--- title: "ECPA and PCI: Collaborating on Global Payment Data Protection" description: Jeremy King on how the European Card Payment Association (ECPA) and the PCI Security Standards Council (PCI SSC) are working together to protect against data theft in Europe and globally. image: https://blog.pcisecuritystandards.org/hubfs/2016_Blog/pci-ecpa-march-2016-paris.jpg --- [< Return to Blog Home](https://blog.pcisecuritystandards.org) [Print](https://blog.pcisecuritystandards.org/ecpa-pci-collaborate-global-payment-data-protection#) # [ECPA and PCI: Collaborating on Global Payment Data Protection](https://blog.pcisecuritystandards.org/ecpa-pci-collaborate-global-payment-data-protection) Posted by [Laura K. Gray](https://blog.pcisecuritystandards.org/author/laura-k-gray) on 22 Mar, 2016 in [Interview](https://blog.pcisecuritystandards.org/topic/interview) ![pci-ecpa-march-2016-paris.jpg](https://blog.pcisecuritystandards.org/hs-fs/hubfs/2016_Blog/pci-ecpa-march-2016-paris.jpg?width=800&name=pci-ecpa-march-2016-paris.jpg "pci-ecpa-march-2016-paris.jpg") [mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20this%20article&body=https://blog.pcisecuritystandards.org/ecpa-pci-collaborate-global-payment-data-protection](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20this%20article&body=https://blog.pcisecuritystandards.org/ecpa-pci-collaborate-global-payment-data-protection) *In this blog post we talk with International Director **[*Jeremy King*](https://www.pcisecuritystandards.org/about_us/leadership)*** on how the European Card Payment Association (ECPA) and the PCI Security Standards Council (PCI SSC) are working together to protect against data theft in Europe and globally. * ***   **Can you give us a quick background on the collaboration between ECPA and PCI SSC? **   **Jeremy King: **As international director I have been working within the European region for the last six years building relationships with the individual European card schemes, as well as working together with them to develop programs that simplifying payments across the entire Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA) region. Given increased regulatory activity in the region, the ten European payment schemes felt it would benefit regional stakeholders to join the Council more formally as the ECPA, coordinating their activities and support of European regulation and other European Commission activities. This has culminated in ECPA joining as the Strategic European Regional Member.   **As a new Strategic European Regional Member, what will ECPA’s role be with the Council?** **Jeremy King:** The ECPA will play an active role within the Council. Representatives will join our specific technical working groups that look at all PCI Standards and programs, help develop future iterations, and discuss specific challenges and new technologies. ECPA will also meet with other strategy-setting groups within the Council, including the Board of Advisors and the Executive Committee. They will have active participation on executive, operational and technical levels. **What do you hope to accomplish in collaborating with ECPA moving forward?** **Jeremy King:** One of the major benefits of PCI is that we provide one set of standards that are applied globally. For this global set of standards to be most effective, it is essential we have regional experts providing their input. ECPA will add technical experts into our working groups and teams, with many years’ experience of EMV transactions, cryptography, and contactless payments. So we see this as a huge win for all parties. **Why is public-private collaboration important in the global fight to protect payment card data? ** **Jeremy King: **We are fighting against organized criminals who are operating in different countries around the world, and the only way to combat that kind of threat is to share information and expertise.  The PCI Council has been actively working with more than 700 member organizations, with payments associations like the Japan Card Data Security Consortium and now, ECPA, with law enforcement and policy makers to foster the kind of cooperation that will better protect payment data. For more information on this announcement, click here for the official press release:  [![Official Announcement](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/281302/ac01e8bd-64e8-48a6-ae9b-3f50ea6d24c6.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/281302/ac01e8bd-64e8-48a6-ae9b-3f50ea6d24c6)   ### LIKE WHAT YOU READ? Subscribe to the PCI Perspectives blog to receive insights, information and practical resources to help your organization protect payment data. [Subscribe Here](https://training.pcisecuritystandards.org/subscribe-to-pci-perspectives-blog) ![Laura K. Gray](https://blog.pcisecuritystandards.org/hubfs/Headshots/laura-gray.jpg) [ Laura K. Gray ](https://blog.pcisecuritystandards.org/author/laura-k-gray) [Twitter ](https://www.twitter.com/pcissc) [Email](mailto:blog@pcisecuritystandards.org) [Website](http://www.pcisecuritystandards.org) The PCI Security Standards Council (PCI SSC) is a global forum that brings together payments industry stakeholders to develop and drive adoption of data security standards and resources for safe payments worldwide. [< Return to Blog Home](https://blog.pcisecuritystandards.org) [Print](https://blog.pcisecuritystandards.org/ecpa-pci-collaborate-global-payment-data-protection#)