Harmonising payments in SEPA
We represent payment service providers (PSPs) on all European payment issues and strive to harmonise payments in SEPA to benefit European competitiveness and innovation.
Introducing the EPC
We are an international not-for-profit organisation offering one focal point and voice for European PSPs. In constant dialogue with stakeholders and regulators at European level, we support and promote the integration and development of European payments. This mission translates into our five EPC payment schemes – used by thousands of PSPs in Europe – which facilitate over 50 billion transactions each year.
The EPC and the SEPA process
SEPA is a European Union (EU) integration initiative pursued by the EU institutions. The EPC is not an EU institution; it was created by the banking industry in 2002 in response to the EU institutions’ call to develop harmonised electronic euro payment instruments. The introduction of euro coins and banknotes was just the first step in the integration of payments in Europe.
EPC members
The EPC has 79 members (PSPs or associations of PSPs). Membership of the EPC enables them to contribute to shaping the future of payments in Europe.
Our organisation
Hundreds of representatives of our members and other payment stakeholders are involved in the development of the EPC payment schemes and the further harmonisation of other payment areas, through various working groups and task forces. Our Brussels-based staff facilitate their work under the guidance of the EPC governance bodies.