The government is preparing legislation that will eliminate a series of fees charged for transactions using ATMs, National Economy and Finance Minister Kyriakos Pierrakakis announced on Monday, saying the relevant amendment will be tabled with the draft bill on the National Customs Code currently being discussed by a parliamentary committee.
The minister noted that the amendment will be a "deeply political action with a social impact" and serves as another proof that "the government acts for the benefit of society".
He clarified that the amendment will legally establish the free ATM transactions for bank customers that already exist, eliminate the charges imposed by banks for interbanking transactions (imposed even though they are part of the DIAS system) and impose a national 1.5-euro ceiling as the final sum for any other charges. 
In addition, the amendment will require that in any link between a bank and a third-party provider, the third-party provider will treat the bank customers as if it were the bank and make zero charges.
Furthermore, in municipal communities where there is only one ATM and it is stipulated that cash withdrawals from credit institutions are free of charge, this is extended to third-party providers. All charges for requesting a bank balance will be abolished, while for money transfers, whatever applies for banks will also apply for third-party providers and, lastly, the 0.5-euro charge for money transfers that applies for banks will also apply for third-party providers.
Pierrakakis said these measures will redress the issue that has arisen with the ATM fees charged by third-party providers, which arose after ATMs were sold by a bank to a company that then proceeded to impose unjustifiable fees on bank customers.
He stressed that this "is a situation that is unacceptable to the prime minister and the finance ministry. We expressed our disagreement from the start and disagreement means action."