France’s CB Payments Network Seeks EU Alliance to Challenge Visa and Mastercard Dominance

France’s CB payments network was established in the 1980s with the backing of major banks. Its nonprofit, co-badged card model allows transactions on the same card to be routed through either CB or an international network. CB’s share of French payments has fallen to 75% from more than 90% five years ago. With the European Union still lacking a card network that can replace Visa and Mastercard across borders, payment sovereignty and reliance on U.S. systems have come under scrutiny.

The Financial Times reported on April 19, 2026, that CB Chief Executive Philippe Laulanie said there were about 30 prospective participants and that the initiative had the support of French President Emmanuel Macron. EPI’s Wero, launched in 2024, had 48.5 million users across Belgium, France and Germany as of February 2026. It is expected to expand into online and in-store payments in 2027. The value of the proposed partnership has not been disclosed.