PayPal has joined the European Payments Council (EPC), expanding its involvement in European payments standards and scheme governance.
The EPC is a not-for-profit association and the official body focused on harmonising and standardising electronic euro payments. It brings together organisations involved in developing rules, standards, and infrastructure for payments in Europe.
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The EPC manages the rules for payment schemes used across the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA), which covers 41 European countries.
PayPal Europe CEO Sean Byrne said: “We see ourselves as an integral part of the conversation on how European payment infrastructure evolves – and a responsibility to help shape it.
“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.”
PayPal said its EPC membership will allow it to participate in discussions on interoperability, instant payments, fraud prevention, resilience, and consumer payment experiences.
The company linked the move to broader changes in commerce and payments, including increasing demand for “seamless payment experiences” across different payment rails.
PayPal said it plans to work with industry partners, regulators, and other stakeholders through its participation in the EPC.
Byrne said PayPal has more than 430 million active accounts across approximately 200 markets.
He added, in the current European context, PayPal is “well-positioned” to be the wallet and commerce layer consumers reach for, regardless of the underlying rail.
Earlier this year, PayPal announced it would make Venmo a separate business unit as part of a broader reorganisation.
PayPal’s GAAP net income in the first quarter of 2026 was $1.11bn, down 14% from $1.29bn in the prior-year period.
