Today, the European Digital Payments Industry Alliance (EDPIA), representing independent Payment Services Providers (PSPs) headquartered in Europe, is holding its first conference to discuss the future of the Digital Payments Industry in Europe.

EDPIA believes in the value of a strong European policy framework that enables intense competition between a variety of market-based solutions. It also supports Europe’s ambition to become a leader in the digital payments industry by bringing payments closer to EU citizens, businesses, and public bodies.

ENGAGING AT A CRITICAL TIME FOR DIGITAL PAYMENTS

Following the accelerated shift in both consumer behaviour and the market during the pandemic, and at a time when the legislative agenda is particularly full, EDPIA wants to bring together European policymakers, banking, consumer and payment industry representatives to discuss the most important current issues.

During today’s conference, Mr Thierry Breton (Commissioner for the Internal Market), Mr Paolo Gentiloni, (Commissioner for Economy), Mr Holger Neuhaus (Head of Unit at DG Market Infrastructure and Payments, ECB), Mr Eric Ducoulombier (DG FISMA), Mr Hrvoje Cosic (CEO of Aircash), and Ms Rita Camporeale (European Banking Federation) and Jean Allix, (The European Consumer Organisation) will share their expertise and knowledge of the European Digital Payments industry. It will be an opportunity to discuss critical issues such as:

• The role of a Digital Euro and the recent Commission public consultation to which EDPIA has answered.
• The revision of the Payment Services Directive (PSD2) and the recent Commission Consultation, with EDPIA supporting European competitiveness on the global stage, whilst ensuring sufficient levels of consumer protection. EDPIA is currently working on a response to this consultation.
• The upcoming proposal on Instant Payments, is expected to accelerate the EU-wide uptake of SEPA Instant Credit Transfer as the EU seeks to make instant the “new normal”. EDPIA also participated in the target public consultations closed last year.

Several other policy topics such as the Interchange Fee Regulation, the Artificial Intelligence Act, the Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA), the Markets in Crypto Assets Regulation (MIDA), the European Digital ID framework, anti-money laundering legislation, the European Chips Act and the Data Act remain on EDPIA’s radar. You can read more about the EDPIA’s commitments here. its expertise, EDPIA is now part of technical working groups monitored by the EU bodies as ERPB and PSMEG.

A NEW LEADERSHIP FOR EDPIA

The conference will also welcome Bo Nilsson (Board Member of Nexi Group and former CEO of Nets Group), taking over from Gilles Grapinet (CEO of Worldline) as the new President of EDPIA for the coming year.

Bo Nilsson joined Nets Group as CFO in 2013 before being appointed Group CEO in 2014. He now sits as a board member in Nexi Group after the two companies merged in 2021, and he will continue working to drive reliable digital payments in Europe as President of EDPIA.