Canary Islands confirmed for new euro banknotes
If you have ever searched for the Canary Islands on the map depicted on a euro note, you can rest easy: the Islands will continue to feature on the next series of banknotes. The European Central Bank (ECB) has confirmed that the Archipelago will appear in the final design, following concerns and criticism raised by its absence from initial sketches.
Controversy over missing islands
The controversy arose after the presentation of the ten finalist proposals to revamp the look of euro banknotes. None of these designs featured the Canary Islands or other outermost regions of the European Union, such as the Azores, Madeira or the French overseas territories, prompting many citizens to question whether these territories would vanish from European paper currency.
However, the ECB has clarified that those images correspond only to an early stage of the design competition and that the maps included in the sketches are not final. According to the institution, artists received general guidelines to develop their proposals, but the final representation must comply with the technical and legal requirements governing the production of euro banknotes.
This means the Canary Islands will once again appear on the map, just as they do on the current series. The Islands will share space with the rest of the eurozone’s outermost regions, ensuring that all territories using the single currency are represented.
Public consultation under way
The final appearance of the banknotes will now depend on the winning design. Citizens across the European Union can take part in the public consultation opened by the ECB until 21 September to choose between the two shortlisted themes.
The first, entitled ‘European Culture’, proposes illustrating the banknotes with some of the continent’s most influential historical figures, including Miguel de Cervantes, Leonardo da Vinci, Marie Curie, Ludwig van Beethoven and María Callas. The second, ‘Rivers and Birds’, focuses on representing different European ecosystems through species such as the white stork, the European bee-eater and the wallcreeper, accompanied by river landscapes.
Design decision expected this year
Whichever proposal wins, the Canary Islands will have a presence on the new banknotes. The ECB’s Governing Council is expected to select the final design before the end of this year, although the new series will still take several years to enter circulation. Until then, current banknotes will remain fully valid and will coexist with the new ones during the transition period.
First redesign in over two decades
The banknote redesign is the first in more than two decades. In addition to updating their appearance to better reflect Europe’s cultural and natural identity, the ECB will incorporate new security features to make counterfeiting more difficult, accessibility improvements for people with visual impairments, and more sustainable materials in their production.
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