The Committee adopted its opinion with 27 votes in favour and 2 against. The final opinion inter alia emphasises the increasingly important role played by electronic payments in combating the gray economy, fraud and in particular, tax evasion. The main focus here is on correct information, transparency and trust. The opinion calls for European standards and, where possible harmonisation of the rules on electronic payments.
23 of the 36 Amendments submitted to the draft opinion have been adopted which include 8 compromise amendments and amendment 20 had been withdrawn. The main themes include amongst other: creating a safe, trustable and transparent European framework for electronic payments; promoting consumer confidence; information campaigns for consumer awareness; rules on safety and consumer protection and increasing transparency; overcoming fragmentation and moving towards a European standardisation; possible ways to promote new entrants; a common payment infrastructure; compliance with principles of free and fair competition and free market entry and access in view of future technological innovations; prevention of overcharging consumers and abolishing discrimination.
Source : © European Union, 2012 - EP