Retail and wholesale services are highly important to the EU economy. They act as intermediaries between thousands of product suppliers and millions of consumers. E-commerce has increased the potential market for retailers and the scope of products available to consumers. The European Commission aims to ensure that EU wholesalers, retailers and consumers enjoy an integrated retail market, which is also competitive and innovative.
On 19 June 2019, the Commission organised a conference to take stock of developments in the retail sector a year after the adoption of the communication on retail.
More information on the high-level conference on the European retail sector
The retail sector is undergoing a dramatic transformation due to the rapid development of e-commerce. However, in many EU countries the regulatory framework was put in place decades ago and has not been adapted to the digital age. In the 2015 Single Market Strategy the Commission announced it would look at restrictions in the retail sector and identify best practices for facilitating retail establishment and reducing operational restrictions. With this set of best practices, adopted on 19 April 2018, the EU provides guidance for EU countries’ efforts to create a more open, integrated and competitive retail market.
The Commission has also developed and published in the communication, the 'Retail Restrictiveness Indicator' (RRI) to provide a useful snapshot of the state of play in EU countries. The indicator is a dynamic monitoring tool to measure authorities' efforts to reduce retail restrictions in EU countries, and the impact of such reforms on market performance. A statistical assessment of the indicator's framework has been carried out by the Joint Research Centre (JRC) Competence Centre on Composite Indicators and Scoreboards (COIN).
The Commission followed up the communication with a high-level conference, 'a European retail sector fit for the 21st century' on 19 June 2018, and organised 4 workshops in 2019 in Brussels, Madrid, Vienna and Bucharest to promote the 'Guide for revitalising and modernising the small retail sector' (see below).
A series of external analyses contracted by the Commission provided information on retail in EU countries.
A series of workshops in 2019 explored the ideas in the guide. To find out more, watch the recordings of the workshops in Brussels, Madrid, Vienna or Bucharest.
The European retail action plan addresses the key obstacles to the smooth functioning of the EU retail sector. Adopted in January 2013, the plan identifies actions to realise the single market in retail, to enhance the sector's performance and to ensure it fully contributes to the Europe 2020 strategy.
For more information on the European retail action plan:
The Commission set up a High Level Group on Retail Competitiveness to advise it on retail policy. The summary reports of the meetings can be accessed on the High Level Group's page. In July 2015, the group published its recommendations.
Report of the preparatory working group on e-commerce (461 KB)
Report of the preparatory working group on innovation (634 KB)
Report of the preparatory working group on working environment issues (497 KB)
This study presents a detailed analysis on the overall feasibility of a database containing all EU and domestic food labelling rules. It analyses how the establishment of a database could help stakeholders and lists the opportunities, costs and benefits that its creation may provide.
