Europe is increasing its efforts to reduce its reliance on non-EU payment giants.
The Payments Group (TPG) has partnered with Bluecode to launch a fully European mobile payment solution available across the Eurozone.
Announced on July 24, the partnership makes TPG the first pan-European issuer of the Bluecode payment scheme, marking a significant step toward payment sovereignty in Europe.
Bluecode is a mobile-based payment system which uses barcode technology for transactions. With TPG’s prepaid model, users can top up their accounts via SEPA transfers, debit or credit cards, or local payment methods. Payments are completed within the Bluecode app, without the need for a traditional bank account or dependence on non-European infrastructure.
“With this launch, we’re proud to offer a payment solution that reflects Europe’s commitment to privacy, security, and user empowerment,” said Jens Bader, CEO of The Payments Group.
“Our prepaid offering gives people across Europe access to a European way to pay – built on European infrastructure, governed by European regulation, and aligned with the values that matter most to European users.”
The prepaid model gives users full spending control, protection against overdrafts and freedom from credit checks or hidden fees. It also includes real-time transaction tracking and in-app features which aim to improve financial transparency and day-to-day usability.
The solution is currently available in Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia and Spain.
Furthermore, Bluecode can also be used abroad, providing an alternative for travellers and workers spending time abroad.
“Our partnership with The Payments Group marks a major milestone in building a truly European alternative in the global payments space,” said Christian Pirkner, CEO of Bluecode.
“By combining The Payments Group’s prepaid infrastructure with our interoperable network, we’re empowering users across the European Economic Area with a solution that is not only secure and convenient but also firmly rooted in European values and technology.”
A push toward sovereignty
The TPG and Bluecode announcement comes as Europe is intensifying its ambitions to reclaim control from foreign-based payment systems.
In June, the European Payments Alliance (EuroPA) and the European Payments Initiative (EPI) announced a partnership to interlink some of the continent’s most trusted mobile payment services, including Bancomat (Italy), Bizum (Spain), MB WAY (Portugal), and Vipps MobilePay (Nordics).
Their goal is to connect 382 million people across 15 countries through an interoperable network for person-to-person and merchant payments, using the apps and systems consumers already use.
“This is a welcome and timely move to address Europe’s sovereignty challenge in payments,” said Pratiksha Pathak, Head of Payments at RedCompass Labs, at the time.
“For too long, cross-border euro transactions have been slow, expensive and lacking transparency, a far cry from the seamless experiences consumers and businesses now expect. Interoperability between trusted, local digital payment solutions is a pragmatic way to reclaim control and build a sovereign European payments system.”
This momentum follows mounting political pressure, such as a call to action from European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde, who has repeatedly warned of overreliance on non-European payments infrastructure.
Speaking earlier this year, Lagarde highlighted the dominance of companies like Visa, Mastercard, PayPal and Alipay, warning that the mechanisms behind everyday card and mobile payments are overwhelmingly routed through the US or China.
