The European Payment Council (EPC) published its quarterly newsletter (issue 26) on 28 April. The newsletter addresses the trends that the EPC expects will shape the future of payments in Europe and around the world.

Highlights from the newsletter include:

• The way forward for the Single Euro Payments Area (Sepa). Javier Santamaría, Chair of the EPC, sets out the organisation's new governance model, which became operational in April 2015, and explains how its role of managing the Sepa Direct Debit (SDD) and Sepa Credit Transfer (SCT) schemes will be structured in future.
• How soon will we see instant euro payments across the EU? An article from the European Central Bank explains how work on a solution, advocated by the Euro Retail Payments Board, for instant payments in euro on a Europe-wide level is currently progressing.
• Improving US payments. Connie Theien of the Federal Reserve System outlines a multi-faceted plan to enhance the speed, safety and efficiency of the US payment system.
• 'Down Under' gets ready for the digital economy. Chris Hamilton of the Australian Payments Clearing Association introduces Australia’s new payments platform.