MasterCard Encourages Dialogue to Ensure Innovation Continues to Drive Commerce in Europe
Waterloo, Belgium – 11 January 2012 – MasterCard, a leading payments innovator in Europe, supports the European Commission’s (EC) goal to expand electronic payments to help European businesses grow and consumers to shop easily and safely online, in-store and via their mobile device.
“The payments industry is dynamic and competitive and we support public dialogue on the critical role electronic payments play in commerce and society. This is even more important today as Europe continues on a journey towards economic recovery,” said Javier Perez, president of MasterCard Europe. “MasterCard is already working hard to encourage adoption of electronic payments in service to Europe’s economy. Greater use can help reduce the black economy, stimulate investment and improve efficiency, resulting in improved consumer and business confidence in tough times.”
A shift is underway as European consumers move from cash to more efficient forms of electronic payments. Payments online and via smartphones are also growing dramatically as consumers change the way they shop and pay. MasterCard’s leadership in contactless technology has seen huge take-up on MasterCard PayPass™ in the last year alone.
Many of today’s cards already in use by European consumers help them set limits on how they spend, help them decide where they want to spend, and help them use whatever online or offline technologies they want to use to pay. These opportunities for consumers to be in control of the way they pay were nearly unheard of when SEPA began. Europe was also the pioneer in creating safe and convenient new ways to pay such as EMV chip cards. These and many other innovations come from intense competition, and can only be supported with a sustainable business model.
“The payments sector needs to have a sustainable business model to fund innovations that will keep Europe ahead of the rest of the world. We expect that the consultation process started today will reveal just how much the way to pay in daily life has changed for everyone,” concluded Perez.
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Media
Louise Herbert, MasterCard Europe