Eurocommerce
EuroCommerce represents national federations and companies in the retail, wholesale and international trade sector from 31 European countries.[1] The sector comprises some 5.5 million companies, 99% of which are small or medium-sized enterprises. The sector plays a unique role in the European economy as a link between producers and 500 million consumers across Europe.[2][3][4][5]
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EuroCommerce seeks to inform decision-makers and the wider public of the significance of the retail and wholesale sector, which interacts with 100 million customers every day, and offers 29 million European, particularly young people starting their careers a wide range of rewarding jobs and skills: 1 in 7 jobs in Europe are in retail or wholesale, and 1 in 5 young people (15-24) employed are in retail or wholesale.[6]
The retail and wholesale sector faces a constantly changing market, with consumers looking for new products and new ways of shopping, digital technology opening up new possibilities to compare prices and products across borders and many new ways of paying for them. The sector is also active in adopting sustainable environmental policies to reduce the carbon footprint and waste in the retail and wholesale.
EuroCommerce looks to raise the profile of retail and wholesale in European policymaking, and help shape the regulatory agenda to ensure that its members can continue to offer the best products at the most competitive prices. EuroCommerce is the official European social partner for the retail and wholesale sector, and plays an active role in European social dialogue.[7]
History
EuroCommerce was founded in 1993,[8] as a result of merging three pre-existing large retail chains, small retail operators and wholesalers and traders.[9] It brings together European and national associations representing various aspects of retail and wholesale and international trade to form a single voice for the sector in Brussels.[10] Its first President (from 1993–94) and driving force behind the creation of EuroCommerce, was Dr Albert Heijn (1927–2011),[11] the chairman of the major Dutch retailer Ahold.[12]
Policy areas
EuroCommerce brings together the expertise of its members and secretariat to help inform and contribute to debate in a range of policies, including competitiveness and the economy, the digital economy, single market, global trade, environment and sustainability, social policy and industrial relations, food and non-food, enterprise and SMEs.
List of Presidents
| Presidents | Mandates |
|---|---|
| Régis Degelcke (FR) | 2018-2021 |
| Kenneth Bengtsson (SE) | 2015–2018 |
| Carl Hugo Erbslöh (DE) | 2014–2015 |
| Lucy Neville-Rolfe (UK) | 2012–2014 |
| Reinhardt Von Leoprechting (DE) | 2009–2012 |
| Feargal Quinn (IE) | 2006–2009 |
| Peter Bernert (AT) | 2003–2006 |
| Paul-Louis Halley (FR) | 2000–2003 |
| Igino Sogaro (IT) | 1997–2000 |
| Jacques Dopchie (BE) | 1994–1997 |
| Albert Heijn (NL) | 1993–1994 |
Members
National associations
| Country | National associations |
|---|---|
| Austria | Wirtschaftskammer Österreich (WKÖ) |
| Belgium | Comeos |
| Cyprus | Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) |
| Czech Republic | Svaz obchodu a cestovního ruchu ČR (SOCR ČR) |
| Denmark | Dansk Erhverv |
| Estonia | Eesti Kaupmeeste Liit (EKL) |
| Finland | Kauppa |
| France | Fedération des Entreprises du Commerce et de la Distribution (FCD)
La Conféderation Française du Commerce Interentreprises (CGI-CF) Conseil du Commerce de France (CDCF) |
| Germany | Bundesverband Großhandel, Außenhandel, Dienstleistungen (BGA)
Handelsverband Deutschland (HDE) |
