欧官员警告需减少对Visa等美国支付巨头的依赖

Core Viewpoint - Europe urgently needs to reduce its dependence on American payment giants like Visa and Mastercard, as their market dominance could be weaponized in the event of deteriorating transatlantic relations [1][5]. Group 1: Current Situation and Concerns - The European Payments Initiative (EPI), comprising 16 European banks and financial services companies, highlights the heavy reliance on international payment solutions, with a lack of cross-border alternatives [1][5]. - In 2022, Visa and Mastercard accounted for nearly two-thirds of card transaction volumes in the Eurozone, with 13 member countries lacking local alternatives to American providers [1][5]. - As cash usage declines, European officials express increasing concern that American payment companies' influence could be used as a tool in geopolitical conflicts [1][5]. Group 2: Initiatives and Developments - The EPI plans to launch a European version of Apple Pay called Wero in 2024, currently having 48.5 million users in Belgium, France, and Germany, with plans to expand by 2027 [2][6]. - The European Central Bank (ECB) is promoting the "digital euro" project to enhance the EU's monetary sovereignty and reduce reliance on external payment systems [3][7]. - By 2029, merchants in the Eurozone will be required to accept digital euro payments, with the underlying infrastructure open to private sector development [3][7]. Group 3: Challenges and Warnings - There are concerns that the digital euro may arrive too late if geopolitical tensions escalate, as it will take several years to implement [4][8]. - The ECB has noted difficulties in scaling previous private sector projects, indicating challenges in reaching consensus on unified standards among participants [2][6].