PayPal has officially joined the European Payments Council (EPC), marking an important milestone in our commitment to the future of payments in Europe. The EPC brings together the organizations that help shape the rules, standards, and infrastructure underpinning European payments, and our membership provides a valuable opportunity to contribute to the industry's continued evolution. Together, the council manages the rules for payment schemes used across the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA), spanning 41 European countries to ensure payments work consistently across Europe.

As Sean Byrne, CEO of PayPal Europe, explains in a new interview with the EPC, Europe remains one of the world's most dynamic and innovative payments markets.

“We see ourselves as an integral part of the conversation on how European payment infrastructure evolves – and a responsibility to help shape it,” says Sean. “We look forward to collaborating with stakeholders across the European payments ecosystem and playing a meaningful role in shaping, strengthening, and advancing the future of payments in Europe.”

By joining the EPC, PayPal will have a seat at the table in discussions that influence the future of interoperability, instant payments, fraud prevention, resilience, and consumer payment experiences across the region. As both a regulated European bank and a global payments leader serving more than 430 million active accounts worldwide, PayPal brings valuable expertise and perspective to these conversations.

This membership also reflects our broader vision for the future of commerce. Consumers increasingly expect seamless payment experiences regardless of the underlying payment rail, while AI and emerging technologies are reshaping how people discover, decide, and pay. Through collaboration with industry partners, regulators, and stakeholders across Europe, PayPal is well positioned to help build a more interoperable and trusted payments ecosystem for our customers and Europe as an economic area.

Read Sean Byrne’s full interview with the European Payments Council.