European Card Schemes Combine on the Euro Alliance Of Payment Schemes

Six European card payment schemes have joined together to establish the Euro Alliance of Payment Schemes (EAPS). Based in Brussels, the new company will facilitate pan-European transactions. The new company claims that cardholders will be able to use their cards at more places throughout Europe, while retailers will gain better opportunities for card acceptance under the uniform EAPS acceptance mark. Initial pilot transactions have been completed, and rollout in the countries of the participating EAPS partners will begin on 1 January 2008. The founders of EAPS are Belgian-based Eufiserv, EPCS from Germany, Italian card operator CO.GE.BAN, Sociedade Interbancaria de Servicos from Portugal, Spain’s EURO 6000 payment scheme, and LINK Interchange Network from the UK. EAPS is also welcoming payment schemes that are committed to the requirements of the SEPA Cards Framework of the European Payments Council (EPC) to join.

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