Douglas is responsible for engaging with legislative and non-legislative policy development on payments and digital finance issues on behalf of Europe's savings banks. The digital euro and the international development of CBDCs is a key focus of his work. This has included working with policymakers in Brussels on the developing regulation and contributing to the ECB work as a technical expert to Euro Retail Payments Board and developing the digital euro rulebook (through representation to the rulebook development group).

ESBG represents the locally focused European banking sector, helping savings and retail banks in 18 European countries strengthen their unique approach that focuses on providing service to local communities and boosting SMEs. The 885 member banks have total assets of €5.7 trillion, and serve 162 million Europeans seeking retail banking services.

The implementation of offline payments in retail CBDCs presents both significant challenges and essential benefits.

Challenges include ensuring robust security and privacy in transactions without online verification, which is critical to prevent fraud and unauthorized access. Developing reliable, secure hardware or software solutions that can function without an internet connection is technologically demanding. Additionally, creating a universally accepted offline payment system requires infrastructure upgrades and compatibility across diverse devices and platforms. There's also the issue of maintaining transaction limits and monitoring for compliance with financial regulations, all while offline.

Despite these challenges, the importance of offline payment capabilities in CBDCs cannot be overstated. They enhance financial inclusion by providing access to digital payments in areas with limited internet connectivity, thus reaching underserved populations. Offline functionality also ensures transaction continuity during network outages or in emergencies, supporting resilience in payment systems. Moreover, it offers a level of convenience and privacy for users, promoting broader adoption of CBDCs. Ultimately, developing robust offline payment solutions is vital for a resilient, inclusive, and widely usable CBDC ecosystem.