In a written answer on 31 July 2026, Commissioner Albuquerque, on behalf of the European Commission, pushed back against calls for a stricter EU framework on bank and digital platform fees, arguing that existing and forthcoming legislation already ensures transparency without prescribing fee levels. Responding to a parliamentary question from Loucas Fourlas (PPE), the Commissioner outlined a patchwork of measures—ranging from the Payment Accounts Directive to the upcoming Payment Services Regulation and the Digital Fairness Act—that she said collectively address consumer concerns about opaque charges and unfair practices. The answer signals that the Commission sees the current regulatory architecture as sufficient, focusing on transparency and comparability rather than on capping or harmonising the actual fees charged to consumers.
The question, tabled by Fourlas, highlighted rising complaints across Member States about excessive bank fees, opaque online transaction charges, and digital platform practices that burden consumers, particularly amid a high cost of living. The Commissioner's reply did not announce new proposals but instead catalogued existing and upcoming rules. She noted that the Payment Services Regulation, agreed by co-legislators and soon to be published in the Official Journal, will add transparency on currency conversion charges, including for domestic ATM withdrawals. She also pointed to the Instant Payments Regulation, which requires fees for euro instant credit transfers to be no higher than those for regular transfers, and to the new Consumer Credit Directive (CCD2), which obliges Member States to introduce measures against excessively high borrowing rates, such as caps. These references build on a series of legislative acts adopted over the past two years, including the CCD2 (adopted October 2023) and the updated distance marketing rules (adopted November 2023), which started applying on 19 June 2026.
the Commission prefers targeted transparency and anti-discrimination rules over a broad, prescriptive fee-control regime. It highlights the upcoming Digital Fairness Act as the main vehicle for strengthening consumer protection in digital financial services, though it offers no timeline or specific measures. For consumers, the practical impact is moderate—they gain clearer information and some protections against discriminatory pricing, but no guarantee of lower fees. Banks and payment service providers face continued compliance obligations under multiple directives, but avoid the more intrusive fee caps that some consumer groups have advocated. National authorities, tasked with enforcing the new rules, will need to adapt to the staggered application dates, while the Commission's stance may disappoint those seeking a more aggressive intervention in pricing. The answer leaves the door open for the Digital Fairness Act to introduce further safeguards, but for now, the Commission's position is one of measured continuity rather than regulatory overhaul.