In recent months, rising geopolitical instability has led European policymakers, central banks, and market participants to increasingly view payment networks as critical infrastructure that must be managed locally. As some European officials openly advocate for the preferential treatment of homegrown or national solutions, Kelly Devine, president of Mastercard Europe, has formally set out the company’s position on the sovereignty debate.
Devine stated that regardless of where one stands in the debate, the facts should be clear: a European payment network already exists today operating for Europe’s benefit, and that network is Mastercard.
“We are not an external provider, but a local partner with a distinctly global reach and scale,” Devine asserted, noting the company’s long history in the region, from its roots running Eurocard to pioneering chip-and-PIN technology. Today, Mastercard employs thousands of people across the continent, including nearly 2,000 staff at its Dublin technology hub and a dedicated European Cyber Resilience Centre at its Waterloo, Belgium headquarters.
To solidify this stance, Mastercard has outlined five core principles that currently guide its approach to the continent:
1. Stability: We connect, you control Acknowledging that payments are critical infrastructure where stability is non-negotiable, Mastercard highlighted the €3 trillion in cardholder activity processed on its branded cards in Europe last year. To bolster local resilience, the firm recently announced a €250million investment in new data centres in France. In the second half of 2026, more European payments will be authorised locally through these new facilities, marking a significant step towards reinforcing Europe’s ability to rely on always-on, local infrastructure.
2. Standards: We uphold, you govern With over 980 million Mastercard-branded cards circulating in Europe, the company emphasized its commitment to the continent’s stringent regulatory frameworks regarding consumer protection, competition, AI governance, and data privacy. As a designated Systemically Important Payment System in the EU, Mastercard pledged to challenge in court any unwarranted attempts to disrupt the security, confidentiality, and integrity of its payments ecosystem.
3. Security: We protect, you prosper Mastercard stated that fraud prevention, cyber resilience, and data protection are built into its network by design. The firm is currently pioneering AI-powered cybersecurity technologies, noting that one of its solutions has successfully prevented nearly €9 billion in fraud across Europe to date.
4. Seamlessness: We innovate, you engage Recognising the open nature of Europe’s economy, Devine noted that payments must support Europeans who travel extensively and trade across borders daily. The company highlighted its role in the region’s digital transition, noting that Europe is currently leading globally in the shift away from manual online card entry, while almost nine in ten in-person transactions across the continent are now fully contactless.
5. Success: We invest, you grow Finally, Mastercard reaffirmed its commitment to delivering tangible economic outcomes through continuous investment in European technologies, talent, and partnerships. Through established initiatives like Start Path and Mastercard Strive Europe, the firm actively works alongside local banks, fintechs, and SMEs to help them scale and mature their capabilities.
Ultimately, Devine concluded that Europe’s payments future will not be shaped by a single organisation, technology, or policy choice, but rather through shared responsibility and sustained collaboration.
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