Roundtables

The European Commission intends to transform consumers’ payment experience through its recently published Instant Payments Directive proposal by making instant payments widely available and affordable. Instant payments transfer credit in real time, thus fostering innovative payment solutions and releasing funds. They could contribute to the development of homegrown cross border European instant payment solutions.

Following the release of the EU Commission's second modified proposal for a Directive on Consumer Credit, the European Credit Research Institute (ECRI) organises on 2 February 2006 morning a Roundtable Discussion.

Credit reporting - the collection of financial information on households and companies - is crucial for the sound functioning of credit markets in Europe.However, credit reporting systems and information collections are still not harmonised.

Household indebtedness is rising all over Europe and especially fast in the new EU member countries. The household debt-to-assets ratio for the Euro area has reached historical levels with 33 percent in 2004 (European Central Bank, June 2006). Indebtedness continues to increase from already historical levels.