commiss decis august relat proceed articl ec treati articl eea agreement case comp visa intern notifi document number english text authent text eea relev ec commiss european commun regard treati establish european commun regard agreement european econom area regard council regul februari regul implement articl treati amend regul ec articl thereof regard applic neg clearanc notif view exempt januari submit visa intern pursuant articl regul regard commiss decis initi proceed case publish summari applic notif invit interest parti submit observ accord articl regul regard commiss intent adopt posit standpoint notifi agreement consult advisori committe restrict practic domin posit fact introduct januari ibanco visa intern notifi rule regul govern visa associ member commiss appli neg clearanc altern exempt articl treati initi comfort letter april commiss reopen investig visa case complaint british retail consortium quot multilater interchang fee quot visa intern payment scheme comfort letter withdrawn decemb reopen investig account complaint file eurocommerc retail wholesal intern trade represent commun aspect inter alia visa intern payment card scheme parti visa intern visa intern servic associ visa privat own profit corpor own member financi institut world visa turnov amount usd million worldwid usd busi secret million visa eu region figur visa incorpor usa oper visa card system network end manag trade mark lai rule system authoris clear servic worldwid comput telecommun network call visanet visa issu visa card cardhold contract merchant visa card accept member financi institut receiv licenc end visa visa divid territori activ region worldwid visa eu region cover iceland liechtenstein norwai turkei israel cypru malta switzerland addit commun visa member decis make deleg visa eu region board director eu region board elect year visa member financi institut eu region eu region board respons intra region affair adopt region regul visa eu region oper regul admiss expuls member establish region countri call visa nation group member recit eu region board deleg power develop administ visa card programm member visa member class membership visa corpor broadli speak class membership open institut organis commerci bank law countri authoris accept demand deposit visa accept membership applic deem board director competitor corpor member state visa group member princip visa member authoris exercis membership right oper visa card programm owner member member visa group member member visa group member respons act omiss owner member except group member issu visa card group member acquir member visa deleg visa group member power develop administ visa card programm refer visa nation group member consist practic visa group member nation group member act nation visa authoris adopt rule applic oper visa programm countri provid local arrang infring visa law oper regul nation group member decid applic licenc issu acquir visa card territori visa retain accept elig institut direct member visa nation group member reason unwil licens institut carri visa card activ nation group member give consent establish foreign branch territori eu region board accept member countri directli membership quot unreason withheld quot nation group member nation group member consent visa grant direct membership agreement gener notif visa concern rule regul govern visa associ member certif incorpor intern law region board deleg intern provis relat visa payment card gener intern oper regul european union region oper regul disput resolut rule card mark specif notifi visa rule regul hereinaft refer quot visa rule quot visa rule govern primarili relationship visa member mean bank issu visa card bank acquir merchant visa card accept addit visa rule claus relev relat visa member inter bank relationship visa rule claus regard relationship acquir bank merchant quot discrimin rule quot quot honour card rule quot visa seek prescrib arrang issuer visa card cardhold lai basic characterist visa card product specif provis discrimin rule discrimin rule visa rule prohibit merchant ad charg cardhold pai visa card addit discrimin rule prohibit merchant give consum discount pai mean payment cash rule appli countri abolish nation competit author unit kingdom credit card sweden netherland similar rule cash withdraw acquir prohibit ad surcharg manual atm cash disburs transact local law expressli requir member permit impos surcharg principl territori licens visa card issu merchant acquir carri member visa payment card system obtain licenc end visa appli territori licens polici mean principl visa member jurisdict carri visa card issu acquir activ limit countri princip place busi condit member carri cross border issu cross border acquir activ possibl cross border activ gradual increas visa recit modifi rule cross border issu visa rule oblig bank wish carri issu activ countri domicil principl subsidiari join visa establish foreign branch territori concern specif except gener rule situat establish subsidiari branch requir visa card issu passiv solicit cardhold provid card account issu bank countri domicil visa corpor card issu employe world multin compani eu region board meet visa approv amend cross border issu rule involv abolit requir visa member branch subsidiari member state wish issu visa card order ensur continu secur qualiti visa system visa adopt minimum rule cross border issu open member proven issuer princip place busi countri submit busi plan compli regist domest rule modifi rule cross border issu enter forc april modifi rule cross border acquir visa rule visa bank contract intern airlin specif categori merchant card acquir servic quot visa eu efta cross border acquir programm quot bank acquir merchant cross border establish subsidiari branch territori similar condit refer section context cross border issu busi secret cross border transact subject regist domest rule specif area busi secret applic cross border acquir obtain copi