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The Commission has opened formal proceedings to investigate whether MasterCard may be hindering competition in the European Economic Area (EEA) with regard to payment cards, in breach of EU antitrust rules. The Commission has concerns that some of MasterCard’s inter-bank fees and related practices may be anti-competitive. An opening of proceedings does not prejudge the outcome of the investigation.

Payment cards are of crucial importance across the EU internal market, in particular for purchases across borders or over the internet. European consumers and businesses are making more than 40% of their non-cash payments per year by card. It is therefore a priority for the European Commission to prevent competition distortions in inter-bank arrangements on fees and other conditions. In 2007, the Commission already prohibited some of MasterCard’s inter-bank fees and the Commission is currently investigating Visa.

The Commission has now opened an in-depth investigation into:

• (1) inter-bank fees in relation to payments made by cardholders from non EEA countries – as opposed to fees for cross border transactions within the EEA that were already prohibited in 2007. Such fees apply for example when a US tourist uses his MasterCard credit card to make a purchase at a merchant in the EEA;
• (2) all rules on ‘cross-border acquiring’ in the MasterCard system that limit the possibility for a merchant to benefit from better conditions offered by banks established elsewhere in the internal market and
• (3) related business rules or practices of MasterCard which amplify the Commission’s competition concerns (like the “honour all cards rule” which obliges a merchant to accept all types of MasterCard cards).

These fees and practices may restrict competition. The inter-bank fees are generally passed on to the merchants, leading to higher overall fees for them. Ultimately, such behaviour is liable to slow down cross-border business and harm EU consumers.

In addition to its antitrust enforcement action, the Commission intends to propose before the summer a regulation on inter-bank fees for card payments that will ensure legal certainty and a durable level playing field across the EU for all providers.

Source: European commission

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