MEP Markéta Gregorová (Verts/ALE) has asked the European Commission whether Euronet ATM practices — including confusing fee displays, dynamic withdrawal amounts, and blocking euro withdrawals for euro account holders — violate EU consumer protection rules. The practices, she argues, may constitute unfair commercial practices under the Unfair Commercial Practices Directive (UCPD) and breach transparency requirements of the Cross-Border Payments Regulation.
In a parliamentary question submitted on 8 June 2026, Gregorová cited independent user reports showing that Euronet ATMs use 'dark patterns' to steer consumers into costly choices. Specifically, the machines display a misleading 'total amount' that does not reflect actual charges, adapt pre-defined withdrawal amounts based on the card's country and currency, and present the least favourable options first. Additionally, users with euro accounts are sometimes denied the option to withdraw euros, forcing them to accept conversion fees.
whether these practices comply with Articles 5, 6, and 7 of the UCPD on misleading and unfair commercial practices; whether the dynamic withdrawal amounts and denial of euro withdrawals distort consumer behaviour under Article 5(2)(b); and whether the fee information meets the clarity and accessibility standards of the Cross-Border Payments Regulation.
The Commission is expected to reply within approximately six weeks. The answer will signal whether the EU executive views the practices as a potential enforcement priority or a matter for national authorities. If the Commission finds violations, it could trigger coordinated action by consumer protection authorities under the Consumer Protection Cooperation Regulation.
Gregorová's question targets a specific business practice affecting travellers and expatriates who rely on Euronet ATMs abroad. The outcome could set a precedent for how EU law applies to digital interfaces in physical point-of-sale machines, with implications for ATM operators, banks, and consumers across the single market.