EuroCommerce, a group that represents retailers across Europe, has called on city representatives and local authorities to ensure that city centres remain vibrant places to shop.
The group made the call as a result of the ‘digital revolution and changes in consumer demography’, which it says is ‘bringing about a major transformation in the retail sector’.
City Centres
“Cities grew up throughout history as places where people traded, and city centres and retail are inseparably connected,” said Christian Verschueren, EuroCommerce Director-General.
“Cities need to create the right conditions for retailers to thrive. At a time when our sector faces real challenges, we need mayors and local authorities to make it easier to open or expand shops, and reduce burdens which can make it difficult to keep them open. City centres must be accessible for deliveries and for consumers, and legislators need to take care to providing equal conditions for selling offline and online.”
Supporting his comments, Anneleen Van Bossuyt MEP, a member of the European Parliament ECR group called for the removal of “unjustified barriers for retailers […] with a focus on better regulation and specifically the full implementation of the Services Directive."
EuroCommerce met with retailers, experts, senior Commission officials and representatives of cities in Brussels to share their ideas and experience on how to tackle this issue.
National Issues
EuroCommerce noted that a number of national product requirements and rules, as well as the lack of implementation and proper application of the Services Directive mean that retailers on the ground are finding it increasingly hard to do business.
‘The European Commission’s work to create more clarity on retail establishment and operational restrictions is something EuroCommerce strongly supports,’ EuroCommerce said in a statement. ‘It is important for retail’s ability to contribute to the continued economic and social health of city centres.’
© 2017 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Stephen Wynne-Jones. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine.
