European Parliament Moves Towards Common Rules for Card Payments

Credit Cards Mobile Payment Systems

On November 20, the European Parliament adopted a nonbinding resolution calling for the development of common rules and standards for personal credit and debit card payments. The resolution explains that such rules would bring the card payment market “closer to its full potential and efficiency.” The Members of Parliament called on the European Commission to develop the legislative proposals needed to extend the current single Euro payments area (SEPA) regulation, which governs euro credit and direct debit transactions among banks, to the market for card, internet and mobile payments, but cautioned that lawmakers should avoid regulating the internet and mobile payment market too heavily, so as not to hinder its growth and innovation. The resolution also claims that current fees for handling card payments are high relative to the costs they need to cover, but does not call for caps. Finally, the resolution states that minimum security requirements for card, internet and mobile payments should be the same in all EU member states.