In a response to the European Commission’s green paper on online payments “Towards an integrated European market for card, internet and mobile payments” the Ecommerce Europe, an association which represents companies selling products and/or services to consumers, has stated that Europe requires a broader variety of payment systems.

According to Wijnand Jongen, a representative of Ecommerce Europe, one of the biggest bottlenecks for online retailers in Europe is the lack of cross-border payment systems, especially the ones based on online banking.

Simply not enough consumers can pay this way. Innovation is the key. In the field of payment solutions, Europe is still a complete hodgepodge, when it comes to non-card payments, despite the fact that forming a common internal market is actually one of the most important objectives of the European Union. Internet usage and online sales are, by definition, cross-border activities. The least one might expect of Europe is that they provide an environment in which cross-border payment systems can flourish.

The association has also stated that it is time for measures to encourage providers to come up with innovative ideas for cross-border payment options, securely available to large masses of buyers. “Having numerous efficient payment solutions with large consumer reach would be in the interest of both online retailers and consumers. It would help boosting e-commerce in Europe.”

In its response to the European Commission, Ecommerce Europe has indicated what they regard as the right sequence of priorities.

The new lobby organisation fears that focusing on reducing costs only will not help to promote innovation in the field of payment transactions. At the same time, Ecommerce Europe hopes that the European Commission is taking the signs from the industry seriously.