At EBAday 2025, two expert panels examined the transformative role of the digital euro and real-time data in finance, focusing on how these innovations can shape digital money, guide payment service providers (PSPs), and enhance liquidity for corporates and SMEs through automation.
### Reinventing Money
In the first panel, experts discussed the potential of the digital euro and its implications for future financial requirements and benefits. The panel included Andrea Meier (DZ Bank), Bruno Mellado (BNP Paribas), Daniel McLean (European Central Bank), Nils Beier (Accenture), and Ville Sointu (Nordea Bank), moderated by Petia Niederländer (Oesterreichische Nationalbank).
Niederländer initiated the discussion by asking Beier about the readiness of European banks in light of recent developments like tariff policies, stablecoins, and digital wallets. Beier highlighted three primary areas of change: digital assets, international payments, and European retail payments. He noted the need for a unified public-private vision to support the industry’s advancement.
The conversation shifted to the digital euro project, with McLean outlining two phases: exploring the digital euro’s purpose and use cases, and the ongoing development of technology and infrastructure to prepare for implementation. Sointu emphasized the necessity for customer-centric solutions, stating that banks must address all customer touchpoints.
Meier advocated for immediate solutions for corporate customers, focusing on current needs rather than long-term deliverables. Mellado added the importance of ensuring that account ledgers from central banks and banks communicate efficiently.
Niederländer questioned the threats to European sovereignty in payments. Meier underscored the need for international collaboration, while Sointu reiterated the role of the digital euro in addressing interoperability challenges.
The discussion concluded with an exploration of the digital euro’s benefits and its potential to foster innovation. Meier noted the ECB’s efforts to support innovation, while Mellado emphasized the positive impact the digital euro could have on liquidity costs and international payments.
### Liquidity Management and Real-Time Payments
The second panel, moderated by Joost Bergen, delved into how real-time data and automation can improve liquidity for corporates and SMEs, and discussed the requirements for achieving real-time cash flow and Treasury as a Service. Speakers included Alexandre Eclapier (J.P. Morgan), Gauthier Jonckheere (BNY), Ritu Sehgal (Natwest), Tarun Kishore Sonwalkar (Infosys Finacle), and Wim Grosemans (BNP Paribas).
Bergen initiated the conversation by differentiating between real-time payments and real-time data. Sehgal explained the complexity surrounding the cash cycle and how adoption levels vary based on a corporation’s maturity.
Grosemans highlighted the importance of reliable real-time data and collaboration with clients to develop effective strategies for data consolidation. Eclapier emphasized that integrating visibility and control can optimize liquidity management and investment opportunities.
Jonckheere discussed the growing demand for real-time data driven by regulatory requirements, noting its relevance to clients’ corporate propositions. The need for improved data analytics and AI for real-time decision-making was also a focal point, with Sonwalkar commenting on the potential for fully automated Treasury services in the future.
Bergen wrapped up the panel by underscoring the critical role of liquidity in payments and the advantages real-time solutions can offer.