A senior European Union official has issued an urgent warning about Europe’s heavy reliance on U.S. payment systems. Specifically, she says this dependence leaves the continent exposed to political pressure from Washington.

Aurore Lalucq, chair of the European Parliament’s Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs, spoke out on Wednesday. According to her, critical weaknesses in Europe’s financial infrastructure remain unaddressed—despite recent high-level discussions.

“I must admit that I am concerned when I hear the president’s speech,” Lalucq said, referring to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Moreover, she criticized leaders for ignoring digital payment infrastructure in strategic talks.

“But that is where our fragility lies today,” she stressed. In fact, “almost all of our payment systems today are American.”

Worse still, U.S. President Donald Trump could cut off European access to these systems overnight. She noted he has already used such leverage before—citing past pressure on International Criminal Court judges and rule-of-law institutions.

Therefore, Lalucq has formally urged the European Commission to act without delay. “I urgently request that you organize a meeting next week,” she said, “to create an Airbus of payment systems.”

She explained that such a project would be affordable and strategically vital. After all, “it costs nothing, it saves our economy, it saves our democracy,” she concluded.

Furthermore, Lalucq rejected any claim of surprise or unpreparedness. She pointed out that warnings have come not only from policymakers but also from retailers, distributors, and judges. “We can’t say we weren’t warned,” she insisted.

Ultimately, her remarks reflect a growing push within the EU to reclaim financial and digital sovereignty. As geopolitical tensions rise, building a homegrown European payment system is no longer just a technical goal—it’s a democratic necessity.

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