MILAN, Jan 29 (Reuters) – The euro zone needs ​to be self-sufficient in ‌handling payments and the digital ‌euro will provide the necessary infrastructure for retail transactions, European Central Bank Executive ⁠Board Member ‌Piero Cipollone said on Thursday.

Speaking remotely at ‍a conference in Italy, Cipollone said the digital euro scheme, ​together with another ‌two projects the ECB is working on for wholesale payments, will give the euro zone the tools ⁠it needs “to keep ​its house in ​order.”

“That can give it more strength,” he ‍said when ⁠asked if the digital euro could boost Europe’s position ⁠vis-a-vis the United States.

(Reporting by ‌Valentina Za, editing by ‌Gavin Jones)