In a natural succession to the previous term of SIBS, Teresa Mesquita was unanimously elected in a well-received vote, reflecting the recognition of EMPSA, as well as the European Payments Alliance (EuroPA), for the competence of the work carried out by SIBS and its leadership in developing European-based solutions and technology.

For a two-year term, Teresa Mesquita now chairs this association, which includes 12 European payment systems across 15 countries, representing more than 110 million users, hundreds of European payment service providers, and processing more than 8.2 billion transactions in 2024.

In the current geopolitical and economic landscape, EMPSA occupies a key position in driving European payment sovereignty, building bridges between stakeholders, legislators, and European regulators to facilitate a future of transnational-scale payments. Its role is fundamental to enabling cooperation and interoperability among existing and emerging European private solutions—developed by Europeans, for Europeans.

Throughout her term, Teresa Mesquita will take on the responsibility of, in close coordination with other EMPSA members and within her institutional representation, actively contributing to deepening the dialogue with European co-legislators, the European Central Bank, and other relevant stakeholders. This work aims to promote a coherent regulatory framework that fosters innovation, grounded in the enhancement of existing infrastructures and private European solutions. At the same time, the goal is to stimulate investment and support the development of a more integrated, sovereign, and competitive European payments market, aligned with the European Union’s strategic objectives in financial services and digital autonomy.