In 2013, the banks significatly increased their information and assistance initiatives to prepare for the deadline of 1 February, 2014, the date set by European institutions for the changeover to the SEPA format of all transfer and direct debit transactions in the SEPA area.
The swift adoption of the European regulation setting a date for completion of the migration to SEPA is essential for the mobilisation of all players. In France, the proportion of SEPA instruments is slowly increasing.
French banks made available the SEPA direct debit in November 2010. The European Commission is proposing deadlines for the end of migration to SEPA.
The transposition of the payment-services directive has ushered in a new legal framework for payments in France.
At its meeting hold on 3 June 2010, the national SEPA Committee analysed the progress of the migration of France to SEPA. As far as the SEPA Credit Transfer (SCT) is concerned, the take-up of public administrations is going on as planned.
The French banking sector, represented by Comité Français d'Organisation et de Normalisation Bancaire (CFONB), together with the German banking industry associations represented in the Zentraler Kreditausschuss (ZKA), have today signed a cooperation agreement on the joint use of a new communication protocol for financial transactions on the internet, marking a further step towards enhancing the corporate-to-bank relationship.