The Financial Stability Board (FSB) recently published a public consultation on global targets for addressing the four challenges of cross-border payments. The quantitative targets proposed are a foundational step in the G20 Roadmap for Enhancing Cross-border Payments, which was endorsed by G20 Leaders in November 2020. The proposed targets set goals for improving cost, speed, transparency and access for cross-border payments in the coming years through the actions taken under the Roadmap. They will play an important role in defining the ambition of the work and creating accountability. They are intended to provide a common vision for the improvements that are being sought in cross-border payments services through the collaborative work of the private and public sectors. These targets are being set in an inclusive manner, including through this public consultation.
The proposed targets have been developed so that they are directly related to the challenges, provide a clear indication of the extent of progress, are appropriately ambitious, can be readily communicated, and are meaningful to a wide range of stakeholders. They are designed to be a small number of high-level, simple targets focused on end-users. Targets are proposed across three market segments: wholesale payments; retail payments (involving non-financial corporates or public sector entities as payers or receivers and person-to-person (P2P) payments other than remittances); and remittances.
The FSB proposes end-2027 as a common target date for achieving the individual targets, with the exception of the remittance cost target, where a 2030 date has already been set within the United Nations Sustainable Development Group Goal (UN SDG) and endorsed by the G20. Progress towards meeting the targets will be monitored and publicly reported over time.
The FSB is inviting comments on the proposed targets and the questions set out. By the time of the October final report setting the targets, the FSB will also develop an implementation approach for monitoring the targets that will set out:
- how targets will be measured and data sources and data gaps to be filled;
- how progress towards meeting the targets will be monitored; and
- the frequency of data collection and publication.
The public consultation period closes on Friday 16 July 2021. The final recommendations, taking on board feedback from the public consultation, will be delivered for endorsement at the G20 Summit in October 2021 and published.
Source: FSB
