EuroCommerce welcomes the objectives of the European Commission’s Communication on a European Consumer Agenda¹ adopted today, which acknowledges the importance of empowering consumers and boosting their trust in the Internal Market. Customers are the lifeblood of reputable, reliable traders, and meeting consumer needs is the purpose of their business. Going well beyond the minimum legal requirements is the key to retail success and it plays an important role in giving individual businesses a competitive edge in a highly competitive market place. Competition helps consumers get a good deal, and drives innovation and productivity. Strong competition results in controlled inflation and increased quality and choice.

As the closest link in the chain to the consumer, any measure taken in the field of consumer protection/safety, has impact on businesses. Therefore, EuroCommerce stresses the importance of a framework within which businesses and consumers can work together with the EU institutions to meet the needs and address the concerns of both consumers and businesses. This is the way to produce reasonable and workable solutions, rather than treating them as two separate and opposing groups.

“We are pleased that the Commission acknowledges the importance of better enforcement of existing consumer legislation. Without proper enforcement, consumers will not be able to fully benefit from the advantages put in place for them. It will only drive down innovation, consumer choice and drive up prices. Both consumers and businesses need to be educated and informed so they are aware of their rights and duties”, commented EuroCommerce Director-General Christian Verschueren.

~ENDS~

For further information, please contact:

Marjolein Raes

Director, Advocacy & Communications

Tel: +32 2 737 05 99

raes@eurocommerce.be

EuroCommerce recommendations for Consumer Agenda 2014-2020

EuroCommerce and the commerce sector

EuroCommerce represents the retail, wholesale and international trade sectors in Europe. Its membership includes commerce federations and companies in 31 European countries.Commerce plays a unique role in the European economy, acting as the link between manufacturers and the nearly 500 million consumers across Europe over a billion times a day. It is a dynamic and labour-intensive sector, generating 11% of the EU’s GDP. Over 95% of the 6 million companies in commerce are small and medium-sized enterprises. The sector is a major source of employment creation: 31 million Europeans work in commerce. It also supports millions of dependent jobs throughout the supply chain from small local suppliers to international businesses.

¹ “European Commission Communication on a European Consumer Agenda - Boosting confidence and growth” - COM(2012) 225 final