Dear list,
find below the content of ePSO-N 14 (May 2002), the newsletter of the European "electronic Payment Systems Observatory". This issue focuses on small value retail payments cross-border in Europe. The complete issue can be downloaded from the ePSO website at http://epso.jrc.es or directly: http://epso.jrc.es/newsletter/vol14/docs/ePSO-N14.pdf Note: ePSO-N 14 is only available as PDF file. Best regards Knud Böhle ************************************************** ELECTRONIC PAYMENT SYSTEMS OBSERVATORY-NEWSLETTER ePSO-Newsletter - No 14 - May 2002 http://epso.jrc.es/newsletter OVERVIEW of ePSO-N 14 [14&1] Editorial: Cross with Old Banking Boys' Cross-border Retail Payment Networks Knud Böhle ([EMAIL PROTECTED]), ITAS, Karlsruhe, Germany /cross-border payments/European Commission/European Central Bank/P2P/Internet/e-commerce To overcome the unsatisfactory situation of cross-border retail payments in Europe, not only co-operation of the banking industry is required. In addition the joint forces of regulation, competition and technological innovation are necessary to speed up change. The potential of converging B2C e-commerce payments and P2P credit transfers is often not taken properly into account. In addition to the editorial, four articles deal with the cross-border issue: an interview with Harry Leinonen, adviser of the Bank of Finland, a thorough analysis by Mike Hendry of status and options in the cross-border area; an assessment by Malte Krueger of the problem solving potential of m-payment systems in this respect, and by Michael Rader a look back at the good old times of the Eurocheque and International Money Orders. Further articles present findings of a consumer online-payment survey, information about a workshop on the future of online-banking, and Leo Van Hove's review of a study on "Recommendation 97/489/EC" concerning electronic payments. __________________________________________________ [14&2] Interview: The Road to Efficient Cross-border Retail Payment Systems in Europe: Long and Winding or Straight Through? Knud Böhle ([EMAIL PROTECTED]), ITAS, Karlsruhe, talks to Harry Leinonen ([EMAIL PROTECTED]), Bank of Finland, Helsinki /cross-border/banking/standards/European Union/Finland Harry Leinonen is Adviser to the Board of the Bank of Finland, particularly on payment system policy issues. Currently he is also the Finnish representative on the Payment and Settlement System Committee (PSSC) within the Eurosystem. For more than 20 years he has actively participated in developing Finnish and international payment systems and standards. Mr Leinonen has also published articles and books on payment system issues. The talk highlights the increasing importance of cross-border payments, shortcomings of the present correspondent bank system, and the need for international standards and co-operation to overcome them. __________________________________________________ [14&3] Cross-border Low-value Payments. What is Likely to Emerge from the EC Legislation? Mike Hendry ([EMAIL PROTECTED]), Payment Systems Consultant, England /regulation/cross-border/banking/Internet/business case In December 2001 the European Parliament published a Regulation requiring banks to charge no more for retail cross-border euro transactions than for domestic transactions. This poses a challenge to banks and payment schemes, whose current structures impose high costs. This article considers the technical and commercial issues, and what schemes might emerge to meet the requirements. __________________________________________________ [14&4] The Cross-border Payments Malaise: M-payments to the Rescue? Malte Krueger ([EMAIL PROTECTED]), Frankfurt/M., Germany /m-payments/cross-border payments/e-commerce There are hopes that m-payments might improve the current retail payment landscape. Thus, m-payments are seen as a step towards the EU Commission's goal to make cross-border payments cheaper and more convenient and they are assumed to provide a convenient means for micro-payments. However, such hopes may be premature. For the moment, m-payments have to rely on the existing payment infrastructure to settle payments. __________________________________________________ [14&5] Back to Tin Foil and Banknotes? - The Trials and Tribulations of Petty Cross Border Trading Michael Rader ([EMAIL PROTECTED]), ITAS, Karlsruhe /low-value payments/cross-border/postal service/Eurocheque/money order The demise of the Eurocheque has created a gap for low-value cross-border payment systems, even in the bricks and mortar world. There is also a need for the competitively-priced electronic equivalent of postal orders and international money orders. The author's reasoning is based on his hands-on-experiences. __________________________________________________ [14&6] Expanding Niches. Some Results of an Online-survey about Online shopping and Paying Knud Böhle ([EMAIL PROTECTED]), ITAS, Karlsruhe Germany /survey/payment systems/consumer perceptions/cross-border/Germany Selected results of the fifth online-survey on "Internet Payment Systems from a Consumer Perspective" are presented. The survey carried out by University Karlsruhe, Germany, shows that even in 2002 the role of traditional payment systems to pay for online-orders has not decreased. At the same time experience with new payment systems also grows, but curiosity seems often to be the main motivation. Interestingly online-shopping cross-border seems already to be of relevance especially with respect to the digital goods market. Furthermore with increasing Internet experience of users the willingness to purchase cross-border apparently grows. __________________________________________________ [14&7] Internet Banking Workshop - A Spanish and European Perspective of the Future Clara Centeno ([EMAIL PROTECTED]), IPTS, Seville, Spain /internet banking/on-line banking/security/technology innovation On 11 January 2002 the Gr@dient Research Group of the University of Girona (Spain) and ePSO jointly organised an expert workshop in Barcelona entitled "The future of On-line banking: a Spanish and European perspective". This article provides an outline of the workshop. The complete minutes are available on-line. __________________________________________________ [14&8] Recommendation 97/489/EC Revisited: A Case of Frustrated Expectations? Leo Van Hove ([EMAIL PROTECTED]), Free University of Brussels, Belgium /review/regulation/EU The European Commission is reportedly planning to turn the 1997 Recommendation concerning transactions carried out by electronic payment instruments into a (legally binding) Directive. This review has a look at the detailed study that lies at the basis of the Commission's decision to do so. __________________________________________________ [14&9] Masthead Electronic Payment Systems Observatory-Newsletter ePSO-Newsletter - 2002 - No 14 - May 2002 The Electronic Payment Systems Observatory-Newsletter (ePSO-N) is an activity within the "electronic Payment Systems Observatory" (ePSO) project of the Institute for Prospective Technological Studies (IPTS), one of the eight institutes of DG Joint Research Center. The Institute for Technology Assessment and Systems Analysis (ITAS) of Karlsruhe Research Centre edits this newsletter. Michael Rader co-ordinating editor [EMAIL PROTECTED] Yannis Maghiros ePSO project leader [EMAIL PROTECTED] For subscription you may go directly to http://epso.jrc.es/newsletter/subscribe.cfm Complete Masthead: http://epso.jrc.es/newsletter/ **************************************************
