Europe is intensifying its efforts to establish a sovereign retail payment system, aiming to reduce reliance on US-based financial technology giants and bolster its financial independence. The push, gaining momentum in , reflects growing concerns over the dominance of American companies in a critical piece of financial infrastructure and the potential geopolitical risks associated with that dependence.
For years, the European Union has struggled to create a unified payment system to rival Visa and Mastercard. Past attempts have faltered due to market fragmentation and a lack of a viable business model for banks. However, the emergence of private stablecoins and the increasing influence of US payment providers have injected new urgency into the matter. According to a paper released in by Philippe J. Lefebvre, a former EU Commission official, the eurozone’s reliance on foreign card payment schemes poses a “critical threat to Europe’s financial sovereignty.”
The core issue is control. While the euro functions as a common currency, the infrastructure that processes most retail payments – the systems that authorize credit and debit card transactions – remains largely in the hands of US companies. This creates vulnerabilities, as these companies are subject to US laws, potentially allowing for extra-territorial application of those laws and impacting European businesses and citizens. The dependence also stifles innovation and inflates costs, as EU merchants pay fees to US-based processors.
One key initiative is the European Payments Initiative (EPI), launched in by 31 major European banks. The EPI aims to create a unified EU payment system, though details of its implementation and market penetration remain to be seen. The current focus is shifting towards a more interventionist approach, with calls for EU legislation to establish a sovereign retail payment system that would coexist with existing systems.
The European Central Bank (ECB) is also playing a crucial role. Piero Cipollone, a member of the ECB’s Executive Board, emphasized in a speech that strong payment systems are integral to monetary and financial integration. The ECB’s work on the digital euro is intended to provide a risk-free settlement asset and support the development of a more resilient European payment ecosystem. Cipollone highlighted that a strong currency requires strong payment systems to ensure transactions are secure, risk-free, and European.
The challenge lies in overcoming the existing network effects enjoyed by established players like Visa and Mastercard. Simply creating a new system isn’t enough; it needs to be widely adopted by merchants and consumers to be effective. Lefebvre’s paper proposes a “unified” EU payment scheme encompassing existing national payment schemes, branded with a strong EU-wide identity, and capable of supporting a range of modern payment methods, including cards, peer-to-peer transfers, the digital euro, and potentially stablecoins.
The proposed solution doesn’t necessarily require duplicating existing EU-based private infrastructure. Instead, it could leverage existing national acquiring infrastructures, reducing costs and accelerating implementation. However, significant investment and coordination will be required to integrate these disparate systems and create a seamless pan-European payment experience.
The broader context is a growing global trend towards financial sovereignty. Countries are increasingly recognizing the strategic importance of controlling their own financial infrastructure, particularly in the digital age. The desire to reduce dependence on US technology companies is not unique to Europe; similar initiatives are underway in other parts of the world.
The situation echoes, in some ways, the Eurozone crisis of – , where concerns about debt sustainability and financial stability prompted significant intervention from European institutions. While the current challenge is different in nature, it shares a common thread: the need for greater European integration and self-reliance in a rapidly changing global landscape. The stakes are high, as the future of European payments – and, potentially, its financial sovereignty – hangs in the balance.
The Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA) has also highlighted the issue, framing it as Europe’s new sovereignty target, specifically focusing on the influence of US payment giants. This underscores the strategic importance of the issue beyond purely economic considerations.
