In February 1996, the Council of the European Monetary Institute (EMI), the forerunner of the ECB, launched a competition to design the euro banknotes. National central banks nominated designers to sketch a series of seven banknotes, using one or both of two nominated themes: "Ages and styles of Europe" and an abstract modern theme.
The winning designs were by Robert Kalina of the Oesterreichische Nationalbank, inspired by the theme "Ages and styles of Europe", and were selected in December 1996 at the Dublin European Council. His theme depicts designs from seven important architectural periods in Europe’s cultural history. (European Central Bank)