Governance
The Eurosystem supports clear and transparent governance structures on retail payments that involve all stakeholder groups: payment service providers, end users, and public authorities – and on some specific issues possible additional groups.
Why is the Eurosystem involved in retail payments?
One of the Eurosystem’s basic tasks is to promote the smooth operation of payment systems.
The legal basis for the Eurosystem’s competence in the area of payment systems is contained in the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. According to the Statute of the European System of Central Banks and of the European Central Bank, "the ECB and the national central banks may provide facilities, and the ECB may make regulations, to ensure efficient and sound clearing and payment systems within the Union and with other countries".
The Eurosystem uses its expertise as well as contacts with the private sector and other public authorities to improve overall market efficiency. The Eurosystem is keen to help the industry find safe and effective payment, clearing and settlement solutions for the euro area. An important example of the Eurosystem’s catalyst work is its contribution to the creation of the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA).
The Eurosystem supports the development of retail payments by
Through speeches and publications the Eurosystem provides a continuous assessment of the progress made and draws attention to the issues that need further work. In addition, the Eurosystem offers guidance to the market whenever it is needed by clarifying specific issues.
The Eurosystem organises and participates in stakeholder events and fora, external events and bilateral meetings to make sure that the needs of all stakeholder groups – consumers, retailers, companies, payment service and infrastructure providers, etc. – are taken into account. The ultimate aim has been to ensure that the retail payment market evolves in the best interests of the euro area and the European Union.
The Eurosystem considers it important to keep all stakeholders informed in a timely, transparent and consistent manner. In order to reduce the risk of misunderstandings, the Eurosystem helps to coordinate communication at European and at national level.
The faster the new instruments and services are adopted, the earlier the benefits of SEPA can be reaped. Therefore, the Eurosystem seeks to foster the use of the SEPA payment instruments by encouraging their adoption by big senders and receivers of payments, such as corporations or the public sector. In addition, it encourages the market to develop and offer value-added services to fully exploit the benefits of SEPA and, as a consequence, make it more attractive to the users of payment services.
Governance at the national level
All euro area countries have set up specific national bodies to coordinate national SEPA migration. These bodies consist mainly of representatives from the national governments, national banking associations, end-user organisations and the national central banks. Their purpose is to ensure the implementation of SEPA by keeping all participants fully informed and preparing them for SEPA.
Some Communities in the European Union have set up, or are planning to set up, national structures with a wider mandate than managing issues that are solely related to SEPA migration. An overview of current national governance arrangements on SEPA and retail payments can be found in the list below. The information was provided by the national central banks and will be updated on a regular basis.
National governance of retails payments per country
Euro area countries
STUZZA – Studiengesellschaft für Zusammenarbeit im Zahlungsverkehr (Association for Cooperation in Payment Transfers) last update: 15 August 2016
Main functions:
- form a strategic vision in the field of payments
- define priorities and promote action and innovation
- improve safety of payments
Contact: Frankgasse 10/8, 1090 Wien
+43 1 505 32 80-0
Fax: +43 1 505 32 80-77
office@stuzza.at
STUZZA
Steering Committee on the future of means of payments last update: 05 August 2014
Main functions:
- represent the interests of the organisation members
- inform the public about current issues and projects regarding payments
Contact: Axelle Waterkeyn
+32 2 221 49 80
SEPA
National Payments Committee last update: 15 August 2016
Main functions:
- form a strategic vision in the field of payments
- define priorities and promote action and innovation
- ensure the operational efficiency and effectiveness of payment services
- foster healthy competition
Forum Zahlungsverkehr (Payments forum) last update: 09 December 2016
Main functions:
- form a strategic vision in the field of payments
- represent the interests of the organisation members
- promote innovation and to lead future developments of payment services
- inform the general public about current issues and projects regarding payments
Contact: Deutsche Bundesbank
No established body
Estonian Payment Forum last update: 15 August 2016
Main functions:
- represent the interests of the organisation members
- promote innovation and lead future developments of payment services
- provide framework for industry collaboration
Contact: Estonian Banking Association
Ahtri 12, Tallinn 10151
+372 611 6567
Fax: +372 611 65
pangaliit@pangaliit.ee
Eesti Maksekeskkonna Foorum
National Payments Committee last update: 15 August 2016
Main functions:
- represent the interests of the organisation members
- provide framework for industry collaboration
- inform the public about current issues and projects regarding payments
Contact:
SEPA: Un paso más en la integración europea
Payment systems
Payments Council last update: 15 August 2016
Main functions:
- support the use of advanced, internationally compatible payment methods that are efficient for society as a whole, while promoting competition
Contact: Suomen Pankki
