Commissioner Barnier opens high-level group on retail competitiveness
20 January 2014
The group, which is composed of executive managers representing the different stakeholders in the retail chain, will assist the Commission in developing policies to improve the long-term competitiveness of the EU retail sector.
The commercial sector is at the core of the European economy. Retailing and wholesaling account for 11 per cent of the EU's GDP with 6 million enterprises active in the sector. It provides for nearly 30 million jobs, almost 15 per cent of the European total employment. Its competitiveness is therefore crucial to ensuring growth and jobs in the EU.
The High Level Group on Retail Competitiveness will advise the Commission on retail policy, building on the recommendations of the European Retail Action Plan adopted by the Commission on 31 January 2013 (IP/13/78).
The retail action plan identifies a number of concrete and targeted actions around five objectives:
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to make consumer decisions easier; by improving consumers’ access to information on the price and quality of available products;
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to improve access to retail services, in particular by focusing on the issue of commercial establishment;
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to promote fairer and more sustainable trading relationships along the retail supply chain;
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to promote innovation in the sector; and
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to create a better working environment by improving the match between the needs of employers and the skills available in the labour market.
EXME 14 / 20.01
Commissioner Barnier's speech
Further information
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