TARGET Services’ operational activities are supported by several shared components. Known as common comments and including, for example, the Common Reference Data Management (CRDM) component, they make it easier to use TARGET Services as well as leveraging synergies and providing the services required for operations.

European Single Market Infrastructure Gateway (ESMIG) – a common gateway for TARGET Services

The Eurosystem Single Market Infrastructure Gateway, ESMIG for short, is the gateway for all users who want to access and communicate with TARGET Services. There are two access and communication options available: the first is a graphical user interface that enables users to create orders and obtain information (user-to-application (U2A) access). Alternatively, participants can establish communication between their own payment system applications and TARGET (application-to-application (A2A) access). Both channels use ESMIG as a central access point for the transmission of messages and the verification of the access rights required for this purpose. ESMIG is therefore very important for accessing and using all TARGET Services. In order to remain operational in the event of a disruption, ESMIG and the other TARGET Services use a range of business continuity measures. These ensure proper business operations even if something occurs that has a major impact on TARGET Services. ESMIG is operated in four computer centres and two regions in parallel (“two regions/four sites” approach) and uses various communication channels.

Common Reference Data Management (CRDM) – the shared data management component  for using TARGET Services

A common database for all TARGET Services enables participants to set up, update or delete individual reference data – also known as master data – centrally. The provision of the CRDM component therefore makes it easier for users to keep their own data up to date, particularly when using multiple TARGET Services, and to leverage synergies, as data only need to be recorded once. The configurations in the CRDM include key elements such as participants’ reference data (those of a credit institution or ancillary system, for instance) and elements for managing user access and authorisation rights, ordering reports and setting up standing orders to manage liquidity in the various TARGET Services. Each TARGET service uses the reference data that are relevant to it.

Data Warehouse (DWH) – yesterday’s data are still of interest tomorrow

The Data Warehouse provides users of the TARGET Services T2 and TARGET2-Securities with an extensive collection of historical data. It can thus be used to carry out independent research and to subscribe to reports in order to follow up on processes or to fulfil internal reporting requirements, for example. Users have access to multiple reports, which they can call up if necessary or subscribe to in order to receive them on a regular basis.

Business day schedule

Business days are broadly harmonised across TARGET Services. For T2 and TARGET2-Securities, these are usually Monday to Friday, while TIPS is available for real-time credit transfers around the clock every day of the year, including weekends. Business days on which TARGET2-Securities and/or T2 are closed (public holidays) can be found in the Calendar of public holidays in Germany. 
Business days in T2 and TARGET2-Securities start after the change of business day, at 18:45, and are therefore not the same as calendar days. TIPS uses the same business day for its operations as T2 and TARGET2-Securities; however, in TIPS, the new business day starts from 18:00, directly after the previous business day ends, and thus earlier than in T2 and TARGET2-Securities. Its start therefore also deviates from that of a calendar day.
T2 and TARGET2-Securities have a single mandatory maintenance window (Saturday 02:30 to Monday 02:30) and an optional maintenance window (Tuesday to Friday, 03:00 to 05:00). 

Other documents and downloads

The following documents are valid for all TARGET Services.