ECSG board approves scope expansion

On 30 May 2022, the board members of the European Cards Stakeholder Group unanimously approved the decision to expand its scope.

In its current scope, the ECSG’s work covers the definition and description of SEPA Cards Standards for harmonising card payment and cash withdrawal services in Europe, for the benefit of all stakeholders. The ECSG’s main deliverable is the SEPA Cards Standardisation Volume (Books of requirements) maintained and published every three years (with intermediate Bulletins when required).

The ECSG’s new scope will include other forms of electronic SEPA-regulated retail payments initiated at a Point of Interaction (POI), such as Instant Payments, along with card payments.

Patrice Hertzog, ECSG Chair, states:?“The extension of the ECSG scope is a necessary step to integrate into the ECSG Volume new technical requirements to make e.g. instant payment solutions accessible at the POI in a way consistent with the existing requirements for card payments and to keep the Volume relevant for future payment services at the POI.”

The ECSG is focused on the Acceptance domain and it intends to keep this focus also under the extended scope covering the above-mentioned payment instruments. The ECSG, therefore, intends to fulfil within other payment instruments the same role currently executed in the card environment.

Changes to the ECSG’s legal structure and governance as a consequence of the extension of the scope will be communicated in due time.

The expansion is subject to the formal approval of the ECSG General Assembly later this year.