For general interest, even though Visa Electron and Maestro are both debit card schemes, their implementation into the real world is not parallel.
Visa Electron can now be used _like_ a credit card to pay online in almost every country that it's being issued. Some banks may require the client to enable internet payments first though (eg. via online banking).
Maestro cards aren't to be used online in any country other than the UK where they are already on 'the new systems'. There, Maestro cards also have the regular 16 digit credit card numbering whereas elsewhere the numbers are all different. In a couple of years other banks will make the transition from old to new systems as well and then everyone will be able to use their Maestro card online.
On Topic, for people living in Europe, who do not own a credit card, Moneybookers is by far the best option. They also support quick bank transfers in several countries. In Holland and Belgium for example they support iDeal.