Maintaining Cash On Europe’s Agenda

At the Coin Conference in Lisbon Martina Horakova, Managing Director, International Mint Industry Association (IMIA), presented European Economic Area (EEA) legislations and proposals ‘in favour’ of cash access and acceptance.

The IMIA was established in June 2022 with seven mints and seven industry members. The IMIA promotes inclusive, democratic, resilient and sustainable cash and coin access and acceptance. It does this by publishing analytical and advisory research on cash infrastructure policies, bilateral cooperation and engagement with central banks, policymakers, and consumer and merchant associations.

Reviewing cash access and acceptance across Europe

The presentation gave an overview of new legislation being proposed relating to cash in Europe.

Netherlands

Access (draft law January 2024)

The proposal put forward focuses on access/deposit via ATMs, but not cash services at branches. The speaker highlighted that the proposal covers availability of ATMs with coins and banknotes depositing functionality (recyclers), and crucially the focus on ATMs capacity and functionality requirements (for example what is an acceptable level of being out-of-order).