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Commission’s role in SEPA

The Payment Services Directive provides the necessary legal framework for SEPA. The European Commission is also involved in SEPA in the following ways:

SEPA migration
SEPA next steps
SEPA and EU competition policy
Conferences
Press releases & speeches

SEPA migration

Regulation on end-dates

02.05.2013

Competent authorities(109 KB) responsible for ensuring compliance with Regulation (EU) No 260/2012 (Article 10)
Out-of-court Complaint Body and Redress Body(51 KB) (Article 12)
Usage of Member States options(63 KB) (Article 16)

14.03.2012

Regulation (EU) No 260/2012 establishing technical and business requirements for credit transfers and direct debits in euro and amending Regulation (EC) No 924/2009

16.12.2010

Proposal for a Regulation establishing technical requirements for credit transfers and direct debits in euros and amending Regulation (EC) No 924/2009, COM(2010)775
Summary of the Impact Assessment, SEC(2010)1583
Impact Assessment, SEC(2010)1584
1^st implementation report on the SEPA Roadmap for 2009–2012, SEC(2010)1585
Press release, IP/10/1732
Frequently asked questions, MEMO/10/688
Citizens’ summary

Hearing: Towards Full SEPA migration

The Commission services held a public hearing in Brussels on 17 November 2010 to assist the Commission in the finalisation of its proposal for an EU Regulation establishing end-dates for migration to SEPA credit transfers and direct debits.

Webstreaming of the hearing, Panel 1 & Panel 2 (in English)
Presentations (in the order of the programme)
Jean-Yves Muylle / Michael Thom
Gerard Hartsink
Günther Gall
Rita Wezenbeek
Jacqueline Minor
Marie Cheval
Wolfgang Adamiok
Jonathan Maltman
Programme
Registration (closed)

Consultations

30.7.2010

Comments authorised for publication
SEPA migration end-date, DG Internal Market and Services working document

29.9.2009

Feedback on the consultation
Replies authorised for publication
Press release, IP/09/1372

8.6.2009

Consultation on possible end-date(s) for SEPA migration
Press release, IP/09/884

Annual progress reports

The reports have been prepared in response to the mandate provided in the ECOFIN Council Conclusions of 22 January 2008 (Press release 5372/08, p. 14–15).

17.05.2011	Progress Report 2010
02.12.2009	Progress Report 2009
11.03.2009	Progress Report 2008

Public administrations’ migration to SEPA

To measure progress with SEPA by public administrations, the Commission launched a survey on their preparedness and migration in June 2008 covering the period from the launch of SEPA (28.1.2008) to August 2008. The Commission plans to repeat the survey in the further progress to encourage best practice by public authorities.

12.10.2012	Results of the 6^th survey
11.11.2011	Results of the 5^th survey
04.02.2011	Results of the 4^th survey
19.10.2010	Results of the 3^rd survey
22.07.2009	Results of the 2^nd survey
12.05.2009	Results of the 1^st survey

EU Forum of national SEPA Coordination Committees

The EU Forum provides an opportunity for national SEPA Coordination Committees to familiarize themselves with the activities of their European counterparts, debate issues of common interest with the EU institutions and exchange information and good practices about SEPA migration. The forum is chaired by the Commission and it is intended to hold meetings twice a year.

23.10.2012	9^th meeting of the Forum
22.6.2012	8^th meeting of the Forum
9.11.2011	7^th meeting of the Forum
18.5.2011	6^th meeting of the Forum
22.10.2010	5^th meeting of the Forum
5.5.2010	4^th meeting of the Forum
20.10.2009	3^rd meeting of the Forum
30.3.2009	2^nd meeting of the Forum
21.10.2008	1^st meeting of the Forum

SEPA next steps

The major benefits expected for all payments users and for the EU economy as a whole would be put at risk if the SEPA program were to fall short of reaching its full objectives. The European Commission is therefore investigating which issues could potentially derail the SEPA project, and which measures could help to guarantee its success.

