The Estonian Payment Forum was set up in 2012 by a tripartite agreement between Eesti Pank, the Estonian Banking Association and the Ministry of Finance.

The Estonian Payment Forum works with market participants to support the balanced and sustainable development of the Estonian payment environment and its adjustment to changes in the international payments market.

The main roles of the Estonian Payment Forum are to

• raise general awareness of the payment services and solutions available in SEPA, the Single Euro Payments Area;

• give inputs and feedback in setting the joint positions for Estonian market participants towards pan-European initiatives;

• exchange information and experience to give a better understanding of the expectations of clients and to identify solutions for current bottlenecks;

• to issue guidelines that match client expectations and needs for improving and developing the payment environment in Estonia;

• involve market participants actively in designing payment services and solutions, so that consumers and businesses can use new payment services and payment solutions that operate effectively between banks.

Please note that to do its work more effectively, the Forum sometimes sets up temporary working groups of experts to focus on particular topics in depth.

The forum is led by Eesti Pank as a neutral participant, working closely with the Ministry of Finance and the Estonian Banking Association. The members of the forum are the banks and other payment service providers operating in Estonia; users of payment systems; stakeholder representatives including the public sector and business and trade organisations; and infrastructure companies. The Forum meets twice a year.

More detailed information about the Forum, including the topics discussed there and the participants, can be found in Estonian at www.pangaliit.ee/arveldused/eesti-maksekeskkonna-foorum [1].