# Ukraine takes step toward joining European payments network with anti-graft law

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/ukraine-takes-step-toward-joining-european-payments-network-with-anti-graft-law/
- Published: 2026-11-10T12:44:26+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-10T22:11:07+00:00
- Original publisher: Kyiv Independent
- Original article: https://kyivindependent.com/ukraine-takes-step-toward-joining-european-payments-network-with-anti-graft-law/
- Topics: Europe, World

## Key points

- Parliament backed the bill in its first reading with 249 votes.
- Ukraine needs further approval to pursue SEPA membership.
- SEPA could save Ukrainians Hr 10 billion annually.

## Summary

Ukraine’s parliament has backed an anti-money laundering bill in its first reading, a step towards joining the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA), which enables faster, cheaper euro transfers. The move would bring Ukrainian rules closer to EU standards, but the bill must still pass a second reading and receive President Volodymyr Zelensky’s signature.

The bill received 249 votes and would establish a register showing which banks hold a person’s accounts or safe-deposit boxes, without revealing balances, transactions or contents. Access would initially be limited to three agencies: the Bureau of Economic Security, the National Agency for the Prevention of Corruption and the Asset Recovery and Management Agency. Ukraine aims to secure approval by the end of December; joining SEPA would allow domestic-style euro transfers to 41 countries and could save Ukrainians Hr 10 billion ($220 million) a year.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.