By Peter Bergman (MoneyAmped.com)
A meaningful agreement reached on Tuesday evening (7 November) may herald the cessation of protracted waiting periods for Europeans to access their funds, as they will soon be able to transfer money between bank accounts in seconds swiftly.
Regulation on Instant Payments Will Be Adopted Very Soon
The agreement reached between the Members of the European Parliament, the European Commission, and the EU Council paves the path for the swift adoption of a regulation on instant payments within the European Union. This noteworthy development, as conveyed by the esteemed institutions following a meticulously planned negotiation, signifies that this regulation will soon come into force, benefiting the citizens of the EU.
Instantaneous payments, or as they are commonly referred to, enable the swift movement of monetary resources, providing a seamless transaction experience. The recent enactment of a European Union directive mandating their implementation as the default mode of payment throughout the region has been met with resounding acclaim from proponents of consumer welfare.
While the technology facilitating instantaneous payments has existed for quite some time, its widespread adoption has been limited. Furthermore, the narrow timeframe within which transactions occur often leaves financial institutions needing more time to conduct the necessary verifications to combat fraudulent activities and money laundering.
In 2022, EU Commissioner Mairead McGuinness, responsible for overseeing financial services, proposed to enact new legislation that would render said service obligatory. The commission has put forth a compelling argument that its action would liberate billions of euros that, at any given juncture, remain inaccessible to individuals or enterprises due to their transient nature within payment systems.
According to the recently proposed measures, financial institutions must offer their clientele the service without additional charges, adhering to stringent timelines. These initiatives have been effectively guided through the European Parliament by Dutch legislator Michiel Hoogeveen.
By a distinct declaration from the Council of the European Union, it has been determined that nations such as Sweden and Poland, which do not partake in the eurozone, shall be granted an extended duration for their transition period.
Financial institutions must conduct a thorough verification process in this agreement to ensure that the recipient’s name aligns with the corresponding account number. This measure aims to combat fraudulent activities such as authorised push payment fraud, wherein individuals are deceived into transferring substantial amounts to fraudulent accounts under the pretense of fulfilling a genuine invoice.
There Is No Official Endorsement From the EU Institutions Yet
While the broad outlines of the law have been tentatively approved by the European Union’s Council and Parliament representatives, it is imperative to note that the formal endorsement of these EU institutions is still pending. Based on previous legal drafts, it is anticipated that the law will come into force within a timeframe ranging from six to 36 months after its finalization.
According to Agustin Reyna, the esteemed Director of Legal and Economic Affairs at the prominent EU consumer advocacy group BEUC, the recent legal breakthrough can be a source of immense satisfaction for the European populace.
Reyna’s statement highlights the remarkable prospect of consumers availing of instant credit transfers at a cost equivalent to conventional ones. In the majority of instances, this will be provided without charge.
However, financial institutions — offering expedited transactions as a high-end service — have hesitantly relinquished their commercial flexibility. The European Banking Federation, in its January paper regarding the draft law, opines that the market should be entrusted with the responsibility of determining whether to provide instant payments and the appropriate pricing thereof.
This is truly remarkable news for all individuals who desire expedited payment processing, eliminating the unnecessary delays of days,” McGuinness expressed in a post on the esteemed social media platform X. With the implementation of these novel regulations, instantaneous transfers will become universally accessible, economically viable, and fortified with utmost security.
