Solutions from Ukraine: Parliament supports draft law on Ukraine's preparation for SEPA integration
A total of 249 MPs voted in favor of the decision.
Ukraine is actively striving to achieve full membership in the European Union, making structural economic and financial alignment a critical priority. Integrating the national financial system into EU standards remains an essential step in this process, and joining SEPA is a major practical move toward seamless integration into the European single market.
The draft law provides for the creation of the necessary conditions to execute international transfers in euros under common rules that apply across all SEPA member countries. Thanks to this, such operations are expected to proceed:
Beyond changes related to international payments, the document provides for strengthening control over the transparency and integrity of financial institution owners.
Special attention during the consideration of the draft law was paid to the issue of law enforcement agencies gaining access to Ukrainians' banking information.
As European Pravda writes, MP from the European Solidarity party Iryna Herashchenko reported on her Facebook page that the faction succeeded in introducing a provision into the document restricting the circle of agencies that will have access to the unified register of Ukrainians' accounts and bank safe deposit boxes.
According to her, following discussions in the relevant committee, MPs added an amendment to the draft law. It stipulates that only the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU), the Asset Recovery and Management Agency (ARMA), and the Bureau of Economic Security of Ukraine (BEB) will be able to obtain access to banking information when proper grounds exist.
"This provision complies with European directives. Without this amendment, the hall [present MPs – ed.] would not have supported the European integration draft laws," Herashchenko noted.
Background
The Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA) is a common payment space within which international transfers between member countries are carried out under unified rules. In terms of speed, cost, and predictability, such operations are practically no different from domestic payments in their respective countries.
Ukraine's preparation for SEPA accession forms part of its European integration commitments. In addition, passing draft law No. 14327-d represents one of the key conditions for receiving international financial assistance from the European Union and the World Bank.
Joining the single payment space is expected to allow Ukrainians and businesses to reduce costs on international transfers significantly. According to provided estimates, potential savings could reach 10 billion hryvnias annually.
It should be noted that the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyi, recently signed a law providing for the phased restoration of competitive selection for civil service and local government positions. The document also aims to improve procedures for entering the civil service, advancing careers, and terminating service relationships.
It was also reported that the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Social Policy and Protection of Veterans' Rights reviewed MPs' amendments and supported the government's draft law on the introduction of Basic Social Assistance (BSA) for its second reading.
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10 of November 2026
