The Eurosystem is inviting payment service providers and automated clearing houses involved in cross-border retail payments to express interest in joining a new TARGET Instant Payment Settlement (TIPS) cross-border market contact group. Applications close on 15 November 2026.
The initiative is a stakeholder-engagement exercise, not a new regulation, supervisory requirement or guarantee of membership. The European Central Bank published the invitation on 16 October 2026.
What the contact group will do
The ECB says the group will support dialogue and collaboration between market participants and the Eurosystem as TIPS cross-border services develop. It will provide feedback to the Market Infrastructure Board on business value, functional design, testing and operation.
The invitation is aimed at representatives of payment service providers and automated clearing houses involved in cross-border retail payments. Interested organisations must use the application form linked from the official notice and send it to the ECB email address specified there.
How applications will be assessed
The Eurosystem says it will consider applicants' expertise, involvement in cross-border payment initiatives, and current or planned participation in TIPS cross-border services. Places will be limited, and applicants are expected to be informed of the outcome after the deadline.
The first meeting is scheduled for the first quarter of 2027. The notice does not state that any particular organisation is eligible or likely to be selected.
What the invitation means for payment firms
For organisations already involved in relevant cross-border payment initiatives, the immediate decision is whether the contact group fits their expertise, operating plans and capacity to contribute. That is an internal participation decision, not a regulatory obligation.
Joining the group would involve stakeholder dialogue. It would not amount to regulatory approval of an applicant or its services, and the invitation does not require payment providers generally to participate.
Status and source
The official notice was published on 16 October 2026. The application deadline is 15 November 2026, and the first meeting is scheduled for Q1 2027.
This article provides general information, not legal or regulatory advice. Eligibility and selection are matters for the Eurosystem under the published process.