SAVE THE DATE | Green euro rising: Positioning the euro as the world's green currency

Geopolitical uncertainties and the recent US shifts on monetary and climate policy have created a rare opening for the euro. With the international monetary order shifting, the euro has the potential to strengthen international role. With strong green finance rules and the European Central Bank integrating climate risks, the EU can position the euro as the world's leading green currency. As ECB President Christine Lagarde put it: this is Europe's "global euro moment."

But how can Europe seize this opportunity? And what are the concrete policy steps needed to make the euro the currency of choice for financing the green transition? The recent Böll EU Brief “Green euro rising”, by Agnieszka Smoleńska and Jens van 't Klooster, shows that the euro already plays a significant role in green financial markets – with over half of global green bond issuance in euros. But regulatory rollbacks and shifting policy priorities threaten to undermine this advantage just as it begins to materialize.

• How US policy shifts create strategic space for the euro in an increasingly multipolar world order?
• Why the euro is already becoming the currency of choice for clean energy financing globally?
• How euro internationalisation can enhance European strategic autonomy and shield the EU from weaponized interdependence?

About the speakers:

Agnieszka Smoleńska (London School of Economics) is Senior Policy Fellow and Head of Prudential Policy at the LSE’s Centre for Transition Expertise. Her research focuses on green gonds, transition finance and central banking.

Jens van 't Klooster (Universtity of Amsterdam) is Associate Professor for Political Economy with specialization in currency internationalization, monetary governance, and the political economy of central banking.

More information and registration to follow. Save the date!

Meanwhile, read our Böll EU Brief 06/2025 Green euro rising: Positioning the euro as the world’s green currency, by Agnieszka Smoleńska & Jens van ‘t Klooster.

For more information, please contact Anton Möller.