Snellmaninaukio
PO Box 160, 00101 Helsinki
+358 10 8311
Payments Council
Conseil national des paiements (ex Comité national SEPA) last update: 15 August 2016
Main functions:
- develop best practice guidelines for its members
- provide framework for industry collaboration
- inform the public about current issues and projects regarding payments
Irish Payment Services Organisation (IPSO) last update: 05 August 2014
Main functions:
- improve safety of payments
- ensure the operational efficiency and effectiveness of payment services
- form a strategic vision in the field of payments
Contact: Irish Payment Services Organisation (IPSO)
Nassau House, Nassou Street
Dublin 2, D02Y240 Ireland
+353 1 671 53 11
info@bpfi.ie
Comitato Pagamenti Italia (CPI) (Italian Payments Committee) last update: 15 August 2016
Main functions:
- form a strategic vision in the field of payments
- develop best practice guidelines for its members
- ensure the operational efficiency and effectiveness of payment services
Contact:
Comitato Pagamenti Italia
Currently being setup last update: 05 August 2014
Payment Committee of the Association of Commercial Banks of Latvia last update: 15 August 2016
Main functions:
- promote good governance principles for banks in line
- enhance honest and fair bank-customer relationship
- coordinate the preparation of joint bank projects
Conctact: Association of Latvian Commercial Banks
Doma Iaukums 8A, Riga, Latvia, LV-1050
+371 672 84 528
info@lka.org.lv
Payments Committee (previously known as the Payments, ICT & Standardisation Committee) last update: 05 August 2014
Main functions:
- provide technical and strategic input for the benefit of its members
- develop professional recommendations and guidelines for its members
- provide information to the sector’s public
Contact: ABBL - Association des Banques et Banquiers, Luxembourg
PO Box 13, L-2010 Luxembourg
+352 46 36 601
Fax: +352 46 09 21
ABBL - Association des Banques et Banquiers, Luxembourg
Steering Committee for the National Strategy for Electronic Payments last update: 15 August 2016
Main functions:
- develop a strategy on increasing electronic payments and reducing paper based payments
- define priorities and promote action
National Forum on the Payment System last update: 15 August 2016
Main functions:
- promote social efficiency in national and European (SEPA) retail payment systems
- stimulate reachability and accessibility of retail payment system (including financial inclusion)
- promote cooperation in the payment chain (where necessary)
Contact: National Forum on the Payment System
Fórum para os Sistemas de Pagamentos (Payment Systems Forum) last update: 15 August 2016
Main functions:
- define priorities and promote action
- provide framework for industry collaboration
Contact: SEPA - Payment systems forum
National Payments Council last update: 15 August 2016
Main functions:
- form a strategic vision in the field of payments
- improve safety of payments
- inform the public about current issues and projects regarding payments
Contact: Secretariat NPC
Slovenska 35, 1505 Ljubljana, Slovenja
+386 1 471 95 74
Fax: +386 1 251 55 16
nsp-sekretariat@bsi.si
National Payments Council
No established body
EU Member States with currencies other than the euro
National Payment Systems Council last update: 05 August 2014
Main functions:
- define priorities and promote action and innovation
- improve safety of payments
- represent the interests of the organisation members
Contact:
SEPA / NASO
Развитие на националната платежна система
No established body
Betalingsrådet (Danish Payment Council) last update: 05 August 2014
Main functions:
- promote the efficiency and safety of payments for all involved parties
- provide better statistics for payments in Denmark
Contact: Danmarks Nationalbank
Havnegade 5, 1093 Copenhagen K
+45 33 63 63 63
kommunikation@nationalbanken.dk
Danish Payments Council
National Payment System Committee (NPC) last update: 15 August 2016
Main functions:
- define and propose the implementation of joint measures within the payment system
- monitor the development
- propose the implementation of new services and solutions in the payment system
Contact: Croatian National Bank
Trg hrvatskih velikana 3, 10002 Zagreb, Republic of Croatia
+385 1 45 64 55
National payment system committee
Currently being setup last update: 05 August 2014
Rada ds. Systemu Platniczego (Payment System Council) last update: 15 August 2016
Main functions:
- promote non-cash payments
- promote innovation and lead future developments of payment services
- represent the interests of the organisation members
Contact: Narodowy Bank Polski
Świętokrzyska 11/21, 00-919 Warszawa, Poland
+48 22 185 10 00
Fax: +48 22 185 85 18
listy@npb.pl
Rada ds. Systemu Płatniczego (in Polish only)
National SEPA Committee last update: 15 August 2016
Main functions:
- contribute to the co-ordination of communication efforts at national level
- form a strategic vision in the field of payments
Contact: NBR Headquarters
25 Lipscani Street, Bucharest 3, 030031 Romania
+4 21 313 04 10
+4 21 315 27 50
Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA)
The Swedish retail payments council last update: 15 August 2016
Main functions:
- contribute to the economically-efficient production and consumption of safe, efficient, accessible and appropriate payment services
- foster healthy competition
Contact: Sveriges Riksbank
SE-103 37 Stockholm
+46 8 787 00 00
Fax: +46 8 21 05 31
registratorn@riksbank.se
Retail payments council
Payments Council last update: 05 August 2014
Main functions:
- have a strategic vision for payments and lead the future development of co-operative payment services in the UK
- ensure payment systems are open, accountable and transparent
- ensure the operational efficiency, effectiveness and integrity of payment services in the UK
Contact: +44 20 3217 8200
Fax: +46 8 21 05 31
questions@paymenstuk.org.uk
Payments UK