regist domest rule visa intern initi visa limit programm categori intern merchant car rental compani hotel ferri cruis line januari cross border acquir made visa categori intern merchant eu region board meet visa agre withdraw requir order acquir cross border merchant outlet countri amend effect visa eu region oper regul approv visa eu execut committe meet juli modifi rule cross border acquir enter forc octob acquir issu rule visa rule princip member formal oblig issu card acquir merchant practic visa oblig member acquir acquir merchant card accept start acquir activ countri member issu reason number card target set case case basi take account number card issu time countri question exist visa member potenti visa card market addit size potenti applic consid visa order determin reason number card issu cross border acquir activ allow card issu countri visa eu region account honour card rule merchant accept valid card visa visa electron symbol properli present payment visa merchant agreement requir accept visa card requir accept electron card merchant agreement accept electron card requir accept visa card honour card rule appli irrespect natur transact ident issuer type card person characterist cardhold function visa payment card scheme visa notif concern rule regul regard oper visa intern payment card system broadli speak visa card pai merchant good servic obtain cash bank counter autom teller machin atm case parti involv visa cardhold issu bank issu card cardhold merchant acquir bank acquir merchant visa card accept case parti visa cardhold issu bank atm oper involv card payment cash withdraw transact consum contract issu bank receiv card exchang annual fee paid cardhold issu bank regard payment transact merchant conclud contract acquir bank card accept contract set merchant fee condit payment transact distinct made servic hand issu card custom hand acquir merchant card accept parti transact servic provid entiti proceed reopen visa case commiss request inform pursuant articl regul visa member complain eurocommerc statement object visa regard discrimin rule exist restrict cross border issu acquir visa submit written observ statement object januari oral hear pursuant articl regul place march result market survei impact abolit discrimin rule nation competit author countri recit modif visa rule cross border servic commiss publish octob notic pursuant articl regul quot articl notic quot invit interest parti provid observ commiss intent favour posit discrimin rule modifi cross border servic rule specif provis visa rule refer recit observ parti commiss receiv observ parti respons articl notic vast major reaction individu retail organis retail reaction receiv payment card scheme nation competit author eea reaction retail relat announc intent commiss favour opinion discrimin rule visa intern payment card scheme retail complain merchant fee pai visa card hold view cost born cardhold make link discrimin rule multilater interchang fee subject articl notic conclud discrimin rule clear long multilater interchang fee observ articl notic eurocommerc object intend clearanc discrimin rule intend clearanc honour card rule visa intern scheme intend clearanc visa rule cross border acquir eurocommerc explain posit reaction articl notic honour card rule concern state proceed complaint visa consid honour card rule visa intern scheme oblig merchant accept type card visa brand credit defer debit direct debit card classic corpor card includ type card introduc visa futur eurocommerc oppos merchant fee type card eurocommerc type card product merchant view choic accept eurocommerc fear honour card rule oblig merchant accept present futur type visa brand card high merchant fee eurocommerc object visa rule cross border acquir lai cross border acquir subject regist domest rule visa member relat domest interchang rate eurocommerc object interchang fee visa intern scheme gener creat impedi cross border acquir ultim detriment merchant letter februari eurocommerc inform commiss decid withdraw complaint regard discrimin rule honour card rule visa intern payment card rule quot assumpt commiss prohibit multilater interchang fee quot eurocommerc consid essenc complaint multilater interchang fee eurocommerc multilater interchang fee prohibit prohibit discrimin rule honour card rule add significantli object restor competit payment card market nation competit author react articl notic hold view discrimin rule restrict competit competit author prohibit rule visa scheme respect countri competit author question state discrimin rule view restrict competit merchant limit merchant freedom determin price cost restrict competit payment system restrict competit card compani competit author point fact merchant present make possibl charg consum absenc discrimin rule decis import rule competit condit payment card market consid domest payment card scheme submit observ articl notic agre commiss intent clear discrimin rule visa rule cross border issu recit remark view member appli domest rule regist visa intern assess discrimin rule honour card rule visa cross border acquir rule commun competit rule refer made recit ii legal assess articl treati articl eea agreement relev market visa visa argu relev product market compris consum payment instrument type payment card chequ cash end visa refer opinion member visa mention previou commiss decis relat chequ commiss allegedli recognis substitut chequ mean payment addit visa refer judgment court state context complaint multilater interchang fee discrimin rule visa intern scheme relev market visa oper compet consum payment system relev geograph market concern visa submit light global commerc internet introduct euro market move commun wide worldwid market view visa share member commiss view relev product market type competit relev payment card distinguish payment system network payment card scheme network possibl mean payment card financi institut bank card relat activ essenti