Brussels, 11/12/2013 (Agence Europe) - MEPs have called for support for the retail trade and small traders. On Wednesday 11 December, they adopted a resolution calling for unfair trade practices to be tackled and for small traders' business activities to be promoted in town centres.
The EP's message is in response to the European Commission's action plan on the retail trade, which accounts for 11% of European GDP and 15% of all jobs in Europe.
Rapporteur Dennis de Jong (GUE, Netherlands) said that he had tried to highlight the social and cultural importance of the sector: “I particularly highlighted the importance and diversity of self-employed traders who are suffering most from the current economic crisis and who are still not using online business opportunities”.
The report calls on traders to develop a “virtual shop window” and also encourages member states to take measures to support these shops by promoting groupings of independent traders or reducing local taxes, energy bills and rents. MEPs also expressed their concerns about the construction of out-of-town shopping centres and pointed out that the local authorities had the right to oppose them for social or environmental reasons. Finally, MEPs pointed out that diversity of shops provided a guarantee for ensuring the attractiveness of city centres.
The report also addresses unfair trade practices and in the follow-up to its action plan, the Commission has opened a public consultation on the subject. MEPs are calling for best practices to be promoted and suggest that the Commission ensure that unfair trading practices are tackled by an ombudsman, so that small traders do not feel isolated.
MEPs regretted that some member states had introduced a range of different administrative and legislative barriers that prevented the cross-border development of small businesses. In this connection, they also call on the Commission to intervene if infringements have been committed to internal market rules. (MD/transl.fl)