Protecting European Merchants
The Shield That Merchants Have Been Waiting For
European Merchant Union champions fair, transparent,and affordable electronic payments for every business in Europe.
From corner shops to e-commerce leaders.
27
EU Markets Covered
€47B
Fees We’re Fighting
3.2M
Merchants We Represent
PSD3
Actively Shaping Policy
- Interchange Fee Reform
- Fair Access to Payment Rails
- Brussels Policy Engagement
- Instant Payments Advocacy
- Transparency in Pricing
Our Three Core Pillars
Built Around What Merchants Actually Need
Everything we do flows from three strategic commitments that define how we protect, educate, and innovate on behalf of European merchants.
01
⚖️
Lobbying & Advocacy
We engage directly with European Parliament, the ECB, and national regulators to ensure merchant voices are heard where payment policy is made. From PSD3 to the Instant Payments Regulation — we are at the table.
02
📚
Education & Research
Through whitepapers, benchmarking reports, and training programmes, we empower merchants to understand their rights, compare payment providers critically, and negotiate from a position of knowledge.
03
🚀
Innovation & Standards
We co-create merchant-friendly payment standards with fintechs, banks, and technology providers — promoting open banking, SEPA Instant, and alternative payment methods that reduce dependency on card networks.
Average Card Fee Merchants Pay
0
%
Annual Cost to EU Merchants
€
0
B
Regulated Cap We're Pushing For
0
%
Member States in Our Network
0
Who We Are
Europe's Only Dedicated Merchant Payment Advocacy Body
For too long, the rules governing electronic payments in Europe have been written by banks and card networks — with merchants paying the price. EMU was founded to change that equation permanently.
We operate at the intersection of policy, commerce, and technology — giving Europe’s 24 million merchants a collective voice loud enough to be heard in Brussels, Frankfurt, Paris and Warsaw.
- Directly engaging with EU institutions on PSD3 and the Payments Package
- Publishing independent cost-of-acceptance benchmarks across 27 markets
- Building coalitions between retailers, e-commerce, and hospitality sectors
- Providing legal support for merchants in fee dispute proceedings
Active in
27 EU Member States
24M
Merchants We Represent
€47B
In Annual Fees Under Scrutiny
“Every time a customer pays by card, a merchant pays a tax — invisible to consumers, yet devastating to European business. We are here to change that.”
— European Merchant Union, founding statement
Membership Plans
Built for Every Business, From Sole Traders to Retail Groups
Associate
Individual Merchant
From €149 / year · Sole traders & micro-businesses
- ✓ Full access to EMU Research Library
- ✓ Monthly Payment Fees Benchmark Report
- ✓ EMU Member Certificate
- ✓ Access to Legal FAQ & Guidance Notes
- ✓ Newsletter & Policy Alerts
- ✓ Vote in annual General Assembly
Business MOST POPULAR
SME & E-Commerce
From €490 / year · Up to 50 locations or €5M turnover
- ✓ Everything in Associate, plus:
- ✓ Direct access to EMU Legal Helpline
- ✓ Personalised Payment Cost Audit
- ✓ Participation in EMU Working Groups
- ✓ Priority speaking at EMU Events
- ✓ Collective Negotiation Programme
- ✓ Quarterly Strategy Briefings
Corporate
Retail Chains & Groups
From €2,400 / year · Enterprise & multi-national merchants
- ✓ Everything in Business, plus:
- ✓ Named representation in Brussels
- ✓ Bespoke regulatory risk assessments
- ✓ Board-level policy briefings
- ✓ Co-authorship of EMU position papers
- ✓ Direct line to EMU Secretary General
- ✓ Custom Payment Strategy Consulting