issu card individu quot acquir quot card payment merchant type competit convention term quot system network market quot quot upstream market quot convention term quot intra system downstream market quot intra system market payment system visa financi institut compet issu card bear brand acquir merchant accept card type competit affect visa rule firstli affect competit posit visa regard payment system affect competit bank visa system lai standard term condit issu acquir contract prevent bank differenti bank offer term condit system market import market visa intern activ deriv revenu payment card wide accept larg number merchant cardhold choos card card hold accept merchant question demand merchant cardhold analys order determin correct definit system market demand interrel card free cardhold accept merchant vice versa light commiss convinc visa view relev market compris consum mean payment explain commiss cash exclud relev market reason merchant cash legal tender oblig accept cost accept cash larg administr cost hard compar cost accept card custom point view cash inconveni danger carri larg amount unsuit expens purchas frequent run renew mean cash withdraw card member state averag amount cash purchas lower averag amount card purchas medium payment cash card discern distinct cash card amount oper small signific price increas card cash merchant custom lead signific shift usag commiss chequ exclud relev market member state chequ counter purchas reserv distanc payment member state chequ face face purchas franc unit kingdom ireland regulatori framework differ franc bank prohibit law charg issu chequ case chequ significantli characterist compar card chequebook frequent run chequ accept conjunct chequ guarante card ident card chequ fill lose time type distanc payment giro transfer exclud relev market pai item counter shop remain type card includ relev market criteria effect distinct card card internation state issu payment facil offer card debit defer debit credit practic credit card exclus intern debit card exclus domest member state individu hold domest debit card intern credit card intern credit card domest payment great major payment intern card domest payment credit card credit facil visa card internation usabl card payment facil vari credit defer debit card debit card visa cb card issu franc visa delta card issu unit kingdom current decis provis visa rule question found restrict competit appreci effect narrowest market definit intern card determin relev market includ type payment card intern card briefli mention discrimin rule potenti effect market merchant activ market good servic sell limit freedom merchant determin margin aspect price market effect discrimin rule found appreci recit defin numer market detail relev geograph market relev geograph market compris area undertak concern involv suppli product servic condit competit suffici homogen distinguish neighbour area condit competit appreci area geograph market concern commiss believ relev market account assess competit issu relat payment card scheme nation market issu acquir payment card basic nation market case domest payment card intern payment card condit issu acquir suffici homogen member state import differ merchant fee countri level competit vari member state member state merchant acquir hand acquir member state acquir market competit relev market basic nation intern merchant merchant premis member state intern bank increasingli show interest cross border activ central acquir conclud contract commun bank offer condit card accept retail outlet commun intern car rental compani hotel conclud central acquir contract internation oper bank visa card commiss request visa gradual remov remain obstacl cross border servic recit market potenti commun wide market exact market definit purpos case remain open regard fact purpos present decis establish absenc infring articl treati articl eea agreement absenc establish narrowest market definit structur payment card market inter system competit visa major intern payment organis activ european market europai intern mastercard intern europai japan credit bureau jcb intern parti system american express diner club intern intern payment organis europai close cooper mastercard import competitor visa europ posit visa gener stronger europai import differ member state visa strong unit kingdom spain franc itali europai hand stronger inter alia germani netherland austria intern payment card oper nation payment card oper activ member state nation debit card cash mean payment member state intra system competit issu visa card member state visa card issu bank directli princip associ visa member member group member number issuer vari member state finland visa issuer nation group member luottokunta acquir merchant visa card accept visa acquir activ gener concentr number actual acquir vari countri countri franc visa acquir de facto singl princip visa acquir denmark pb sole acquir visa europai transact finland luottokunta sole acquir visa europai transact member state visa group member austria belgium spain franc sweden group member member acquir merchant visa transact practic acquir busi domin singl acquir netherland vsb intern import acquir portug unicr belgium visa transact acquir bank card compani market posit visa nation market card intern card visa eurocard mastercard store card main nation debit scheme visa hold term number card circul market share vari term volum visa card transact visa market share vari market power visa measur term market share fact visa develop oper rang payment card includ intern credit defer debit card visa intern debit card electron atm card visa electron purs visa cash card issu merchant acquir world network bank fact europai visa import network economi bank issu visa card visa card accept import number merchant outlet commun signific number merchant categori airlin internet retail mail order compani restaur depend intern card network visa numer user signific