Challenge to credit card charges takes a new turn

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The European Commission last week issued a formal letter, rejecting the challenge of EuroCommerce and retailers to the VISA and other card companies' rate setting systems

Meetings with the organisation representing domestic retail chief executives, as well as EuroCommerce, have been taking place over the last couple of days to discuss the developing shape of an EU-wide coalition and the best options for next steps. All are committed to a broad and effective coalition working to ensure the strategic case is built strongly.
 
At the same time, the Commission have brought forward their review of EU Competition in the wake of successful challenges to major merger decisions over recent months. Last week they announced a major overhaul of the competition rules. It is the most comprehensive reform since 1962 and is aimed at simplifying the system to reduce costs and make it easier in cases such as that currently facing the duty-free industry.

Campaign coordinator Graham Austin told TRW: "This was an unexpected development and we are looking now at how this could impact on the way forward, as it could give us more flexibility on developing the case effectively and offer a route that was unanticipated at the conference on November 19."
 
Sheremetyevopresident Jacques Parson and Austin will meet with EuroCommerce on December 12 to discuss all possibilities and to talk through the most effective way forward based on the November 19 discussions in Brussels. Then they will report back to the travel-retail group. "All sides are clear if we go into this campaign, we are going to do so to win," said Austin.