About SEPA

The introduction of the euro as the common currency for millions of Europeans was a great advance in European integration, but it was just the first step towards European payments harmonisation.

Today it is remarkably easy to pay in euros with a single card and payment account when travelling, shopping online or transferring money to someone living in another European country. So easy that we sometimes forget it has not always been so. We have the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA) project to thank.

About SEPA 1

An ongoing process

SEPA is a European Union (EU) initiative to which the European Payments Council greatly contributes as one representative of payment service providers (the EPC is not part of the EU institutional framework). While migration to the SEPA Credit Transfer and Direct Debit schemes created by the EPC is now complete, SEPA is still an ongoing process; other payment sectors such as mobile and online payments require further harmonisation.

Countries applying the SEPA schemes

Countries applying the SEPA schemes

The area in which the EPC SEPA payment schemes (for euro credit transfers and direct debits) are available is broader than the European Union. The geographical scope of the SEPA schemes currently covers 38 countries and territories: the 27 EU Member States plus United Kingdom, Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Monaco, San Marino, Andorra, Vatican City State/Holy See, Montenegro and Albania.

Read more about the list of SEPA scheme countries

SEPA timeline

SEPA timeline

If you want to learn in detail about the various milestones of the SEPA project, our timeline outlines all the actions that have contributed to the harmonisation of European payments since the 1999 introduction of the euro as the common currency of eleven countries. We regularly update this timeline with news of current and future steps that will further enhance payments integration. 

More about the SEPA milestones

SEPA goals and benefits

SEPA goals and benefits

SEPA was created to fully harmonise electronic euro payments to make it as easy and convenient for citizens and businesses to pay across Europe with one payment account and one card as it is in their home countries.

More about the objectives and advantages of SEPA

SEPA political, legal and regulatory framework

SEPA political, legal and regulatory framework

SEPA is driven by the EU institutions, in particular the European Commission and the European Central Bank. Find out more about the key EU legislation that has defined requirements for migration to SEPA, shaped the European payments landscape and now contributes to its further evolution.

More about the political drivers and legislative framework of SEPA

SEPA logo

The EPC makes SEPA logos available in all the languages of the SEPA countries.

Download the SEPA logos

 

SEPA logo