According to EuroCommerce, a representative organisation for retailers and wholesalers, Europe's industries have “huge potential” to help deliver a more competitive, empowered, sustainable, innovative and skilled European Union (EU).

In its new manifesto, EuroCommerce urges the incoming European Parliament and Commission following the elections to be held in early June 2024 to strengthen the EU’s Single Market and competitiveness.

The manifesto also calls for the prioritisation of a partnership-based approach to policymaking, the implementation of a practicable EU Green Deal and a focus on data innovation and talent development.

The barriers to progress in the retail and wholesale industries are identified by EuroCommerce as soaring energy prices, steep inflation, the cost-of-living crisis, slow infringement proceedings and an EU regulatory tsunami, all of which have hampered the ability to invest and to compete.

EuroCommerce president Juan Manuel Morales commented: “Retailers and wholesalers already make a huge contribution towards the EU’s competitiveness and resilience. We are a sector in the middle of a massive talent, sustainability and digital transformation, which is fully aligned with the EU’s own transition ambitions. We are calling on the incoming EU institutions to work together with us in partnership to help capture this potential.”

Director General Christel Delberghe concluded: “By working more closely in partnership with policymakers, and other actors in our value chain, we can lead by example on the European and global stage by co-creating the conditions for a more competitive, sustainable, resilient Europe.”