Protect cash, freedom and financial privacy.

Dear Sir or Madam,

With great concern, we observe what, in our view, is a continuing development toward a fully digitalized structure of control and surveillance within Europe. Under terms such as “digital euro”, “digital identity”, “modern payment infrastructure” or “security measures”, systems are being created that can reach deeply into citizens’ freedoms — often gradually, technocratically and without broad public debate.

Cash is not merely a means of payment. Cash means freedom, privacy, self-determination and independence. Anyone paying with cash does not leave behind complete movement profiles, centrally stored consumption data or a permanent digital trace of everyday life. For this very reason, cash is a fundamental element of a free society.

In particular, we oppose the introduction of cash limits, the gradual displacement of cash from everyday life, any disadvantage imposed on citizens who wish to pay in cash, and models of fully controllable central bank digital money, including CBDCs or a digital euro.

A digital euro carries significant risks for democracy and civil liberties. Technically, it would be possible to monitor payments, evaluate user behaviour, impose time limits on money or restrict certain purchases. Even if present political actors deny any such intentions, the technical infrastructure would remain — and with it the potential for abuse by future governments or institutions.

Freedom must not depend on the functioning of an app, a QR code or a centralized digital identity — and certainly not on the moods of politicians.

We also view the expansion of mandatory digital identity systems with concern. A central digital ID linking financial data, health data, access systems, communication channels and government services would create an unprecedented concentration of personal information. A free society does not need total digital registration of its citizens, but strong limits on data collection by both state and corporate actors.