EPC’s focus is core payment services, both retail and commercial, in euro, in Europe. This includes a focus on electronic instruments such as credit transfers, direct debits, cards, and emerging channels such as e- and m-payments, as well as cash.

Amongst our critical success factors are the widespread acceptance of reusable standards and best practices, which are simple, and easy to understand and implement. At the same time attention is paid to reconciling the implementation of new solutions with the implications of legacy systems and to the need to progressively lower the cost base in the payments business. Above all, customers of the banking industry need to have access to payment services that are convenient, reliable and predictable, and represent good value for money.

Today, EPC consists of 64 Members coming from 27 European countries. It is composed of banks or banking associations representing all sizes and sectors of credit institutions across the market. The Plenary, and its constituent bodies and working groups meet on a regular basis and are responsible for undertaking a wide programme of activities. Over 250 professionals are engaged in our work programme.

The governance bodies and the working and support groups are described in our Annual Report 2004.

The EPC maintains close relations with the European Central Bank (ECB), the Eurosystem and the European Commission, in particular DG Internal Market. The ECB closely monitors the work of EPC and published its Fourth Annual Progress Report ‘Towards a Single Euro Payments Area - Objectives and Deadlines’ in February 2006.

EPC Organigram