The paper examines the European prohibition of monetary financing from an economic viewpoint. This ban aims to protect central bank independence in monetary policy to ensure price stability. It also seeks to maintain fiscal discipline, preventing fiscal policies from obstructing monetary policy. The prohibition helps to separate monetary and fiscal responsibilities, aligning with theories like monetarism. Europe's current ban is stricter than past European rules and those in other major currency areas. The ECB monitors compliance, establishing standards based on EU regulations and past cases. For three decades, the prohibition has largely been respected, though some conflicts required corrective actions. Recent crises prompted proposals to reinterpret or bypass the ban, such as "helicopter money" or government debt cancellation. Such suggestions would likely compromise the prohibition of monetary financing. This could ultimately undermine price stability and sound public finances.