>>In fact: if the english bank account is a Euro-account, then no conversion is required (and no additional costs are raised). But
>>usually a private bank account is not based on a foreign currency...

I am in england, and hold a euro bank account.


The legislation people are talking about is this -

http://ec.europa.eu/internal_market/payments/crossborder/index_en.htm

"The basic principle is that the charges for payment transactions offered by a payment service provider (e.g. your bank) have to be
the same whether the payment is national or cross-border."

Banks in england have to transfer Sterling transfers to foreign accounts without charge (but then the foreign bank will charge for
taking the payment), however, the 'get-out' clause is that no UK bank (that i have found) will transfer euros between accounts
without charge, be it within the UK or cross border.

...so their fees for euro transfers are no greater cross-border (thereby compling with the legislation) but are huge anyhow (thereby
doing as banks normally do...)

Julian