I think that targeted authentication provides a better, more balanced and safer alternative to strong customer authentication. Targeted authentication ensures both a high level of online security and a smooth transaction process for the benefit of European consumers, online merchants and the wider economy. Strong customer authentication would be dangerous for the European e-commerce sector.

By aiming to remain ‘technologically neutral’ and ‘not prescribe the use of a specific industry standard’ however, the draft RTS fails to support the industry by putting in place a standardized framework to restrict further market fragmentation, even if it is true that online merchants face too much fragmentation, especially when operating cross-border. This is a consequence of separate alternative e-payment systems, and requires extensive efforts on integration.