Albania and Montenegro become part of SEPA

2024-11-21 15:46:51Biznes SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX
Albania and Montenegro become part of SEPA
SEPA

Albania and Montenegro have become part of the SEPA system, the European Commission announced today.

SEPA is an initiative of the European Union for the harmonization of electronic payments in Euros between member countries.

SEPA Payment Schemes provide European citizens and businesses with cross-border payments in the common currency, at the same cost and convenience as payments within their own country.

Commissions within SEPA will now be much lower and transactions faster. Payments can be made immediately "online". Albania applied to become part of SEPA in June 2024.

Notice of the European Commission:

Today, Montenegro and Albania advanced on their European integration path by becoming the first enlargement countries to join the geographic scope of the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA) following the green light from the European Payments Council (EPC). . This is a practical example of the impact of the Growth Plan, an EU initiative to accelerate the socio-economic integration of the Western Balkans into the EU, including progressive access to certain areas of the EU common market based on approximation with the acquis Communautaire of the EU.

As a result of the decision of the European Payments Council, the payment service providers of these two countries will have the option to adhere to the different SEPA schemes after individual commercial institutions adhere to the schemes, which will be part of a separate process of managed by EPC.

This step paves the way for facilitating financial transfers in euros and reducing the cost of these transactions between the two countries and other SEPA members. The European Commission, through a project financed under the IPA instrument and implemented by the World Bank, will continue to support the preparation of payment service providers of Montenegro and Albania, as well as other countries of the Western Balkans aiming to join the geographical scope of SEPA. the near future.


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