We harmonise payments in Europe
We help make it possible for citizens and businesses to pay with the same ease and convenience across the Single Euro Payments Area() as in their home country. We design and manage the payment schemes, which are the rules underlying most of the euro credit transfers and direct debits in Europe. We represent payment service providers () on all European payment issues and contribute to shaping the future European payments landscape.
Envision
We strive for a better harmonisation of other innovative electronic payment instruments, like card and mobile payments.
Influence
We define positions and make proposals on payment aspects of European policies and legislations.
4,000+ scheme participants
must formally adhere to the schemes in order to offer their customers the ease and convenience of transactions.
520+
million citizens
122
billion electronic payments per year
34
European countries
About
(Single Euro Payments Area) is a European Union payments integration initiative to harmonise electronic euro payments in Europe. Thanks to this project, citizens and companies can use the same payment instruments – in particular, credit transfers, direct debits and cards – when making euro transactions across Europe as when paying in euros in their home country. The supports and promotes , which is driven by European institutions.
Featured
Get ready for the Instant Credit Transfer scheme
The Instant Credit Transfer ( Inst) scheme is effective since November 2017; it will significantly change payments as we know them.
How to participate?
All are encouraged to adhere rapidly to the Inst scheme via the website as receivers of transactions and / or payers in order to give it momentum and meet customer needs.