BANCOMAT, Bizum, EPI, SIBS and Vipps MobilePay have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to accelerate the introduction of sovereign and interoperable pan‑European payment solutions.

Brussels, Lisbon, Madrid, Oslo, Rome – 2 February 2026 —
BANCOMAT, Bizum, SIBS‑MB WAY and Vipps MobilePay (members of the EuroPA Alliance), together with EPI Company (European Payments Initiative), jointly announce the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding that marks a decisive step towards strengthening European payments sovereignty.

The agreement brings together Europe’s main domestic payment schemes with the shared ambition of enabling seamless, interoperable cross‑border payments across Europe by 2027, leveraging existing payment infrastructures through a central interoperability hub.

At a time when Europe remains heavily dependent on non‑European players, this industry‑led initiative demonstrates that European banks and payment service providers already have the infrastructure, scale and capabilities needed to rapidly deliver a concrete alternative. The cooperation builds on proven national solutions, connecting them through a shared hub to create a truly pan‑European payment experience.

The agreement currently brings together payment schemes serving around 130 million users and, at launch, will cover 13 European countries, representing approximately 72% of the EU population plus Norway. The initiative remains open to other European markets, including Switzerland and non‑euro countries.

Following the successful completion of the feasibility phase, the partners will now move into implementation.

What this means for consumers and merchants

European consumers will continue using their preferred domestic payment solution, now with a broader European reach and the same familiar user experience. Merchants will be able to accept payments from European consumers through a continental solution, reducing reliance on international players. A new shared brand will be developed alongside existing brands to signal cross‑border acceptance.

The interoperability model

The cooperation is based on a central interoperability hub, operated by a jointly established entity.
The hub will act as a technical platform enabling seamless transaction flows between national and pan‑European solutions, based on European standards and infrastructures, including instant account‑to‑account payments. Existing solutions will remain unchanged, preserving their brands and user experiences.

Roadmap

• First half of 2026: creation of the central interoperability entity and technical preparation
• 2026: rollout of cross‑border P2P payments
• 2027: extension to e‑commerce and point‑of‑sale (POS) payments

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