> Europe needs to get their shit together and start accepting and issuing the same card as the ROW. No they don't - there is no reason for a country to accept

> Europe needs to get their shit together and start accepting and issuing the same card as the ROW. No they don't - there is no reason for a country to accept the payment system of another country. Priority should be to pay using local currency or using the local payment system. Control over one's monetary system is essential to maintain the sovereignty of a nation. As is the right of a citizen to pay (or accept) cash or do transaction using other legal alternatives. (That said, I understand your frustration as we are all complaining about the same thing).