Twenty years after arriving in Europeans' wallets, euro banknotes will get a new look with help from the public, a process officials hope will make citizens feel closer to the single currency. But the Austrian artist behind the original banknotes fears the redesign could spark national rivalries, something he painstakingly tried to avoid with neutral illustrations the first time around.

Robert Kalina was working as a graphic designer for the Austrian National Bank when he won a competition in 1996 to create the artwork for the first-ever euro notes. His designs were initially printed on 14.5 billion banknotes in denominations ranging from five to 500 euros. The bills in circulation have since almost doubled in volume and found their way into the hands of some 350 million Europeans and many more people around the world.

Euro coins, which are minted by euro members, have a shared image on one side and a country-specific one the other. Ireland for instance opted for a harp, France for a tree. But euro banknotes are issued by the European Central Bank, and their designs had to be identical across the euro region and avoid "national bias".

Drawing on inspiration from existing buildings, Kalina simplified and reworked their depictions with the help of engineering experts, to ensure the structures "were no longer recognisable" but still believable. His bridge designs, showcasing different historical styles in Europe, symbolise the connection between eurozone citizens, "but also between the European Union and the rest of the world". The windows and doorways on the other side of the notes stand for "openness and a vision of the future".

Earlier this month, the ECB said the bills were ready for a makeover, announcing a design and consultation process with a decision expected in 2024. "After 20 years, it's time to review the look of our banknotes to make them more relatable to Europeans of all ages and backgrounds," said ECB president Christine Lagarde. Euro banknotes are "here to stay", she said, although the ECB is also considering creating a digital euro in step with other central banks around the globe.

The ECB will rely on a 19-person panel of experts for the banknote design -- one from each euro nation -- and consult the public along the way.

The world of music might be a good place to look for inspiration for the next generation of notes, Kalina mused, since "great composers like Beethoven or Mozart can't be reduced to a single country". Music "is a language that doesn't require words and one that everyone can understand," he said.
-AFP