13/08/2001 (Agence Europe) - The international payment organisation, Visa, welcomed the decision that the Commission took on Friday aimed at recognising, in addition to the "no-discrimination" rule and the cross-border issuance of cards, the need to set up an inter-bank committee (see EUROPE of 11 August, p.2). According to Hans van der Velde, President of Visa Europe, this is a "compromise" that could be accepted by banks members of Visa, as it "puts an end to a long period of uncertainty". His group accepts the changes called for by the Commission (notably the gradual reduction of the level of commissions and the introduction of objective criteria allowing to ensure transparency vis-à-vis the merchants).