European Commission proposes Directive on payment accounts

08.05.2013:Commissioner for Internal Market and Services Michel Barnier said: "In today's world, not having access to a basic bank account makes everyday life difficult and more expensive. Today’s proposal will finally give all European citizens access to a basic bank account and enable them to participate fully in the society they live in and take advantage of the benefits of the Single Market. By making it easier to compare fees and change bank accounts, we also hope to see better offers from banks and lower costs. The proposal will also benefit the financial services industry by providing additional incentives to offer products cross-border and enter new markets."

http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-13-413_en.htm