatory framework for the European Central Bank's CBDC.
The current average card payment fee in Italy is approximately 0.57% per transaction, or about €0.28. Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti stated in December 2025 that the costs of accepting digital euros must be lower than existing card transaction fees.
Members of the European Parliament from Forza Italia have proposed removing all commissions for merchants and inter-payment-service providers on low-value retail transactions for a three-year transitional period after launch. Meanwhile, the Bank of Italy is analyzing fee-capping strategies based on a "no worse off" principle to ensure merchants do not pay more than they do for current payment methods.
The digital euro is designed to complement physical banknotes and prioritize privacy. The project is currently in development with an expected launch between 2028 and 2029. The ECB estimates setup costs at approximately €1.3 billion, with annual operating expenses of around €320 million starting from 2029.
Discussions are ongoing regarding offline payments, which may be entirely fee-free. Additionally, the Italian mobile payment platform Satispay plans to introduce zero fees for transactions under €10 starting in September 2026, preceding the digital euro's launch by two to three years.
