In cooperation with the National Bank of the Republic of North Macedonia, the Economic Chamber organized a workshop for the business community focused on the practical aspects and challenges related to the implementation of SEPA payments.

The objective of the event was to familiarize companies with the new conditions and procedures for executing cross-border euro payments, as well as with the concrete benefits stemming from the country’s membership in the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA). This was the first workshop of its kind dedicated exclusively to the business sector and was attended by more than 60 companies, predominantly from the export-import sector. For these companies, SEPA is of particular importance, given that the largest share of foreign trade and financial transactions is conducted with countries within the SEPA zone.

The workshop forms part of the Economic Chamber ongoing activities aimed at informing and supporting companies in the process of adapting to new EU standards in payment transactions, following the operational accession of domestic banks to SEPA. In addition to presentations on the practical aspects of SEPA payments, the event also enabled an open discussion with participating companies, facilitating the exchange of experiences and the identification of specific challenges they face in their day-to-day operations.

During the discussion, it was emphasized that SEPA enables faster, cheaper, and more transparent euro payments, with predictable costs and simplified procedures. Through SEPA payments, companies can achieve up to eight times lower fees for outgoing payments, as well as three times lower fees for incoming payments in the amount of EUR 20,000, compared to previous SWIFT/correspondent banking transfers. This represents a significant cost saving for companies that regularly trade with European Union countries such as Germany, Italy, Austria, Greece, and others, and directly contributes to improved liquidity management and enhanced competitiveness in international markets.