Europe steps up a drive to harmonise electronic payment systems with the launch of a cross-border direct debit programme today but there remain notable gaps in the service.

The Single Euro Payments Area direct debit programme lets companies and individuals organise standardised monthly euro payments in 32 countries from a single bank account.

The main beneficiaries will include the likes of mobile phone companies, energy or telecommunication suppliers.

For example, a Polish nurse working in Ireland could have a mobile operator in Warsaw debit a Dublin account each month to pay her elderly mother's cell phone.

Some 2,500 participating banks will offer the service in this month and all European banks must make it available within a year, according to the European Central Bank.

However, cross-border direct debits are not available in France - which is to delay implementation until November next year, the deadline for the 16 countries that use the euro currency.

The SEPA system covers the 27 EU countries, plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.