Brussels, 20/01/2014 (Agence Europe) - A high-level group has been set up to focus on the competitiveness of the retail trade sector. Commissioner Michel Barnier, who is responsible for the single market, took part in the first meeting of this group on Monday 20 January. The group has been tasked with providing him with advice aiming to breathe new life into the competitiveness of retail businesses, traditional as well as online. The high-level group is made up of executive directors of groups such as Carrefour, Ikea and GlaxoSmithKline, and also union representatives. This panel responds to the expectations of the European commissioner, who described it as “diversified and close to the realities on the ground”.
“You will be assisting the Commission in developing policies to improve the long-term competitiveness of the European retail trade sector”, the commissioner told them, adding that this task should be seen in a broader context which “includes the interests of all stakeholders, including consumers and the workforce”.
These experts will base their work on, amongst other things, the European action plan for the sector, which was adopted one year ago and establishes progress to be achieved in terms of access to services, consumer choice, working conditions and more sustainable commercial relationships throughout the logistical chain. The commissioner also called upon the high-level group to focus more specifically on e-commerce, innovation, SMEs and the single market. Whilst the crisis has brought about new challenges for the sector, Commissioner Barnier believes that these plans will make it possible to meet these challenges. He pointed out that the “digital economy creates 2.6 jobs for every 'off-line' job it costs”, and that innovation was the “only viable response” to the new challenges. This is particularly true for SMEs at a time when consumers have limited budgets and online trade brings with it new problems. The retail sector is not a negligible one for the European economy: it represents 11% of EU GDP and 15% of all jobs on the continent. (MD/transl.fl)