(12)It is crucial to identify technical requirements unambiguously determining the features which Union-wide payment schemes to be developed under appropriate governance arrangements have to respect in order to ensure interoperability between payment systems. Such technical requirements should not restrict flexibility and innovation but should be open to and neutral towards potential new developments and improvements in the payments market. Technical requirements should be designed taking into account the special characteristics of credit transfers and direct debits, in particular with regard to the data elements contained in the payment message.