Roadmap

16.12.2010	1^st implementation report on the SEPA Roadmap for 2009-2012, SEC(2010)1585
10.9.2009	Completing SEPA: a Roadmap for 2009–2012 COM(2009)471 Press release, IP/09/1296 FAQ, MEMO/09/383

Study on the benefits, opportunities and costs of SEPA

28.1.2008	SEPA Study carried out by Capgemini Consulting Final report: Potential Benefits at Stake Annex: PowerPoint presentation FAQ: Commission publishes major cost-benefit study, MEMO/08/52
1.4.2006	Contract notice for SEPA study

Consultation

30.11.2007	Feedback statement on Commission consultation on SEPA
13.2.2006	Commission consultative paper on SEPA Next Steps (formerly: SEPA incentives paper 2006)

SEPA and EU competition policy

Given that indicators such as market fragmentation, price rigidity and customer immobility suggest that competition in the EU retail banking market does not function effectively, the Commission has decided to open an inquiry into the retail banking sector , in particular in relation to cross-border competition. This will shed light on the operation of the market, highlight possible market failures and identify where market failures can be tackled through competition law and other measures.

Conferences

28.1.2008	‘SEPA Goes Live’ launch event: programme, speeches and other material
8.5.2007	SEPA Conference for public administrations: programme, speeches and presentations

Press releases & speeches

20.12.2011	Agreement by Council and Parliament establishing SEPA migration end-dates, MEMO/11/935 Full SEPA migration – FAQ, MEMO/11/936
7.6.2010	SEPA Council meets for the first time ; discusses migration end-date and future of SEPA project for cards
2.12.2009	ECOFIN Council Conclusions on SEPA
3.11.2009	SEPA: Cross-border direct debits now a reality, IP/09/1665 Direct Debit Launch – FAQ, MEMO/09/489
13.10.2009	Speech of Commissioner McCreevy: SEPA Direct Debit launch, SPEECH/09/466
29.9.2009	Commission consultation shows general support for end-date for SEPA migration, IP/09/1372
10.9.2009	Commission presents actions to make SEPA a success, IP/09/1296
2.9.2009	Speech of Elemér Terták on SEPA (EPC off-site)
8.6.2009	Commission launches consultation on possible end-date for Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA) migration, IP/09/884
24.3.2009	Commission and ECB provide further clarification to ensure timely launch of Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA) Direct Debit scheme, IP/09/468
10.2.2009	ECOFIN Council Conclusions on SEPA
4.9.2008	Commission and ECB support launch of pan-European SEPA Direct Debit; provide guidance to industry, IP/08/1290
3.9.2008	Speech of David Wright / Elemér Terták on SEPA (EPC off-site)
21.8.2008	Commission and ECB welcome clarifications on a SEPA-wide payment cards market, IP/08/1268
30.6.2008	Joint statement by Commissioner Reding and Commissioner McCreevy on the cooperation agreement between the European Payments Council (EPC) and the GSMA on mobile payments, SPEECH/08/365
28.1.2008	Commission publishes major cost-benefit study, MEMO/08/52
28.1.2008	European Commission and European Central Bank joint statement: Commission and ECB welcoming the formal launch of SEPA payment instruments by EU banks, IP/08/98
22.1.2008	ECOFIN Council Conclusions on SEPA, 5372/08
21.1.2008	Press Release: ’SEPA Goes Live’ – Official Launch of the Single Euro Payments Area, IP/08/66
8.5.2007	Speech of Commissioner McCreevy: SEPA an opportunity for Europe, SPEECH/07/291
24.4.2007	European Commission & European Central Bank joint statement on the Payment Services Directive (PSD)
28.11.2006	ECOFIN resolution, Press Release of the 2766^th Council meeting, p.30, 15502/06
13.11.2006	Speech of Commissioner McCreevy: Time to deliver on SEPA, SPEECH/06/679
4.5.2006	European Commission & European Central Bank joint statement: Vision for SEPA
21.2.2006	Midday Express: Commission consults industry on incentives for Single Euro Payments Area, MEX/06/0221
9.11.2000	Speech of Commissioner Bolkestein: Establishing a Single Payment area, SPEECH/00/424