EuroCommerce has reiterated the role that the Single Market can play in accelerating retail investment in green, digital and skills transformation, with the launch of a position paper.
The group, which represents the retail and wholesale sector in Europe, launched the Single Market position paper following a meeting with Prof. Enrico Letta, the architect behind the forthcoming High-Level Report on the future of the Single Market.
The focus of that meeting was on the barriers and issues facing retailers and wholesalers, as well as how to improve the 'strength and resilience' of the Single Market. According to Christel Delberghe, director general of EuroCommerce, there is an urgent need for a framework that empowers businesses to make strategic investments in transforming the retail sector.
'Foundation For Competitiveness'
"The Single Market is a foundation for our sector’s competitiveness in a rapidly evolving global landscape," she said. "Our success hinges on having a framework that facilitates investments in the digital, sustainability, and talent transitions."
The group called on the European Commission, European Parliament, and Member States' governments to re-established the 'four freedoms' – guaranteeing free movement of goods, capital, services, and people – as political priorities, and urged EU institutions to steer clear of 'divergent national regulations and gold-plating'.
Better Regulation Principles
EuroCommerce stressed the importance of national rules that are justified, proportionate, and non-discriminatory. Additionally, it underscored the significance of adhering to better regulation principles and making improvements to the existing infringement procedure.
The group said that its position paper serves as a 'clarion call for unified efforts to create a conducive environment for retail and wholesale, fostering innovation, sustainability, and talent development in an increasingly competitive global environment'.
Read the position paper here, and EuroCommerce's overview of Single Market barriers here.
