An Armagh MLA has backed calls from his party’s MEPs who are urging the European Commission to take action on cross-border debit card charges.
Cathal Boylan made the comments as Sinn Féin MEP Martin Anderson asked the Commission whether any action can be taken to help alleviate this financial pressure.
“When people use debit cards in another jurisdiction they are frequently charged multiple times; for using their debit card, for the currency conversion, and for additional charges applied by some shops and businesses,” he said.
“This is a particular problem for people living along the border here who regularly face these charges.
“This is yet another example of partition failing communities.”
“The Commission told my colleague Martina Anderson that it is currently studying the responses from a consultation on a green paper on whether fees charged for cross-border transactions between EU member states with different currencies is excessive.
“I would urge the Commission to heed the calls of our MEPs and take action on this issue and help relieve the financial pressures on people in border communities.”