| Greece | Hellenic Confederation of Commerce & Entrepreneurship (ESEE) |
| Hungary | Országos Kereskedelmi Szövetség (OKSZ)
Vállalkozók és Munkáltatók Országos Szövetsége (VOSZ) |
| Iceland | Samtök verslunar og þjónustu (SVÞ) |
| Ireland | Retail Ireland |
| Italy | Confcommercio
Federdistribuzione |
| Latvia | Latvijas Pārtikas Tirgotāju Asociācija (LPTA) |
| Luxembourg | Commerce transport services (CLC) |
| Malta | Malta Chamber of SMEs (GRTU) |
| Netherlands | Raad Nederlandse Detailhandel (RND)
MKB-Nederland |
| Norway | Virke Hovedorganisasjonen (VIRKE) |
| Poland | Polska Organizacja Handlu i Dystrybucji (POHID) |
| Portugal | Associação Portuguesa de Empresas de Distribuição (APED)
Confederação do Comércío e Serviços Portugal (CCP) |
| Romania | Asociaţia Marilor Reţele Comerciale din România (AMRCR) |
| Slovakia | Slovenská aliancia moderného obchodu (SAMO)
Zväz obchodu a cestovného ruchu SR (ZOCR SR) |
| Slovenia | Trgovinska zbornica Slovenije (TSZ) |
| Spain | Asociación Nacional de Grandes Empresas de Distribución (ANGED)
Asociación Española de Distribuidores, Autoservicios y Supermercados (ASEDAS) Confederación Española de Comercio (CEC) |
| Sweden | Svensk Handel |
| UK | British Retail Consortium (BRC) |
Company members
| Company | Country of origin |
|---|---|
| Ahold | Netherlands |
| Auchan | France |
| Carrefour | France |
| Colruyt | Belgium |
| Coop Schweiz | Switzerland |
| Decathlon | France |
| Delhaize | Belgium |
| Edenred | Belgium |
| El Corte Ingles | Spain |
| Herbalife | UK (HQ) |
| IKEA | Sweden |
| Inditex | Spain |
| Jeronimo Martins | Portugal |
| Kappé International | Netherlands |
| Kaufland | Germany |
| Kering | Italy |
| Lidl | Germany |
| Marks & Spencer | UK |
| Mercadona | Spain |
| Metro | Germany |
| Migros T | Turkey |
| Rewe group | Germany |
| Sonae | Portugal |
| Spar | Austria |
| Tesco | UK |
| Vorwerk | Germany |
References
- Great Britain. Parliament. House of Lords. European Union Committee (2009). EU Consumer Rights Directive: Evidence. The Stationery Office. pp. 58–. ISBN 978-0-10-844459-3.
- Andrew Martin; George Ross (1999). The Brave New World of European Labor: European Trade Unions at the Millennium. Berghahn Books. pp. 339–. ISBN 978-1-57181-168-4.
- Meike Rodekamp (17 June 2013). Their Members' Voice: Civil Society Organisations in the European Union. Springer Science & Business Media. pp. 166–. ISBN 978-3-658-02213-6.
- Douglas R. Imig (2001). Contentious Europeans: Protest and Politics in an Emerging Polity. Rowman & Littlefield. pp. 223–. ISBN 978-0-7425-0084-6.
- Thomas Bernauer (28 June 2016). Genes, Trade, and Regulation: The Seeds of Conflict in Food Biotechnology. Princeton University Press. pp. 87–. ISBN 978-1-4008-8013-3.
- Said Business SChool. Retail and Wholesale: key sectors for the European economy. University of Oxford.
- European Commission. "European Social Dialogue". European Commission.
- Justin Greenwood (1995). European Casebook on Business Alliances. Prentice Hall. pp. 119–. ISBN 978-0-13-338039-2.
About sixty EC officials attended the annual European Day of Commerce during which Euro- Commerce tries to give ... For example, in its first year of existence (1993), EuroCommerce participated in exercises on: the company-feedback ...
- Wolfgang Lecher; Hans-Wolfgang Platzer (11 September 2002). European Union - European Industrial Relations?: Global Challenge, National Development and Transitional Dynamics. Routledge. pp. 106–. ISBN 978-1-134-72489-5.
- EuroCommerce. "EuroCommerce website". eurocommerce.eu.
- Vacher's European Companion. 89-91. A. S. Kerswil Limited. 1994. pp. 188–.
- Heijn, Albert. "Ahold BV in Memoriam Dr Albert Heijn". Archived from the original on 2016-04-17.