An efficient payments system infrastructure is a prerequisite for a successful retail sector. In many member states, retailers do not currently have access to efficient payment systems and their businesses and customers suffer as a result through higher, undue bank charges. SEPA provides an opportunity to allow the most efficient and low cost payment systems become available to retailers and consumers across the EU.
The final objective of this paper is to avoid a situation where, from the start of SEPA, the card payments market is foreclosed to new payment models that are simpler and less costly than those presently envisaged by European Payments Council (EPC) and its members.
In addition, we would like to insist that this wish-list should be seen as a whole. Some of these expectations, taken separately, would not have the desired effect of achieving a real Single Market for Payments.
1. Retailers would like to get a SMART roadmap for SEPA
2. Involvement of users and transparency of the decision-making process
3. SEPA must allow for enhanced competition
4. Transparency and cost-based fees
5. Increased efficiency
6. Lower prices
7. Buying the most efficient payment services: real cross-border acquiring
8. Developing a basic payment service
9. Public open standards vs. privately owned open standards
10. SEPA achievements should be monitored
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