EU Expands Investigation into Visa and Mastercard
Brussel, maandag, 26 mei 2025.
The European antitrust authorities have further expanded their investigation into the fee structures of Visa and Mastercard. This expansion aims to gather information from payment terminal suppliers and payment companies to assess potential unfair practices. Visa and Mastercard currently dominate approximately two-thirds of card payments in the eurozone. The investigation began in September following complaints from merchants and payment companies about excessive fees. The Commission’s questionnaire examines the necessity and implications of new fees and changes since 2017 and how transparently this information was shared with the companies involved. If these practices are deemed unfair, more serious charges and new regulations may be imposed to enhance market competition. The deadline for responses to the investigation is 2nd June 2025.
Antitrust Concerns in the Eurozone
The investigation by the European antitrust authorities aims to determine whether the fee structures of Visa and Mastercard result in unfair competition. These companies together process about two-thirds of all card payments in the eurozone[1]. Trade organisations and payment companies have complained about the high fees being charged, which are said to limit competition[1][2].
Transparency of Fee Structures
The European Commission’s survey focuses on the transparency with which Visa and Mastercard communicate their fees and changes to the involved companies. Since 2017, various new fees and services have been introduced by these companies. The question is whether they were communicated correctly and in a timely manner[1][3]. If it turns out that the provision of information was inadequate, new rules may be introduced to enforce more transparency and competition[2][4].
Potential Consequences for Visa and Mastercard
If the findings of the investigation indicate unfair practices, Visa and Mastercard face greater legal challenges. This could lead to pressure for new regulations in the payment industry. The deadline for responses to the survey is set for 2nd June 2025, after which the potential consequences and further steps will be announced by the Commission. Companies within the payment industry are closely monitoring the developments[1][5].