Instant clearing/settlement is in TARGET2 which is the ECB's vision for 2020.
Stupid high fees from uk banks, for example (we're talking a flat ~15€ per transaction)
For SEPA transfers? Are you sure you're not mixing it up with SWIFT transfers?
Like with anything else, you just need to use a provider that doesn't suck.
That was true up to 1/1/2018. Now the transfers take a couple of minutes in most cases. The frustrating thing is that it is now quicker for me to move money between say ABN-Amro in NL and some Polish or Romanian bank than it is to transfer between ABN-Amro in NL and a RABO or ING account in NL.