Ladies and gentlemen, this conference has sent a clear message: All market players – providers, central banks and regulators – are fully committed to delivering on the vision of thriving, future-proof, safe and efficient European payment markets that serve their users well. They also understand that a new mindset and high speed are needed to achieve this goal.
This practice is widely followed in the banking sector: in the United States some recent mega-mergers have been waved through subject to the mandatory disposal of assets equivalent to between 5 and 13 per cent of the deposits acquired. The banking industry still has several distinctive features, especially as regards the taking of deposits and the granting of loans.