COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,update

 

Press material Thursday, 27 November 2025

● Council of the EU   27/11/2025 01:31 | Press release | Payment services: Council and Parliament agree to step up the fight against fraud and increase transparency   Today, the Council and the European Parliament reached a provisional political agreement to bolster the EU’s legislation on payment services. The aim of the new rules is to better fight payment fraud, boost transparency on fees, and increase consumer protection in the payment services sector. The upgrade will also help to promote technological innovation in this area. Today’s agreement creates a new payment services regulation and amends the existing payment services directive (PSD2) to create a modern framework for payments. Tackling payment fraud and increasing consumer protection The proposals aim to put in place a comprehensive anti-fraud framework that will help tackle increasingly common new forms of payment scams, such as so-called “spoofing fraud”. This occurs when fraudsters impersonate a customer's payment service provider (PSP) to gain trust and trick the user into carrying out fraudulent financial actions. Among other provisions, payment service providers will have to share fraud-related information between themselves. Payment account IBAN numbers will have to be checked against a corresponding bank account name before any transfer can take place, as is already the case for instant payment transfers taking place in euro. To further protect consumers, payment service providers will be held liable should they not fullfill their obligations in terms of using some of the preventive tools. Lastly, major online platforms and search engines may advertise financial services to consumers in a given member state only if the company providing those services is duly regulated and authorised within that member state. Boosting transparency and improving access to cash The new rules introduce more transparency for ATM transactions. Providers will be legally obliged to show the user all fees due and exchange rates applied before a transaction can take place. Similarly, companies providing card payment facilities to merchants will have to make clear the fees they charge for their services. Overall, EU consumers and businesses will have a much better overview of applicable fees and will be able to make more informed choices. Access to cash will be improved especially for people in rural areas who may not have easy access to an ATM. Under the new framework, retailers will be able to offer cash withdrawals without a purchase being made. To prevent abuse, such withdrawals will require chip and PIN technology and will be subject to a maximum withdrawal limit of €150 or equivalent in national currency. Finally, merchants must make sure that their normal trading name matches the name that appears on customers’ bank statements. This will help consumers to easily recognise charges on their accounts and reduce confusion. Technological innovation The new framework will also help to adapt the EU’s payment service landscape to new and innovative ways of making payments. Innovative service and information providers will be able to offer customers more useful and more modern payment services through improved access to bank account information. Next steps The Council and the European Parliament will continue working on the technical elements of the package before final adoption by the co-legislators.   Capital markets union explained (background information)   Visit the website

● Council of the EU

26/11/2025 19:33 | Meetings | Main results - Informal video conference of foreign affairs ministers, 26 November 2025   Foreign affairs ministers discussed the latest developments in the negotiations to end the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine and achieve a just and lasting peace for Ukraine.   View meeting page • Council of the EU ­ 26/011/2025 | MEETINGS  Background brief - Education, Youth, Culture and Sport Council of 27-28 November 2025 Education, Youth, Culture and Sport Council of 27-28 November 2025 Visit the website ● Council of the EU   26/11/2025 16:03 | Media advisory | Press briefing - Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council (Employment, social policy and health) of 1-2 December 2025   The press briefing ahead of the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council (Employment, social policy and health) will take place on Thursday, 27 November 2025 at 14.30. This briefing will be "off the record". The press briefing will take place in a hybrid format: EU accredited journalists will be able to participate and ask questions either remotely or in person at the Europa Building press room. To attend the event remotely, please use the link below to register and have the possibility to ask questions. Those who already registered for previous press events of the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council do not need to do it again. Deadline for registration: Thursday, 27 November 2025 at 13.30 Further instructions will be sent to all registered participants shortly after the deadline. Registration page Media accreditation for journalists   Visit the website • Council of the EU ­ 27/11/2025 | MEETINGS  Background brief - Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council of 1-2 December 2025 Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council of 1-2 December 2025 Visit the website