On a daily basis we make use of the services of retail enterprises. It is therefore easy to recognize that the sector forms a vital element in the European economy in the highly differentiated flow of products from producers to consumers. Retailing, including motor vehicle trade, employs over 15 million persons representing about 10% of total employment in the European Economic Area.

This publication completes the panorama of the structure and evolution of the distributive trades which was started with a series of publications on retailing.

This new edition is intended to provide a practical guide which will facilitate improvement of contractual relationships between main contractors and subcontractors, in particular when these relationships have transnational aspects.

This publication is a further step towards a genuine integrated statistical system on commerce.

This publication is the first compendium of statistical information on internal Trade at Community level since the enlargement of the European Union to fifteen Member States.

The aim of the Green Paper on Commerce is to stimulate considered discussion on the importance of this sector of the economy.