technic legal regulatori barrier card system enter commun payment card market bank free join compet system american express jcb visa europai system enjoi network economi repres sunk invest part bank major system establish high proport bank commun member system directli group circumst commerci difficult product exist system establish market presenc credit charg card compani american express diner club jcb show market entri imposs decis associ undertak agreement undertak visa member credit institut entiti own credit institut engag econom activ undertak mean articl treati articl eea agreement addit visa stock corpor control member bank represent intern region board director nation group member associ undertak mean articl treati articl eea agreement rule govern visa payment card system regard decis associ undertak agreement undertak decis agreement question law intern eu oper rule associ undertak visa constitu member associ undertak license visa payment system restrict competit discrimin rule discrimin rule visa rule restrict freedom merchant act prevent sur charg visa card restrict effect competit effect appreci light result market survei carri commiss request countri discrimin rule abolish sweden netherland explain abolit discrimin rule restor merchant freedom set price fit merchant sweden netherland freedom charg cardhold vast major merchant possibl surcharg absenc discrimin rule main reason interview merchant foreseen neg cardhold reaction lead loss custom fact limit effect discrimin rule competit inter system market card system sur charg factor influenc decis consum card abolit discrimin rule factor enter plai merchant surcharg abolit discrimin rule effect merchant fee merchant merchant fee increas abolit rule abolit rule margin impact intra system acquir market increas competit acquir bank drive price thirdli impact abolit discrimin rule competit merchant concern market good servic merchant sell note abil pai card ancillari servic merchant core commerci activ servic quot sold quot isol price ancillari servic repres margin compon merchant offer market studi show abolit discrimin rule substanti affect price competit merchant market card sur charg place increas price transpar consum practic merchant surcharg surcharg inform consum conclus cost card merchant charg merchant fee taxi travel agenc sector light empir evid obtain market survei discrimin rule appreci effect competit restrict competit mean articl treati articl eea agreement modifi rule cross border issu initi form visa rule cross border issu rais barrier bank want issu visa card commun visa rule specif except cross border issu real sens branch subsidiari establish territori concern requir contrari mutual recognit principl direct ec european parliament council march relat take pursuit busi credit institut impos public author countri visa nation group member exist present case major member state give prior consent establish foreign branch impos condit applic commiss consid modifi visa rule cross border issu longer requir establish subsidiari branch prior approv group member restrict mean articl treati articl eea agreement modifi rule cross border acquir cross border issu possibl cross border acquir initi limit visa rule specif categori intern merchant prior establish branch subsidiari territori concern requir group member give consent establish foreign branch visa intern extend cross border acquir programm januari categori intern merchant octob nation merchant fact visa rule cross border acquir respect domest rule applic countri concern provid regist visa intern consid impedi cross border acquir visa intern visa intern rule appli default appar cross border acquir difficult nation rule intern rule visa intern prejudic compat domest rule commun competit rule principl territori licens principl territori licens visa rule restrict commerci freedom action bank particip visa card payment system bank principl allow issu card acquir merchant transact area establish branch subsidiari hold licenc cover singl member state visa rule cross border servic restrict effect freedom act potenti cardhold merchant restrict shop supplier payment card servic choic restrict commerci freedom parti involv commiss principl territori licens appreci restrict competit mean articl treati articl eea agreement visa member obtain amend origin trademark licenc quot addit licenc quot depend local trademark law territori authoris carri bank activ acquir issu rule requir member visa payment card system issu card acquir issu reason volum card restrict commerci freedom particip bank oblig issu card promot develop visa card system ensur larg card base make system attract merchant acquir issu rule creat signific barrier entri acquir market cross border acquir concern visa card issu ec efta countri account acquir issu rule restrict competit appreci fall scope articl treati articl eea agreement honour card rule note honour card rule visa payment card system requir merchant accept valid card visa electron symbol properli present payment impli merchant accept visa card oblig accept visa product electron debit card condit merchant oblig accept valid visa card brand merchant accept visa card accept visa card issu credit card case unit kingdom defer debit card case belgium debit card occasion case unit kingdom franc issu classic visa card corpor visa card commiss agre visa honour card rule promot develop payment system ensur univers accept card irrespect ident issu bank visa payment system properli function merchant acquir bank refus card issu bank establish abroad matter card issu domest bank develop payment system depend issuer card accept merchant contract acquir assur brand logo payment card lose mean util intern card concern card reli travel foreign payment fact honour card rule merchant oblig accept valid card brand type card merchant fee restrict competit fact fee acquir bank charg merchant demonstr type visa card unrel product merchant fee