Conferences

Data sharing between lenders is commonly acknowledged to be one of the core ingredients of successful credit markets. The aim of this CEPS-ECRI lunchtime meeting is to exchange views on the existing rules for data sharing in EU credit markets and to consider how they might be improved. Among other topics of discussion will be whether more comprehensive data is beneficial for credit markets and whether this applies to both traditional credit data and non-traditional data.

This full-day conference, jointly organised by CEPS-ECRI and the European Commission, Directorate General for Justice and Consumers, aims at exchanging views on the functioning of the existing rules for consumer credit and discussing possible improvements. Among others, the conference will cover the role of consumer credit in the economy, the scope of application of existing rules, the effectiveness of information disclosure and the model of responsible lending in the digital era.

In response to the growing popularity of electronic payments, legislative security requirements have been strengthened with the Payment Service Directive 2 (PSD2) and the accompanying Regulatory Technical Standards (RTS). From September 2019, two-factor authentication will be the norm for contactless card payments above EUR 50 and remote payments above EUR 30. This challenges payment service providers to come-up with innovative solutions that meet safety requirements and are easy to use for consumers.

The ratio of EU household debt to disposable income rose in 2017. Albeit small, this increase was the first noted in six years. In that context, several observers are already warning of a possible upward risk of household over-indebtedness in the coming years. While it is too early to assess if this risk will materialise, a review of the effectiveness of existing rules aimed at tackling the issue should give us a better understanding of whether further policy actions are needed.

CEPS-ECMI-ECRI Annual Conference on Fintech

The pace of data-driven innovation is accelerating in financial services. The promise of benefit for both firms and clients will become reality as long as the right policies and enablers are in place. To help meet that challenge, CEPS, ECRI and ECMI are jointly organising their Annual Conference on “Data, Innovation and Regulation in Finance: Finding the right balance!” 

In recent years, there has been much hype that banks will soon experience a dramatic loss of market shares. Too slow and too old-fashioned for the ever-changing digital era, they could be overwhelmed by fintech start-ups and tech giants. The CEPS-ECRI report on “Cost and value in banks: a model fit for the digital era?” reveals a rather more nuanced picture. Retail and corporate banks do have to cope with legacy issues that impede their efficiency and reactivity. In particular, different norms within groups are still used for accountancy, cost allocation systems and product hierarchies.

CEPS-ECRI conference in cooperation with BEUC and EFIN.

The aim of the conference is to explore, from the perspective of financial inclusion, both the potential risks and benefits for everyone in society of innovations in financial services products and delivery systems, encompassing big data and fintech. The underlying question is whether regulators should act in anticipation of these developments, and if so, what actions will best guarantee a positive outcome, without stifling innovation.

Each of the panels will focus on the following three questions: