This EIF breakfast debate aims to look both at the barriers and at the innovative and regulatory solutions that can help the development of online payments and e-signatures across the EU.
Figures in the European Commission's Digital Agenda (DAE) Scoreboard published in June highlight that Europeans have access to basic digital networks and services, but we are missing out on exploiting the huge benefits of the digital revolution, including online and m-payments and e-signatures. Barriers include the lack of a comprehensive EU cross-border and cross-sector framework for secure, trustworthy and easy-to-use electronic transactions that encompasses electronic identification and trust services. The European Commission’s proposal for a new rules on electronic identification currently being debated by the Council and the European Parliament, and the upcoming review of the Payment Services Directive (PSD), both aim at making cross-border payments as easy, efficient and secure as 'national' payments. At the same time, they present an opportunity to improve competition by opening up payment markets to new entrants, thus fostering greater efficiency and cost-reduction.All this is happening at a time in which, according to the DAE Scoreboard, Internet access is increasingly going mobile: 36% of EU citizens access the internet via a portable computer or other mobile device.
During our debate we will discuss the latest from the industry, to better understand technological and market developments. We will also discuss the interplay with EU regulatory and policy developments.
Malcolm Harbour CBE, MEP and EIF Governor
Lorenzo Gaston, Convenor of Innovative Payments Task Force EPC – Cards Stakeholders Group; Responsible for SEPA for cards specifications for online payments, Gemalto
Marta Ienco, Regulatory and Policy Director, Government & Regulatory Affairs, GSMA
Philippe Pellé, Deputy Head of Unit Retail Financial Services and Consumer Policy, DG MARKT, European Commission