decid merchant acquir laid visa intern case merchant fee negoti case case basi leav individu merchant accept visa card sole basi merchant fee charg bank endang univers accept visa intern payment card cardhold advanc visa card accept account type visa card issu vari issuer issuer countri left merchant accept visa card sole basi merchant fee pai endang intern function card final visa intern honour card rule oblig merchant accept futur type visa card merchant free time stop accept visa honour card rule visa rule found fall articl treati articl eea agreement effect trade member state court justic european commun consist held order agreement practic affect trade member state forese suffici degre probabl basi set object factor law fact influenc direct indirect actual potenti pattern trade member state prejudic realis aim singl market member state effect intra commun trade result combin factor separ necessarili decis court constantli held effect intra commun trade appreci potenti effect suffic visa card natur cross border mean payment card cardhold countri card issu payment merchant outlet cash withdraw member state visa busi secret visa transact merchant outlet commun intern transact visa rule applic common market view forego provis contain visa rule potenti effect trade member state adopt decis articl basi fact possess commiss find ground action articl ec treati articl eea agreement respect provis notifi rule regul govern visa intern payment card scheme principl territori licens section visa intern law region board deleg quot law quot discrimin rule section gener rule visa intern oper regul volum quot gener rule quot modifi rule cross border issu section law section law section gener rule modifi rule cross border acquir section law section gener rule section european union region oper regul acquir issu rule section law honour card rule section gener rule articl decis address visa intern servic associ european union region kensington high street london te unit kingdom brussel august commiss mario monti member commiss oj oj oj oj visa multilater interchang fee fee payment transact paid visa rule bank involv visa card payment paid merchant bank cardhold bank core eurocommerc complaint interchang fee inter alia visa intern payment card rule provis examin subject present decis visa membership provis examin context complaint morgan stanlei dean witter case comp subject present decis member state visa group member austria visa austria belgium visa belgium denmark pb finland luottokunta kreditlag franc groupement cart bleue luxembourg visalux spain sistema visa españa sweden visa sweden associ luottokunta finland quot card acquir quot involv contract retail merchant payment process servic relat visa card accept except luottokunta pb visalux visalux luxembourg sistema spain busi secret busi secret busi secret busi secret busi secret busi secret busi secret busi secret busi secret busi secret busi secret oj credit card defer debit card charg card direct debit card electron purs proprietari card store card label card nation intern card eurochequ travel chequ nation chequ decis june case iv westlb thoma cook state paragraph quot travel chequ degre competit method payment credit card eurochequ quot commiss decis eec case iv uniform eurochequ oj state recit person travel foreign countri gener choic mean payment cash travel chequ postal payment order credit card atm card eurochequ nabanco bancard corpor visa usa supp fla affid cir south trust corpor system ala parti payment card system visa merchant capac client acquir servic cardhold capac client issu servic consid consum order determin product suffici substitut visa card posit merchant cardhold account note regard commiss decis refer visa fact account latest develop payment sector relat substitut mean payment chequ commiss decis left exact definit relev market open moment eurochequ written euro guarante maximum eur januari guarante function eurochequ product abolish commiss decis ec banqu national de pari dresdner bank case iv oj commiss divid bank financi servic major categori retail bank servic wholsesal bank servic undertak legal entiti activ relat financi market regard relev geograph market commiss conclud retail bank activ payment card fall nation payment card europ retail bank research intern overview figur mind card larg scale member state retail bank research payment card europ tabl itm research effect abolit ndr netherland march ima research effect abolit ndr sweden februari oj direct repeal inter alia council direct eec decemb coordin law regul administr provis relat take pursuit busi credit institut amend direct eec oj ireland unit kingdom consid visa singl territori case remia commiss ecr paragraph case gøttrup klim grovvareforening dansk landbrug grovvareselskab amba ecr paragraph case ferrier nord commiss ecr join case bagnasco ecr annex tabl number card circul decemb po capabl tabl exclud data card po capabl atm card gt tabl gt sourc visa quarterli oper certif complet visa member europai retail bank research limit lafferti accompani data sheet nation bank scheme proprietari bank scheme exclud visa commerci card european countri busi card data mastercard europai includ busi card data amp organis tabl total number card transact po year end decemb gt tabl gt sourc visa quarterli oper certif complet visa member europai retail bank research limit lafferti accompani data sheet nation bank scheme proprietari bank scheme exclud visa commerci card includ busi card data martercard europai amp organis tabl total card transact po year end decemb retail bank research limit defin quot amp organis quot includ american express diner club includ jcb mention glossari issu jcb amp card gt tabl gt sourc visa quarterli oper certif complet visa member europai retail bank research limit lafferti accompani data sheet nation bank scheme proprietari bank scheme exclud visa commerci card includ busi card data mastercard europai amp organis