| Abstract: | The thesis sets out to present the situation in the field of card payments, interchange fees for card payments and the introduction of the regulation of interchange fees in the European Union. Bankcards are the most widely used non-cash payment instrument in the European Union, mainly because of their simple, safe and effective use. In most cases, card payments are linked to multilateral interchange fees, which are carried out from the bank of the payee to that of the payer. In recent years, interchange fees have been in the forefront of discussions at the European Union level, because their great range and degree are believed to have been destabilising market competition and preventing market entry for new operators. Therefore, the need for their regulation has become increasingly pronounced. In June 2015, the Regulation on interchange fees for card-based payment transactions was put into action. Besides contributing to the integration of the market of card payments in the European Union, the regulation is also expected to bring about greater competition and innovation, as well as allow the entry of new operators and schemes on the market. Due to lower interchange fees, it will reduce costs for traders and, consequently, consumers. |
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