Oversight of Financial Market Infrastructures, other infrastructures and service providers
The oversight of payment and securities settlement systems is an activity delegated to central banks for the purpose of promoting financial stability. It consists in making sure that payment and settlement systems function smoothly and ensuring that the systems are efficient and sound. The Bank’s Organic Law (Article 8) and the Treaty establishing the European Community both recognise the legal prerogatives of the Bank in this regard.
Oversight by the Bank covers two activities: developing standards within international fora – primarily at the level of the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) and the European System of Central Banks (ESCB) – and ensuring that the systems concerned comply with those standards in practice.
Financial market infrastructures (FMI's), other infrastructures and service providers subject to the Bank’s oversight include:
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Payment systems, card schemes and processors of payment operations: TARGET2, Centre for Clearing and Exchange (CEC), CLS, Bancontact, MasterCard Europe, Maestro, Mastercard Clearing Management System, Worldline SA/NV, equensWorldline SE.
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Securities clearing and settlement systems: central counterparties (CCPs), central securities depositories (CSDs) (NBB-SSS, Euroclear Belgium) and the international CSD (ICSD) Euroclear Bank.
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Other infrastructures and service providers: TARGET2-Securities, SWIFT
For the FMIs and service providers established in Belgium, which are systemically relevant in other jurisdictions, the Bank has established formal cooperation with other authorities.
The Bank’s role in oversight of financial market infrastructures, other infrastructures and service providers
See Financial Market and Payment Services Report - The Bank’s role in oversight and prudential supervision of financial market infrastructures, custodians, payment service providers and critical service providers