European MI projects - Single Market Infrastructure Gateway (ESMIG) and EURO1

Eurosystem changes 

The Eurosystem’s TARGET Services include TARGET2 (the real-time gross settlement (RTGS) system for settling payments), T2S (the securities settlement platform) and TIPS (the service for instant payments settlement). All of them settle in central bank money.  

TARGET consolidation is a project launched by the Eurosystem to consolidate TARGET2 and T2S, in terms of both technical and functional aspects. The objective is to meet changing market demands by replacing TARGET2 with a new real-time gross settlement (RTGS) system and optimising liquidity management across all TARGET Services. The new RTGS system will offer the market enhanced and modernised services. TARGET2 will migrate to ISO 20022 messaging (T2S and TIPS already use ISO 20022 messages). 

 This will be a “big bang” migration, scheduled for November 2022. 

 The Eurosystem will introduce a number of other components that will be shared across all TARGET Services: 

• A harmonised interface – the Eurosystem single market infrastructure gateway (ESMIG) – will make it easier for participants to access and use the Eurosystem's services from a single entry point. 

• Common reference data will reduce the effort required to create and maintain multiple copies of reference data and will centralise the management of user access rights. 

• A common data warehouse will make it possible for participants to access historic information. 

• A common billing system will help the Eurosystem optimise its operational costs. 

EBA CLEARING changes 

EBA CLEARING has also announced changes to its euro payment systems. 

The EURO1 high value payment system will also migrate to a V-shape full  ISO 20022 model in the same timeframe as TARGET2 and as closely aligned with TARGET2 as possible so as to ensure continued interoperability between the two systems. Swift will continue to be the only Network Service Provider for EURO1.   

A new settlement model will be introduced for STEP2, the main pan-European batch low value payments (SEPA ACH), and investment will continue in RT1, EBA CLEARING’s pan-European Instant Payment platform.   

A new central liquidity dashboard will provide real-time view on liquidity limits and balances across EBA CLEARING’s different services. 

Onboarding with Swift for ESMIG U2A-only customers 

ESMIG participants that are new to Swift will go through a simplified onboarding process and will follow these 5 steps to become a Swift connected customer: 

How can I apply? 

1. Start the joining process and get a BIC 

2. Subscribe to Swift’s solution for ESMIG 

3. Implement and connect to ESMIG U2A 

4. Test ESMIG U2A and comply with CSP 

5. Go live 

Getting Started guide 

Read our Getting Started guide and find more about the registration requirements and joining process to use Swift for ESMIG. 

Download guide

Access your application 

Use the tool to easily follow up on your registration application.

Onboarding tool

Optional support 

The service is configured as an ‘off-the shelf’ service without the need to adapt your IT-infrastructure. Therefore, this service comes without any mandatory consulting service for the implementation of the U2A-only access. 

However, a consulting package can be requested as an optional service to support the customers in any step of their implementation of the U2A-only connectivity to ESMIG: onboarding to Swift, service ordering, certificates and token activation, USB token driver activation, etc. 

Contact us 

If your institution is not connected to Swift yet and you would like to connect to ESMIG, get in touch with your local Swift representative. 

If you don't find the information you're looking for or if have any question in the meantime, please contact us at eu.payment.evolution@swift.com