There are equivalents in several European countries. The problem is that these networks are national and not European, let alone global.

National banking players did not want to give up their turf. The European Union had to twist their arms to get them to agree to SEPA transfers, instant transfers, etc.

If banking players cannot agree, then regulation (or the threat of regulation) must be used.

CB actually have higher security standards than visa.

I once worked at a company doing payment card personalization (its the company who turn blank smart cards into finalized cards on behalf of banks. They print the customers names, emboss the account number, and program the chip and the magstrip)

Every year they had comprehensive security audits from Visa, Mastercard and Groupe Carte Bleue.

One guy there told me that they did the Groupe Carte Bleue audit first, because its the toughest. If they passed it they were sure to pass the others.