EU T+1 roadmap published – firms urged to start preparing now

The EU T+1 Industry Committee has finalised and published its high-level roadmap for shortening the settlement cycle to T+1, setting 11 October 2027 as the target date for implementation across the EU and EEA.

The roadmap, five months in the making, sets out industry-developed recommendations to help firms prepare for the transition. While not legally binding, the document is intended as a practical reference point for market participants to start assessing system changes, operational impacts, and budget needs.

Focus on automation

The shift to T+1 will require sweeping operational adjustments, particularly in areas still reliant on manual processes. “A key theme throughout this report is the imperative to enhance automation and eliminate manual interventions across all stages of the post-trade lifecycle,” said Giovanni Sabatini, the committee’s independent chair. Sabatini already mentioned the roadmap in his interview with PostTrade 360° a few weeks earlier, when he talked about T+1 and the October 2027 deadline.

With global markets moving in parallel, including the UK and Switzerland, the EU’s roadmap is designed to keep the region in sync with international developments. The committee has also shared the report with the EU T+1 Coordination Committee, the overarching governance body for the initiative.

Don’t miss the chance to meet Giovanni in Stockholm during the 3–4 September PostTrade 360° 2025 conference – register today! He will be a panellist on this main hall session about where Europe’s T+1 will go. You take part free of charge (except if you are marketing a vendor that is not a sponsor).

Industry event

To mark the release, the committee is hosting a virtual event on 3 July to present the roadmap and open the floor to questions from the industry.

“This publication marks the kick-off of a complex process,” said Sabatini, urging all market participants to review the recommendations and begin planning their transition efforts. The roadmap is available through the websites of the relevant industry associations and via ESMA’s T+1 transition hub.