Eurosmart participated to the Fraud Prevention Expert Group session on 16 May 2006, organised by the European Commission to follow the trends in non-cash payment fraud. The experts group at EU level includes representatives of different parties involved in fraud prevention: i.e. national and EU payment schemes, banks, national public authorities, European and international law enforcement agencies (e.g. Europol, Interpol), retailers, consumer groups, network operators. The FPEG provides for a platform where stakeholders can effectively exchange information and best practices to prevent fraud. It provides advices to the Commission.

At the meeting in May, the Security Evaluation subgroup (cards, terminals, software, labs, payment organizations) led by Eurosmart, presented its activities: it provides an overview of the procedures used for the security evaluation of payment products and components and the ways to harmonise them in the European Union. A report could be finalised after summer. Banque de France insisted on this issue during the meeting.





A specific web site was created by the European Commission to increase the visibility of the work done inside the expert group.

Eurosmart attended the press conference and debate organised by the Cartes 2006 team in Paris on 30 May. The event attracted the industry and the press. Participants discussed on innovation in the design of cards showing a global trend towards less standardised card shaped and new effects for esthetical reasons (get closer to the consumer) or functional reasons (fraud detection, blind consumers features). Of course, such innovation is always implemented in respect of security and quality standards also regularly improved. Smart cards remains a trusted and useful tool where the consumer can now reflect its own personality (some banks are proposing hundreds of options to personalise your payment card).